FirstRand renews, expands IT outsourcing contract with Dimension Data

Dimension Data, global IT systems integrator, has announced that FirstRand, one of South Africa's leading financial institutions, has renewed Rand Merchant Bank's IT outsourcing services contract. FirstRand has also extended the contract to include the provision of support and managed services to FirstRand Corporate Centre's IT infrastructure. The three-year contract is effective from 1 September 2012.

These services include service desk, desktop support (VIP support), server support, business recovery services, IT procurement services, disaster recovery services, IT facilities management, network services, business recovery services, IT security services and end-user devices. This will allow FirstRand to work through a single services integration partner spanning its operations across various locations, enable FirstRand to manage IT availability for productivity and risk, and manage IT operations for improved performance.

Strategically, the contract renewal enables FirstRand to align its ICT services across these divisions. The deal will reduce cost, achieve economies of scale, and standardise service levels for FirstRand's Merchant Place campus environment.

Dimension Data has a longstanding partnership with FirstRand, and over the past four years, the company has successfully provided IT outsourcing services to Rand Merchant Bank. The services integrator has proven IT outsourcing skills in the market, and is capable of delivering high quality services and expertise, allowing clients to differentiate through technology innovation.

The services provided will support FirstRand's current business requirements and position the institution to respond to any changes, as well as ensure the technology platform it operates on is stable and current.

Dawid Upton, Senior General Manager: IT Outsourcing at Dimension Data Middle East and Africa, says: "As we strengthen and expand our business relationship, we strive to give FirstRand flexibility and transparency to enable agility to meet business requirements. We will continue providing quality services that positively impact the overall business performance of our clients."

In January 2012, Dimension Data was positioned by Gartner in the Leaders' Quadrant of the Magic Quadrant for Communications Outsourcing and Professional Services (COPS) [1] report. Compiled by Gartner analysts, the Magic Quadrant examined 19 vendors of IT services for business communications systems worldwide, employing two main evaluation criteria. These include 'ability to execute' and 'completeness of vision'.

Dimension Data was recently recognised as the leading provider of IT services to the South African market by IT market research and advisory firm IDC. Dimension Data ranked first in three market categories, which include hardware support and installation services, with 20.5% market share; network and desktop outsourcing services, with 31.8% market share; and hosted application management services, with 24.1% share.

"Part of our success can also be attributed to our investment in a world-class service management infrastructure. We are committed to investing in and enhancing our infrastructure and service capabilities to deliver unsurpassed global solutions to our clients wherever they do business in the world," says Upton.