ETW Staff– Mumbai
South African Airways (SAA), will outsource its domestic network services and its desktop and associated server support services to air transport IT specialist, SITA. In a five-year deal, SITA will also establish a round-the-clock command centre for desktop and network management and will help the airline implement various transformational projects in information technology.
Phinda Ncala, chief information officer, South African Airways, said, “In order to enhance passenger service and ensure we remain competitive in the market, we need to transform the way IT operations delivers services to the business. This new agreement builds on our long-standing relationship with SITA, and will ensure IT and business alignment, while integrating new innovations and reducing our costs.”
As part of its desktop support services, SITA will provide a catalogue of services to automate delivery processes for authorised users, improving delivery time and quality. In addition, SITA will offer role-based profiling to ensure the airline is providing the right device and service to each user based on their specific needs. The agreement covers 130 international sites, 30 South African sites and more than 7,000 desktop and laptop devices. SITA will also support the airline’s high-speed, resilient domestic network.
Hani El-Assaad, president, Middle East, India and Africa, SITA, said, “SITA is helping South African Airways virtualise, standardise and consolidate its IT environment in order to decrease operational costs and increase efficiency. We’re working together to upgrade the airline’s technology and to create new governance in its IT to ensure changes happen in a highly efficient and structured manner. At the same time, we’re collaborating on new innovations like establishing a comprehensive mobility capability and making the most of the airline’s WiFi networks.”
SITA has provided outsourced desktop and associated server and domestic network services to SAA for the last 13 years. This new agreement is an extension of the previous deal. SITA has partnered with Business Connection Limited (BCX), South Africa’s leading systems integrator, who will provide leadership in process standardization as well as technical support specialists. SITA is also working closely with HP, which will manage the airline’s data centre.
