DST International Billing (DSTi Billing) - the leading provider of customer management and open billing solutions to the utility industry - announces the commencement of the migration for Tanzanian Electric Supply Company Ltd (TANESCO) from Custima to HiAffinity. South African-based Computers and Programs Africa (CPA), the exclusive HiAffinity distributor in sub-Saharan Africa, has deployed two technologists and one business consultant to Tanzania for the duration of this conversion.
The HiAffinity predecessor system, Custima, was installed in 22 separate regions throughout Tanzania in the late 1990s. Tanzania is slightly larger than twice the size of California and the geographical spread of the 22 different databases proved problematic for TANESCO - a large staff component was created, requiring costly training and monitoring. Furthermore, the difficulty of consolidating financial results from the regions often delayed production of vital management reports.
Tony Wood, managing director of CPA, said: "CPA has provided utilities billing consultancy in many other sub-Saharan countries but we are finding `boom town` Dar es Salaam particularly appealing. Tanzania is experiencing much new development with new investment at historical highs. The Tanzanian government is continually requiring higher standards in the delivery of services from its parastatals - with the resultant high expectations from its customers. TANESCO has over 400 000 customers and the immediate challenge is to merge the 22 separate billing systems into a single, central database accessed via the countrywide wide area network (WAN)."
Marisa Bellini, DSTi`s South Africa director, comments: "DSTi Billing has successfully implemented HiAffinity at large utility companies throughout the US, UK and Australia, and we are pleased that TANESCO is aiming to provide international bench-mark service to its customers."
"DSTi is committed to providing our best-practice software products, solutions and services to SA and the rest of the African continent. Our commitment is in accordance with President Mbeki`s NEPAD clarion call to improve the quality of life for all Africans. Lessons being learnt from TANESCO`s conversion and our solutions thereto can be easily replicated throughout Africa`s utilities sector," she continues.
Wood concurs: "We expect that a large part of the work done here will be reusable. This will enable us to offer excellent solutions elsewhere in Africa."
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TANESCO is a parastatal organisation created in 1964 and reports to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals. The company`s core business is to generate, transmit, distribute and sell electricity to customers in Tanzania mainland and bulk supply to the island of Zanzibar.
CPA Africa
CPA has been providing IT solutions for billing, customer service and revenue management since 1994. The company is based in SA and has provided services and consultancy to utilities and municipalities in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia, as well as SA.
DSTi Billing
For over 25 years, DSTi Billing has led the market in providing innovative customer management and open billing solutions to the utility industries. DSTi Billing`s business solutions transform typical billing and customer care tasks into valuable and efficient communications, resulting in loyal customers, increased revenues and decreased expenses. DSTi Billing is a wholly owned subsidiary of DST International Limited.
DST International (DSTi)
With 18 offices and over 1300 professionals to support its growing client base, DST International provides a unique and comprehensive range of investment management and work management software solutions and related services to over 600 clients in 55 countries. http://www.dstinternational.com
DST Systems, Inc
Our parent company, DST Systems, provides sophisticated information processing and computer software services and products that help clients improve productivity, increase efficiencies, and provide higher levels of customer service. DST is organised domestically and internationally into three operating segments: Financial Services, Customer Management and Output Solutions. DST operates one of the most advanced data centres in the world, which provides information-processing services to support the products within each operating segment. These products are further enhanced through the integration of DST`s advanced technology and e-commerce solutions.
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