T-Systems in collaboration with The Innovation Hub and Maxum Business Incubator launch Innovation Factory
Delivers transformation through business innovation
Johannesburg, South Africa, May 30, 2014
T-Systems in South Africa, The Innovation Hub and Maxum Business Incubator, has launched the Innovation Factory, a local showcase of the international T-Systems Innovation Centre in Munich, tailored to the South African market. The Innovation Factory, a collaboration between T-Systems in South Africa, The Innovation Hub and Maxum Business Incubator, is aimed at providing access to global innovation for a wide range of customers and staff members, helping to drive transformation for South Africa through business innovation.
The 200m2 space, located in prime position at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria, offers boardrooms for showcasing demonstrations, hot desking solutions for up to 20 people, and a collaboration space for design, brainstorming and solution crafting. Within the Innovation Factory, T-Systems, The Innovation Hub and Maxum Business Incubator will offer demonstrations of Proof of Concept and test systems or solutions that highlight the potential of technology to change South Africa and the world. Through the partnership with The Innovation Hub and the Maxum Business Incubator, T-Systems’ customers and potential customers will also have access to leading entrepreneurs, industry partners and knowledge experts, who will be able to share their insights to further drive innovation.
“T-Systems is dedicated to aligning itself with the national priorities of South Africa. This commitment can be seen in our on-going efforts towards sustainable transformation, both within our own company and in the communities we serve. Recently, we restructured our minority shareholding to be more in line with the Codes of Good Practice. We are also transforming services by positioning ourselves as a leading provider of ‘ICT that works’ for South Africa,” says Gert Schoonbee, Managing Director of T-Systems in South Africa.
“Innovation is the next stage in the T-Systems Transformation Journey, and is a key focus for us in 2014. One of the key roles of innovation is to enable customers to close the gap between IT and business, and business and its customers, creating Zero Distance. Zero Distance is essential in helping companies understand exactly what their customers, both internal and external, require. T-Systems has the solutions and the unique value proposition to deliver on these requirements. The Innovation Factory will help us to showcase these solutions and innovations to existing, new and potential customers,” he adds.
Monthly internal, customer and partner sessions will be hosted at the Innovation Factory. It will provide an environment that encourages and stimulate creative, innovative thinking which will bolster a culture of innovation in South Africa.
“In addition to showcasing global T-Systems innovations and solutions, the Innovation Factory will also act as a networking hub. The Innovation Factory will help to drive transformation throughout South African business by promoting information sharing between knowledge experts, and providing widespread access to global innovation localised for the South African market,” Schoonbee adds.
The Innovation Factory will enable the Maxum Business Incubator to leverage the knowledge from a global IT organisation and will assist them with future business development and growth.
About Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies with over 142 million mobile customers, 31 million fixed-network lines and more than 17 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2013). The Group provides fixed network, mobile communications, Internet and IPTV products and services for consumers and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in around 50 countries and has approximately 229,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenues of EUR 60,1 billion in the 2013 financial year – more than half of it outside Germany.
About T-Systems
Drawing on a global infrastructure of data centers and networks, T-Systems operates information and communication technology (ICT) systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions. T-Systems provides integrated solutions for the networked future of business and society. Some 50,000 employees at T-Systems combine industry expertise and ICT innovations to add significant value to the digitization strategies and core business of customers all over the world. T-Systems generated revenue of around EUR 9,5 billion in the 2013 financial year.
Since the inception of T-Systems in South Africa in 1997, the company has cemented its position as one of the most successful T-Systems companies outside of Europe. A leading ICT outsourcing service provider locally, T-Systems offers end-to-end ICT solutions in both the ICT Operations and Systems Integration markets. Their extensive portfolio of services covers the vertical, horizontal, IT and TC space. T-Systems South Africa’s head office is located in Midrand with another major office in Cape Town, and 20 further representative offices in locations throughout southern Africa.
About The Innovation Hub
The Innovation Hub, a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) is Africa’s first internationally accredited Science Park and a full member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP). It is strategically located in Tshwane, South Africa’s executive capital in the ‘smart’ province of Gauteng. As the leading knowledge-intensive business cluster in South Africa, The Innovation Hub implements initiatives identified in the Gauteng Innovation Strategy and Green Economy strategy to advance the economic development and growth of the province through innovation. The Innovation Hub has created a unique space for high-tech entrepreneurs, world-class businesses, academics, researchers and venture capitalists to meet, network and prosper.
For more information visit www.theinnovationhub.com
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