First Technology to handle government's Adobe requirements

Solutions provider First Technology has been appointed by Adobe South Africa as the preferred reseller of its software solutions to the South African national government. Accordingly, structures within the national, provincial and local government as well as parastatals, which procure their software requirements through the State IT Agency (SITA), will source their Adobe software through the reseller with immediate effect.

According to Kerry Hope, Adobe Product Manager at First Technology, the arrangement will support government in addressing its requirements for the vendor's various software solutions.

"With a single preferred reseller in place, government affiliates benefit by achieving optimal efficiencies through economies of scale. Software sales now fall under a structured agreement, which enables larger discounts, while ensuring all licensing is current and accurate," she says.

Within Adobe's extensive product portfolio, Hope says government agencies use a wide range of the vendor's solutions in the execution of their daily business. "In addition to its solutions for graphic design and Web site animation, Adobe solutions include essential software for the platform-independent creation and exchange of documents. In particular, the company's PDF specification is used by government organisations, corporations, and people around the world for more secure, reliable electronic document exchange," she explains.

Hope adds that with its nationwide presence and existing relationships with SITA and many other government agencies, First Technology is well-positioned to meet the requirements of government in terms of licensing and support for Adobe solutions.

Andrew Lindstrom, regional manager for Adobe MEA and IOI, says the appointment reinforces the company's commitment to providing sound value to its government customers. "As a major user of our solutions, we want to be sure that government is getting solid returns for its investments in Adobe. As a reseller partner, First Technology plays an essential role in providing the licensing expertise to take advantage of bulk purchases. The company also provides the manpower to deliver and implement our technologies and provide the necessary support."

Lindstrom adds that Adobe opted to partner with First Technology as it is a recognised leader in servicing government business. "With a proven reputation, we are confident that First Technology is well-positioned to help take Adobe to greater penetration within government, helping the various agencies to achieve greater value from our solutions and technologies."