Sydney, June 27, 2001
Fujitsu Australia's customers using Microsoft technology will have access to simplified, faster and more cost effective support following the company's appointment as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Support Services.
Fujitsu, which becomes one of a select group of strategic Gold Partners in Australia to meet Microsoft's rigorous criteria, will provide software support services for Microsoft software and selected multi-vendor software running within a company's Microsoft environment.
Fujitsu will also be one of only four partners in Australia authorised to deliver Microsoft Authorised Premier Support (MAPS) services, an offering of call support and Microsoft Technical Account management. MAPS simplifies access to software support by companies, speeds up the help process and minimises productivity losses from system downtime for customers.
Fujitsu's appointment as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Support Services is an endorsement of Fujitsu's total capability in IT infrastructure support, according to Microsoft Program Manager David Cramer.
"When we appoint a Gold Partner to work closely with us in the marketplace, we look for organisations we know will deliver the goods and protect our reputation. We're confident Fujitsu will meet the high expectations of our customers and ourselves," he said.
"Fujitsu's certification recognises the sound management and technical support expertise it has demonstrated over a long period."
Fujitsu Australia's Manager of Services Marketing Terry Carter added: "Fujitsu Australia is excited about our Certification and we look forward to using our strength and experience in call centres and infrastructure services to deliver a guaranteed high level of support to Microsoft customers.
"Our work for Microsoft customers will form a key part of our InfraCare services brand offering, which provides customers with a single source for the management and delivery of IT Infrastructure services."
Mr Carter said Certification would facilitate more effective customer support by giving Fujitsu access to Microsoft's extensive knowledge database as well as its own.
"This will enable us to jointly deliver a full range of software support to ensure problems are minimised. While companies will continue to maintain a direct relationship with Microsoft, they will also have access to our extensive help desk expertise," he said.
"A core feature of the Technical Account Management aspect of the MAPS offering is to streamline and strengthen management of a company's technical support. We will work closely with clients to develop customised support plans, anticipate problems and take a proactive approach to prevent them, provide ongoing evaluation of their technical support needs, and recommend ways to reduce or eliminate problems.
"Fujitsu's certified support centre will offer customers access to skills beyond the scope of most internal help desk operations. While most of the reporting and resolution of problems can be done over the phone, Technical Account Management will enable companies to gain help from a senior software specialist who will virtually work as an extension of the customer's own support staff."
The MAPS program has proven a successful and cost-effective way to deliver support service for customers around the world, Microsoft's Mr Cramer added.
"With increasing financial pressures on companies to contain their operating costs, the use of external experts to deliver support services without a commitment to full time staff is becoming much more attractive," he said.
"Our experience elsewhere in the world has shown that the introduction of MAPS and its availability to selected Gold Partners for support services is delivering the results we expected. We believe Fujitsu will be a valuable addition to the MAPS program in Australia."