Steps to routes of recovery

Pink Elephant, global leader in ITIL and IT management education, consulting and service desk resource provision, today announced its attendance as sponsor and exhibitor at the upcoming IT Service Management Conference and Exhibition (SMEXA).

“While the recession prompted many companies to put IT projects on hold, a number of 'forward looking' companies on the African continent have used the opportunity to re-assess and validate their IT service management programmes to ensure they improve service capability, delivery and cut costs,” says Ian Clark - Professional Services Director at Pink Elephant South Africa.

“IT service management adoption has increased notably as CIOs gear their IT strategies, operations and staff to meet or improve service levels. IT organisations are increasingly being pressured to achieve what is deemed as 'impossible', to be more efficient and effective with less money, and this is exactly where ITIL IT service management is targeted,” adds Clark.

Well structured IT service management based companies showcase their value internally, to lines of business and customers, and this means that in many cases they have to demonstrate precisely how the costs and pricing of their services compare with external providers and competitors at a detailed level.

“IT organisations have also been instructed to establish 'order',” says Clark, and at this point, that order has become and has always actually been ITIL based IT service management. This need for order has prompted a notable increase in the adoption of service portfolios and catalogues that provide companies with details on IT services, pricing, costs and associated service level agreements. In many cases these initiatives have identified opportunities to cut costs and repackage and offer services to different markets, thereby increasing revenue.

“With over 50 ITIL-based projects under our belt locally, and 100s globally, we have seen the tangible results these programmes deliver. In some instances, the results have been astounding and we have seen companies save and generate money in productivity efficiencies, exploiting opportunities to on sell services, removing duplication and automating business processes.”

To conclude, Clark adds: “Will ITIL ITSM get companies through tough times and assist with recovery? It most certainly will not achieve this on its own - but it should form a key part of any IT strategy and will most help, and therefore it should not be ignored.”

To find out how your organisation will survive by investing in IT service management strategies and technologies, visit Pink Elephant at SMEXA this year where Pink Elephant's Senior IT Management Consultant, Michelle Davids, will be giving her insight into 'Mapping Routes to Recovery'.

The second annual IT Service Management Conference and Exhibition (SMEXA), taking place from 3-4 August 2010 at The Forum, is a high-profile two-day conference and exhibition that brings together local and international IT service management professionals, practitioners, experts and analysts to share their experiences as well as the latest tools and techniques focusing on routes to recovery through IT service management strategies and technology. Book your seat at http://www.smexa.co.za.

For more information about these offers, please visit http://www.pinkelephant.com or contact +27 011 656 0020.