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News: Allianz
An Asian Win-Win
In 2005, Allianz Global Investors decided it was time to “go external” for IT services in Asia. It's been onward and upward with T-Systems ever since.
“A key factor in our initial choice was network connectivity,” says Deborah Chan, Head of Asia Pacific IT for Allianz. “T-Systems offered its global MPLS network, which is inherently more cost-effective. Other criteria included familiarity with the financial services industry and a firm commitment to delivering high-quality services.”
Since then, T-Systems has successfully provided the financial service specialists with a range of cross-border offerings, including server, network, firewall and messaging management, as well as helpdesk services. T-Systems’ familiarity with the customer's systems has also made it easier to help local Allianz technicians get up to speed as new business sites have come online. Most recently, both partners have worked together to upgrade to Active Directory and to deploy VOIP telephony.
Making a difference
“This arrangement has allowed us to orchestrate our seven Asia Pacific countries with an integrated infrastructure while providing secure access to our business-critical applications,” Chan says. Just as importantly, she adds, the collaboration frees up her company’s IT crew so it can focus on delivering the company’s business solutions.
Since the start, it’s been an alliance with a difference: continual collaboration. “Many enterprises mistakenly view such arrangements as an 'opportunity' to farm out issues and problems," the IT expert says. “That’s not going to work. What works is having an ongoing business partnership.”
