December 10, 2009. IBS DataFort and OAO Severstal-infocom have set up a joint venture to provide IT services for OAO Severstal.
IBS DataFort, a provider of IT outsourcing services in the Russian market, and Severstal-infocom have pooled their intellectual and technology resources and set up IBS DataFort Cherepovets, the joint venture to provide IT outsourcing and maintenance services for OAO Severstal, the leading Russian metals company.
IBS DataFort and Severstal-infocom, the company providing technical maintenance for all IT and telecommunications infrastructure of OAO Severstal, have been working together since 2008. The management of OAO Severstal-infocom, a holding company, outsourced a number of non-core functions of maintenance of workstations and peripheral IT hardware as part of measures to cut costs and make business structures more profitable amid the economic downturn.
Bids were invited to select a provider and the IBS DataFort bid was successful. Given Severstal-infocom's unique knowledge of the customer's IT infrastructure details and specific service requirements, it was decided in negotiations that the two companies would set up a joint venture.
IBS DataFort Cherepovets has already undertaken technical support for over 13.5 thousand computer hardware items, which are mostly workstations. The joint venture currently serves two plants of OAO Severstal: the Cherepovets plant of the Severstal-metiz subsidiary and the Cherepovets Steel Mill, which is part of the Severstal Russian Steel business. The parties have now completed a transition period during which service regulations were approved and processes were implemented for subsequent optimisation of the customer's IT infrastructure operation.
"The management of Severstal-infocom found a strategically appropriate way to maintain service quality as volumes fall. It was decided to use a business legal structure that would assure contract performance would be most convenient for the customer and the contractor alike. This project could become a milestone in the development of the Russian outsourcing services market in 2009," commented Denis Kalinin, General Director, IBS DataFort.
Companies’ Profiles
IBS DataFort is a provider of IT outsourcing services in the Russian market. For more information, please visit http://www.datafort.org/.
OAO Severstal-infocom is the centre for information and communication technologies of Severstal Group. The company includes 6 branches and 3 subsidiaries in various Russian cities including Cherepovets, Moscow St. Petersburg, Orel, Vorkuta and Kostomuksha, and has the total headcount of over 300 employees.
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