As part of an on-going strategy of creating inclusive and sustainable transformation, T-Systems in South Africa has announced the launch of the next phase of its Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) initiative. ESD is aimed at leveraging procurement spend to promote skills development and job creation.
Building on the success of the initial phase of this program, T-Systems is now extending ESD into the Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) region by outsourcing a variety of field services to Vumela IT Services.
“T-Systems is dedicated to sustainable and on-going transformation, and has embarked on a journey to develop local suppliers with specific focus on black women and black youth. The ESD initiative is just one within our nation building program, providing opportunities for internal and external applicants to set up their own ICT businesses, without any shareholding from T-Systems South Africa,” says Adre Du Plessis, vice-president Strategy & Transformation at T-Systems in South Africa.
“As a newly formed entity, Vumela will benefit from the backing of a large multi-national entity, leveraging the ability to enhance skills development and localise the creation of wealth and positive economic contribution,” she adds.
The KZN ESD partner was chosen based on the outcome of a stringent Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Several candidates were shortlisted and after a rigorous series of interviews to evaluate the companies’ strengths and weaknesses, Vumela IT Services was selected. Vumela will provide field support services on behalf of T-Systems within the KZN region.
“Desktop and IT support services have become my passion over 16 years in the industry, and I am grateful for the opportunities T-Systems has given me, first as an employee for the past five years and now as an ESD supplier. With my experience I have developed a solid understanding of the market as well as excellent relationships with both customers and the team I will be working with, and I am looking forward to making this venture a huge success,” says Sivashni Moodley, Managing Director of Vumela IT Services.
In order to assist ESD companies such as Vumela IT Services to become sustainable, credible and successful, T-Systems provides assistance at a number of levels. Not only does T-Systems assist to develop the new company, but also provides them with support in the form of field services, along with the associated revenue stream. Preferential payment terms of 15 days assists the company with cash flow.
T-Systems also supports the new supplier to enable delivery and compliance with required service levels, with hands-on operational and Service Level Agreement (SLA) management. Expert assistance is provided in all areas of business, including HR, finance, legal, sales, project management and procurement, and transfers expert staff members to the new organisation as employees to assist with skills development and transfer. In addition, the company provides interns for employment through its internship program.
“South African ICT service providers often have customers spread across the country, yet provide services to outlying regions from larger cities. The outlying regions themselves therefore do not benefit from job creation, skills development or growth in the community. Our ESD program aims to redress this balance and enable wealth creation and economic upliftment in all areas of South Africa,” says Gert Schoonbee, MD at T-Systems in South Africa.
The ESD program focuses on empowering regional suppliers to bring wealth into under-serviced and rural areas, while enabling skills development and job creation to take place, uplifting communities and creating on-going, sustainable and inclusive transformation.
“Vumela IT Services’ vision is to become a leading provider of ICT services and also empower the people of South Africa in terms of economic and skills development. For the next three months we will focus on stabilising the existing business from both an implementation and an operational perspective, and thereafter we will look to grow the business and identify new opportunities. We are thankful for the opportunity provided by T-Systems to enable us to become a contributor to the National Development Plan,” Moodley concludes.
