Absa renews outsourcing contract with AST

The value of the contract is in excess of R140 million, per annum. In terms of the contract, AST DTS will conduct maintenance and support service in respect of Absas technology environment, which includes desktops, printers, servers and peripherals. This environment consists of around 30 000 PCs, servers and notebooks, and some 1 500 LANs. Since 2000, AST DTS has invested in the necessary managerial and skilled resources to manage and operate in the Absa environment to ensure that all Service Level Agreements are achieved, as agreed by Absa and AST DTS. Using world-class tools and processes as a basis, AST DTS has made progress towards operational excellence within Absa. They actively monitor and report on performance in the integration of a quality process. The continuous focus is on the client. In terms of the outsourcing services contract, AST DTS, as a supplier to Absa, will strive to achieve BEE procurement targets as set out in the new Financial Sector Charter released by government in 2003. Absa and AST DTS are also involved in a R300 million joint project, which allows Absa to improve its cost-to-income ratio without sacrificing service delivery to its customers, and place it as a leading bank in the connected world of e-business.