PKBA ousts Datacom at Australian Central Credit Union

The multi-million dollar managed services contract covers the provision of support for in excess of 700 PCs and laptops, a mix of Wintel-based business applications, several application servers and a data communications network linking Australian Central's sites in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The contract, says PKBA director of business development Conrad Hilde, runs for several years and will roll on so long as the client is satisfied with the services.  

Hilde said PKBA has been building towards a managed services capability for several years.

"We've been fortunate in having done the groundwork for this kind of business for so long in providing support services, its now starting to pay dividends," he said.

"PKBA has a long history of providing support services to over a hundred Australian clients. But over the last 12 months we've consolidated businesses we've purchased and built an industry standard NOC [Network Operations Centre] and a best practice service desk. This managed services contract means we can reap what we've sewn."

Part of PKBA's success, Hilde said, is its national focus. Australian Central, for example, has 30 branches across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory - many in places "most of us need to look up on the map."

"They have half the country covered, they are a very significant player in the region," he said.

"We set up PKBA to be a truly national business - to get work in the regional environment. That helps us win business over competitors that are too CBD and East Coast centric in their views."

PKBA has also won managed services deals with Blundstone in Tasmania, Magellan Petroleum in Queensland, and Slade Pharmaceuticals in Victoria.

David Hombsch, senior manager Technology Services PKBA said his team has successfully completed the Audit and Transition Phase of the Managed Services Agreement, all activities have been completed and all outcomes from that phase have been achieved.

PKBA has demonstrated "its ability to deliver project-based quality services for the past 18 months', said Hombsch. "We see this as a step towards strengthening this partnership."