The number of billion-dollar outsourcing deals doubled from 1997 to 1998, according to IDC

Almost two-thirds of the largest outsourcing deals happened overseas

Attachmate SA starts consulting division

Attachmate South Africa says it has established a new Consulting Services division, which will concentrate on e-business, host access and application integration solution consulting.

African Life outsources to EDS

African Life, a subsidiary of Real Africa Investments, has signed a five-year outsourcing agreement with EDS, which will take over and manage the insurer`s central mainframe processing. The insurer expects the agreement to reduce IT costs, improve security and allow it to improve its service to its internal users, brokers and clients.

Wang Global offers migration to MS Office 2000

Wang Global South Africa has introduced Migration Services for Microsoft Office 2000. The company says its new offering will allow customers a rapid and smooth transition to Microsoft`s Web-enabled office suite.

Unisys global support operations link up

Unisys Global Customer Services Global Operations organisation has been awarded ISO 9002 certification by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. Unisys Global Support Operations provides co-ordinated support services for Unisys and OEM systems, including call and problem escalation management.

Debswana uses Blue Sky Networks in an industry first

In an industry first, De Beers Botswana (Debswana) has entrusted its IT nerve centre to specialist network integrators Blue Sky Networks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of USKO. The project is valued at about R200 000 per year in services alone.

Lotus evolves new services division

Lotus Development SA has formed Lotus Professional Services SA, which is in line with its worldwide strategy to dissolve its consulting, education and support operations into a single entity. Martin Smith, head of the new division, described the move as consistent with parent IBM`s strategy of presenting a single face to the customer. "The inception of Lotus Professional Services by combining the three individual disciplines enables us to focus on our core competencies," he added.

Andersen Consulting sponsors Dream League Competition

Andersen Consulting is to sponsor the first prize of the 1998 SuperSport Dream League Competition, to link in with their global Formula One Winfield Williams sponsorship programme. The competition has been launched on a national basis, with Vodacom as the primary sponsor.

World Economic Forum partners Andersen Consulting

Andersen Consulting launches new global ad campaign in South Africa

Andersen Consulting recently launched in South Africa a new $38 million global advertising program aimed at reinforcing its internationally recognised brand. The program, entitled "Birds," features television and print advertising developed by Young & Rubicam, a global communications firm. Filmed in the Canadian Rockies, the commercial uses state-of-the-art special effects to create the image of hawks catching a glistening salmon -- a reward much larger than any of the birds could have achieved acting alone. The company said "Birds" uses a simple metaphor to deliver Andersen Consulting`s core strategy -- business integration.

Andersen Consulting announces new Information and Technology Strategy Division

Andersen Consulting, the world`s largest management and technology consulting organisation, said it has formed a new South African Information & Technology Strategy Division. The division will be headed by Tor Mesoy, an associate partner in the South African practice. Mesoy said that the newly created division operates at the intersection of business strategy and information technology and would be an important new service. "Companies no longer simply rely on IT to support their business strategies," Mesoy said.

Unisys international headlines First Travelcorp expands outsourcing services with Unisys travel solution