The agreement signed today by TANDBERG and International Turnkey Systems Group (ITS), not only reaffirms their continued investment commitment into the GCC and surrounding regions, but also emphasises video conferencing as a beneficial modern business tool to help counter the financial impact of the current economic crisis.
TANDBERG – the leading provider of telepresence technology, high-definition videoconferencing and mobile video products and services – has its Middle East head office in Dubai and designs, develops and markets systems and software for video, voice and data for application across all industries.
ITS is an eminent Kuwaiti-based integrated information technology solutions provider founded in 1981. It has offices across the pan Arab region, including Dubai, North Africa and Asia. The company offers world-class products and services that enable regional companies to keep pace with the evolving changes in today's competitive business environment, and to meet future challenges and opportunities. ITS services mainly target banks and financial institutions, both conventional and Islamic, in addition to the telecommunications and higher education sector.
The signing of the agreement recognises ITS as a Platinum Partner of TANDBERG, enabling it to distribute TANDBERG’s solutions and products throughout the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan. TANDBERG boasts a highly dedicated and technically strong network of resellers, and through the cooperation agreement TANDBERG has expanded its reseller.
Geir Olsen, TANDBERG President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) says: “TANDBERG is continuing its investment philosophy into the region not only via capital, but also through people and competence – as well as growing its network of business partners.
“In the past year we have more than doubled our employee strength in the GCC, while also having grown our client numbers. We have seen strong demand here with revenues in EMEA up in the fourth quarter last year, totalling US$ 91 million, compared to US$ 85,5 million for the same period in 2007.”
Olsen adds that the company recently opened a branch in KSA as part of its growth strategy. TANDBERG will also be investing in its Dubai office to ensure it boasts the latest telepresence capabilities.
“As a company we are dedicated to not only growing our own business, but also that of local enterprises. Therefore, it was a logical choice to strategically partner with a company that has a wide reach into, and understanding of, local markets. In addition, ITS is a stable player, respected for its integrity and expertise,” Olsen adds.
The new strategic relationship gives TANDBERG access to ITS’ existing clients base of over 300 clients across several industries.
Khaled Faraj Al-Saeid, ITS Managing Director and General Manager, comments: “ITS has become known for superior products and services that allow organisations to keep pace with the evolving changes in today's competitive business environment. By including the TANDBERG offering in our range, we are confident that we are able to provide even more comprehensive solutions to future and current challenges facing our clients.
“The working arrangement has multiple benefits, not only for our respective businesses but also for our existing clients. ITS realises the value that videoconferencing brings and this is why we have opted to invest in opening a new unit exclusively for visual communications.”
The venture between the two companies, according to Al-Saeid, also offers them the ability to influence videoconferencing technology trends in the ME region.
Olsen says that many clients have already benefited from TANDBERG’s ‘new way of working’. He explains that telepresence has numerous benefits ranging from managing tangible operational expenditure and human resources issues through to carbon footprint reduction.
Videoconferencing affords all participants both hard and soft benefits, such as: a saving on costs associated with business travel like flights, car rental and accommodation; time saving by eliminating the need for travel; improved quality of work/family life; and less downtime.
Companies also experience increased employee satisfaction as a result of accelerated decision-making.
Videoconferencing offers businesses world-class communication infrastructure that creates an authentic in-person meeting experience and provides an ideal platform for interaction among all employees – no matter where they are. This technology helps to improve communication between staff as it allows dispersed teams to work together more efficiently. In addition, it affords work teams easier access to experts in any part of the world.
