South Africa`s leading steel company, Ispat Iscor, has awarded a multimillion outsourcing contract of its LAN and end-user equipment to AST in a three-year deal.
As part of the contract, AST will provide Ispat Iscor with a managed LAN solution and desktop outsourcing support contract, with an emphasis on AST`s ability to support the Ispat Iscor strategy of consolidation, centralisation and operational cost reduction.
AST Distributed Technology Services (DTS) will provide the management of the end-user equipment, while AST Networks will provide the LAN solution.
"AST`s detailed understanding of Ispat Iscor, its business processes and strategies have been developed over a period of time," explains Willie Stegmann, Divisional Director of AST DTS. "This allows us to understand the challenges Ispat Iscor face and the required strategies that need to be implemented to ensure they remain a cost-competitive steel producer. "
AST has a unique approach to offering managed services and its value proposition is based on best practices from the Information Technology Information Library (ITIL) and Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) and the fundamental commitment to improve service, reduce cost and continuously add value in a partnering relationship.
AST`s national footprint throughout SA allows for focused resources working in the operational environment of Ispat Iscor, and AST is therefore able to understand the dynamics driving Ispat Iscor`s business.
"We are able to bridge the gap that sometimes exists between the infrastructure focus and the business needs in a practical hands-on fashion, whereas Iscor proactively have their needs translated into the strategy and architectural needs of the business," adds Stegmann.
AST has designed a centralised service delivery model that uses a decentralised support model in the regional centres. The service delivery organisation developed for Iscor is based on best practice principles as well as the use of the Integrated Services Management Centre (ISMC) model.
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