Want to book a flight from Chicago to Vancouver from Johannesburg quicker and with much wider choice than you do now? Or hire a rental car while on business in Milan? Well, then simply contact your nearest Amadeus-connected travel agent and the world is at your feet.
Thanks to a new strategic alliance between Unisys, the Pennsylvania-based multi-national information technology solutions provider, the Amadeus network is being upgraded to TCP/IP, making all kinds of travel arrangements, both nationally and internationally, faster and more efficient than ever before. Amadeus is a large travel reservation system used extensively throughout the world.
This is another example of Unisys` ability to provide solutions into more than 100 countries worldwide, based on their broad portfolio of capabilities, including e-commerce, e-business, systems integration and multi-vendor services and support.
This new partnership in South Africa will put local agents on the international travel map without incurring significant operational costs. The partnership also marks a long-term commitment by Amadeus to the South African travel market in an effort to surpass all service levels currently experienced by the travel industry.
As part of the relationship, products and upgrades will be provided with the new network. They include a fax, e-mail and the new ``Intranet`` version of Travel Info. In addition, ITAC Agents will also be given access to their Panda fares database.
Unisys and Amadeus already have an international partnership. Both companies however recently took key decisions to extend the service to South Africa. Unisys will provide hardware and software maintenance, warranty claims, and roll-out services.
According to Allan Wattrus, a Desktop Services Consultant at Unisys, the recent decision to extend the strong international partnership between Unisys and Amadeus into Southern Africa is a decision that holds huge potential benefit for the travel community.
In terms of this agreement, Amadeus users will benefit from the Unisys global experience, including professional installation, world-class service on the installed hardware and software, and cost-effective warranty services. What does all of this mean? Basically, it means increased business opportunities, a reliable network, and vastly improved service levels in the travel office.
Amadeus Southern Africa, part of the international Amadeus group, will benefit from shorter response and repair times, a robust network infrastructure, and increased revenue flows.
Douglas Bengtson, a customer services manager at Unisys, said: ``The tie-up with Amadeus is in line with the Unisys global business strategy. We will be assisting Amadeus with its `Into Africa` strategy.``
He added: ``Unisys South Africa is the hub for the Unisys Corporation`s thrust into Africa. Many global companies are using our infrastructure as a vehicle for implementing their solutions into the countries north of our borders. Doing this kind of thing in Africa without a partner who understands the territory can be a challenging experience.``
Bengtson said the roll-out was proceeding well, and should be completed in the first quarter of 2000. The roll-out includes preparing new PC`s, loading operating systems and applications, delivering countrywide, installing on site, and testing and handing over of a working product.
Amadeus Southern Africa is covering all costs for the installation of the new network. Sally Sidenberg, a sales executive of Amadeus Southern Africa, said that there had already been great interest from travel agents regarding the TCP/IP upgrade. ``Phenomenal`` growth was expected in 2000 and beyond.
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