As the company that introduced the first cash register back in 1874, NCR has probably seen more change and innovation than most in the global business technology environment. Their presence in South Africa doesn`t go back quite that far, but certainly, through their relationship with Bytes Specialised Solutions (BSS), their exclusive partner in this country, they are able to offer the local market and its neighbours the full length and breadth of their experience in Enterprise Data Warehousing and Intelligent Self Service.
BSS recently restructured its offerings to capitalise on this relationship with NCR. "Now, with the introduction of domain experts in the markets we serve and the technologies we deploy, BSS offers clients an approach to solution delivery that is a marked departure from the traditional 'box-dropping` style in this industry. Our Enterprise Data Warehousing and Intelligent Self Service solutions are driven by the specific needs of those markets that serve consumers and are designed to support our clients to achieve profitable growth and success," says BSS Managing Director, Paul Reeves.
Together, NCR and BSS are uncovering the main trends, challenges and opportunities facing their local client`s industries, which include banking, retail, hospitality, telecommunications (telecoms) and government. These are often similar to what NCR clients have experienced globally, and where solutions were successfully deployed in response, NCR brings the knowledge gained and lessons learned back to the local market. Bearing in mind NCR services the top 15 banks, the top 15 retailers, six of the seven top airlines and seven of the top nine telecoms companies in the world, this means that there is already a significant framework from which to work in developing a solution for BSS clients.
But domain expertise is about more than learning from experience. "BSS ensures ongoing knowledge acquisition to stay ahead of change and ensure they are constantly in a position to innovate and deliver according to client needs," says Reeves.
If solutions are driven by customer needs, then what are these needs? Two NCR representatives recently discussed needs in the financial services sector during sessions which showcased their offerings to South Africa`s major banks.
According to Stelios Fragkos, NCR Vice-President for Middle East and Africa, "the financial self-service market is driven by four main priorities namely transaction cost reduction; revenue generation through additional solutions and new markets; operational efficiency; and customer loyalty."
NCR hardware, software and service solutions offered in response include the following: branch activity migration solutions contribute to cost reduction; revenue generation through new ATM services, marketing and advertising through ATMs and ATMs in retail locations (such as petrol station forecourts); operational efficiency is boosted through maintenance, industry compliance and security and fraud prevention; and customer loyalty is achieved through channel optimisation and CRM systems for personalisation.
In the retail space, NCR delivers solutions for, and is a global leader in self-checkout, self-service kiosks, point-of-sale solutions, bar-code scanners, electronic shelf labels, and the accompanying consulting and support services. Teradata, a division of NCR, brings Enterprise Data Warehousing solutions that enable customers to harness the power of their enterprise intelligence to create a single view of the business. This works hand-in-hand with the self-service technologies to reduce costs and enhance relationships.
"Through our domain expertise, leading solutions and meaningful partnership with NCR, we have tremendous capacity to answer to the growing need for innovation in the sectors in which we operate," concludes Reeves.
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