Smart Support Services, a division of the Sizwe Africa IT Group, has been awarded a three-year Preferred Maintenance Service Provider contract by Lexmark International.
The contract, which begins in May 2008, will see Smart Support Services providing after-sales warranty support to Lexmark South Africa's national customer base.
Delivering Lexmark's on-site service, maintenance, installation and training throughout South Africa will be achieved with the aid of Smart Support Services' SMME partners, which the Sizwe Group has helped to develop into world-class service providers.
"This was the clincher for Lexmark," says Shawn Nortj'e, director of SSS. "Lexmark South Africa is on a drive to make 2008 a year of improvement in their service division. This contract is intended to standardise local service delivery to Lexmark International's global model, which means nothing less than world-class service delivery would do."
According to Nortj'e, rigorous monitoring and a guarantee of high-quality services backed by an ISO 9000 accreditation provide the peace of mind Lexmark South Africa was looking for. "We have a great deal of experience in adding value while fulfilling unique and exact customer expectations, which puts us ahead of the competition. Our SMME partners provide capacity for integrated strategic service delivery nationwide, which will allow Lexmark South Africa to fulfil and surpass its service level agreements."
Branislav Zivkovic, Lexmark South Africa's managing director, says process consistency and quality were the key factors in awarding the contract to SSS.
"We are aware of the important role our technology plays in our customers' business. We required a partner who shares our passion for excellent and consistent service delivery."
Smart Support Services was created with a social imperative in mind and has set about addressing the skills shortage in the local IT industry with one goal: to make local businesses more competitive.
In a mutually beneficial relationship, SSS has become heavily involved in training and the development of skills in previously disadvantaged communities. Thus far, more than 200 highly skilled consultants have been given the necessary backup and support they need to create sustainable businesses.
"We are very pleased to see that the knock-on effect of skills transfer has created an SMME partner base in all provinces that SSS is now able to leverage in its nationwide service provision. This is proof that local SMMEs are more than capable of working according to international best practice," says Nortj'e.
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