British Olivetti’s Customer Support Group, part of the Systems and Networks division as from January 1, 1990, has publicised some details of its three-year third party support contract with Barclays Bank Merchant Services (CI No 1,120). The contract is worth UKP3.3m, and Olivetti is to install and maintain 22,000 plastic card authorisation and data capture terminals. Olivetti will supply a team of 40 to work with Barclaycard’s own staff, and two dedicated centres in Manchester and St Albans will provide maintenance services. Barclays Bank represents a major source of revenue to the Customer Support Group which is looking at a turnover of UKP47m for 1989, up from UKP30m in 1988, and UKP24m in 1987. Other clients include National Westminster Bank, Marks & Spencer, and several building societies. The company is focusing its attention on large corporations since it believes that is where single source contracts are particulary apt. The range of services provided by the Customer Support Group includes on-site maintenance of products regardless of hardware manufacturer, networking, training in hardware and software at regional centres, help line support, and overall project management. Olivetti believes that the market for third party maintenance will continue to grow over the next four years and then reach a plateau. It says that firms should stop regarding single source maintenance contracts as a threat, and should form alliances to develop new opportunities and markets.
