Local network integration specialists Integr8 IT has been contracted to provide proactive maintenance support and services to the national branch network of SA`s leading travel management company, The Seekers Travel Group.
The Seekers Travel Group has been on the lookout for a new central point of contact and backup service for its existing infrastructure.
Integr8 IT featured as a single point of contact with the required expertise, experience and skills for the contract. The network integration company, with regional offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban and a presence in Port Elizabeth and East London, has supported the Travel Group`s Cape office for a significant period of time.
As such, it has already proven the effectiveness and success of its proactive maintenance model.
Driven largely by a core team of highly skilled technicians, Integr8 IT has been called upon to extend this proactive service and support throughout the travel management groups` nation-wide network.
The Seekers Travel Group has in the region of 400 staff members nationally with branches in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and Cape Town. It runs on a complicated, but highly effective Galileo Network. All of the groups` systems are connected to this network.
In addition, over 35 `in-house`, fully staffed booking offices have been established on site for clients like Microsoft, Netcare, MTN, SAB and Daimler Chrysler. Integr8 IT will also be maintaining these offices.
Integr8 IT has been contracted to provide support, enhancement, consultancy and proactive maintenance of the group`s local area network (LAN). In terms of the contract, Seekers Travel staff have the added benefit of a stand-by consultancy and advisory service.
Seekers Travel Group IT manager Nadine Morley says each coastal location has the guaranteed services of a stand-by service technician and all branches are connected to Integr8 IT`s national 24/7/365 call centre.
Over and above the established working contract, The Seekers Travel Group has also entered into a service level agreement (SLA) with Integr8 IT. The agreement allows for the recruitment and deployment of additional resources and skills from the Integr8 IT core knowledge base, as and when required.
Integr8 IT`s technical director Robert Sussman says the SLA forms a crucial part of the overall commitment the company has to ensuring enhanced, smooth-running infrastructure and connectivity.
"We are providing 24-hour support as well as consultancy services. On the server side, we are implementing a full disaster recovery procedure in order to eliminate any single point of failure. The SLA is a key part of our strategy and through this agreement we can draw on our current knowledge base in order to provide fast, efficient and precise service."
Seekers Travel Group financial director Steve Evans says the move makes sense and the travel management company views Integr8 IT as a financially competitive organisation that will definitely go a long way to enhancing the existing infrastructure and networking requirements.
"Really, the company is taking over where the previous incumbents left off. They are competitive from a financial point of view, have proven themselves in the Seekers Cape Town offices and we stand to benefit from their proactive service offering.
"Realistically, we only expect to see tangible benefits to our business in about three to six months. Essentially, Integr8 IT have taken over unstable technology and we realise it will take some time before we experience advantages as far as costs and productivity are concerned," adds Morley.
Share
Integr8 IT (Pty) Ltd is a wholly owned network technology services and solutions company in southern Africa. Based in SA, the company employs a wealth of highly skilled and certified system engineers who are directly involved in high level consulting, support and integration.
With offices located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and representation in Port Elizabeth, East London and Port Elizabeth, Integr8 IT spans nationally across Southern Africa and Africa continent. It has the people and expertise to plan, deploy, manage and maintain an information technology environment.
Whether a client seeks better control of its networked environment or is in need of practical solutions, complex or simple, Integr8 IT provides the answers with enhanced information technology services.