SAS Institute partners with business intelligence specialist, IDS

Business intelligence consultancy, Information Delivery Systems Consultants (IDS) recently rejoined a select group of specialised local companies to become a SAS Institute partner.

"The business intelligence arena is highly specialised, and demands in-depth knowledge and experience," says Bill Hoggarth, MD of the local subsidiary of the global SAS Institute.

"When selecting partners, SAS globally looks for domain expertise, complementary skills and thorough business intelligence knowledge. We do not employ a shotgun approach, a strategy that is mirrored in South Africa, where we have five local implementation partners. Our partner strategy is tightly focused, and only organisations meeting stringent criteria are considered."

Ian Stubbs, managing director of IDS, says the partnership gives his company greater strength, as well as a broader base. IDS is an IT consultancy specialising in the development, deployment and support of business intelligence systems to SA's blue chip companies.

"The alliance with SAS locally also gives us greater opportunities for upskilling and keeping abreast of current technology in order to better service our clients," he says.

IDS was SAS Institute's first local partner in 1995. Since then, SAS Institute has restructured its partner programme to address the increasing dependence of businesses on accurate, timely and predictive intelligence.

"Now that IDS has re-joined the SAS partner fold, all our traditional partners are embraced in SAS's new partner framework," says Hoggarth.

The current partnering framework offers exciting new options for customers seeking SAS solutions to pressing business needs. Known as the SAS Partner Alliance, it offers a network of partners that includes systems integrators, consultants, resellers, and complementary hardware, application and software providers.

"This strategy allows us to work more effectively with partners that focus on our core competencies, such as customer relationship management (CRM), intelligent ware-housing, supplier relationship management (SRM) and enterprise performance management. This will enable us to continue leading the marketplace in the areas in which customers have come to rely upon us," says Hoggarth.

He says that SAS Institute partners share the organisation's passion for the value of business intelligence, and its vision that software intelligence projects deliver outstanding and measurable returns very quickly.