PUBLICATION:  NETWORK TIMES ONLINE

DATE:  22 AUGUST 2007

JSE's Blue Financial Services outsources to Integr8 IT

August 2007

Blue Financial Services, the JSE AltX (Alternative Exchange)-listed financial services company, has outsourced the management and maintenance of its IT operation to Integr8 IT, South Africa's largest privately owned national information technology network integration and infrastructure management specialist.

Blue Financial Services is based in Gauteng, South Africa, and has successfully entrenched its business network across key areas in Africa including Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. It is also expanding into West Africa. The company has over 106 branches and a staff complement of over 600 people.

Its service offering to clients includes personal loans, mobile technology and home improvement loans. Roll out in Africa and the realisation of its capital-raising strategy is a key priority for the company as it minimises regulatory risk and mitigates exposure to exchange rates.

Management sought to outsource the capability and care of its ICT infrastructure to a prospective partner with an established track record in the market.

The two companies committed to a service level agreement in 2006. As the outsourced ICT partner, Integr8 IT continues to supply proactive infrastructure management services, product and support. As well as assist Blue Financial Services with its strategic IT direction.

To date Blue Financial Services has invested in a number of services outlined in Integr8 IT's managed services portfolio.

These services include complete IT Infrastructure rental and Microsoft Active Directory and Exchange rollout in South Africa and Africa, as well as the entire connectivity and hosting services.

"Integr8 IT has provided its client and partner with cutting edge technology to bolster productivity and improve communications and efficiencies between branches and improve Blue Financial Services response times to its client base. This has a direct impact on its image and performance in the market place," says Sussman.

Bennie Strydom, sales director at Integr8 IT, says Integr8 IT is positioned to add value to clients that are expanding their infrastructure and require expertise on how to extract the maximum value with minimal cost and interruption to core business.

"Blue Financial Services is (the) up and coming financial services provider in Southern and East Africa. It has broken the mould of the traditional 'microlender' and continues to demonstrate a fresh, dynamic approach to the financial services market. The partnership with Integr8 IT has been instrumental in helping to secure its position at the forefront of technology, thus ensuring back office functions and client service standards are maintained," says Strydom.