SAS, InfoSight sign strategic partnership agreement

SAS Institute, South Africa, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with InfoSight (Pty) Ltd.

InfoSight has been given Quality Partner Status, a standing only offered to technically oriented companies that have a proven track record of experience with regard to the quality implementation and management of SAS software projects.

Says Niall Walker, Partner and Alliance manager at SAS Institute: "A Quality Partner is one that can design, implement and maintain solutions for customers using the SAS system. This status is our confirmation that our partner has adequate experience, expertise and committed resources within themselves to implement and manage SAS projects on a high quality level," says Walker. "Having such partners is vitally important to our business growth."

InfoSight has been running for approximately two years, and lists clients such as MTN, SAA, BISMIN, ABSA and SAB.

Says Kendal Jordi, MD of InfoSight: "For a business to gain a competitive advantage, strategic decision making tools are needed. We chose SAS as a strategic partner because they are not only the biggest, but also the acknowledged market leader as far as functionality is concerned," he says. "As a product implementer, we can offer our clients the necessary solutions to achieve their goals and know that it is reliable and that we won't be let down.

"With SAS, we are utilising a common tool and integrating it for businesses to use for decision making. It is important to have a partner that understands how the tools work and what its implications to businesses are," he says.

SAS' partner program was initiated to assist SAS to operate in certain niche markets where their skills did not stretch. "The program is still evolving, but it has already been established as a formal, earnest practice.

"We are very selective about choosing our partners. But we are a hundred percent dedicated to the program. We commit ourselves to our partners through a business plan - which creates the backbone of the partnership - but we do not dictate how their businesses should be run. This ensures that we have a win-win situation," says Walker.

SAS supports their partnership program through research and development. "Through research and development, we are able to keep our internal consultants on top of the latest best business practices, trends and technologies, enabling them to assist our partners in developing the best possible business solution for their clients," says Walker.