By providing its customers with a complete one-stop-shop for all their mobile integration requirements, Integrat is fast becoming Africa’s leading value-added services integrator.
COURTING AFRICA

Operating in the value-added services side of mobile networks, Integrat provides every type of service that falls within this ambit (with the exception of voice services, which are the sole domain of the mobile network operators).

An international Wireless Application Service Provider (WASP) Aggregator, the company’s core operation is based in South Africa, and it also has an extended footprint into the African continent as well as several other countries around the globe.

“The African market is the next major summit to be conquered, and we are currently expanding heavily across the continent”, says Norman Parkin, Integrat’s CEO. “Recently, we switched on our operation in Kenya, and additional plans for Africa include operations in a host of other nations, including Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”

Parkin explains that the company’s strategy is focused around becoming the leading mobile aggregator in Africa. “This is due in part at least to the fact that Africa as a whole is ripe for such business, and is relatively untapped, with the majority of international aggregators tending to focus on the first world markets.”

Parkin is confident that Integrat is ready to grasp this opportunity, as the company understands that mobile is a technology ideally suited to Africa. “With mobile operations expanding rapidly across the continent, it is clear that the need for a value-added services aggregator is a void that is just waiting to be filled by a player like Integrat, that is prepared to step up to the plate.”

THROUGH THE GATEWAY

Integrat’s gateway solution is designed to provide connectivity to all of our supported mobile operators. It is through this gateway that the company supports a wide variety of value-added products. “The real-world application of these products ranges from mobile entertainment services and content delivery, right through to corporate applications and systems integration. Thanks to this wide range of applications, Integrat is able to count among our customers businesses from all market segments, including a large number of local and international blue-chip clients,” says Parkin.

Integrat supports a full range of Application Programming Interfaces (API) that enable customers to obtain access to the gateway and even allows them to integrate their own applications, and the company understands the importance of a strong base aggregation platform, spending more than a year developing its HiGate platform. HiGate is constantly evolving and improving to stay abreast of technology developments in the value-added services segment and is one of the few that supports all bearers offered by mobile operators. This means that it is able to provide customers with a complete one-stop-shop for all their mobile integration requirements.

Since it has a multi-tiered infrastructure architecture with comprehensive backup and disaster recovery capabilities, HiGate is designed to provide customers with the highest levels of backup and business continuity. “To this end, the architecture is duplicated in select countries – depending on regulatory requirements and connectivity restrictions – which ensures not only optimal performance, but also shortest route integration capabilities”, notes Parkin. The advantage of the HiGate technology is that it provides a single interface for all GSM bearer services, thereby making it simple for clients to deliver mobile solutions to their customers.

By taking care of the complex mobile integration, development and support, Integrat enables its customers to quickly and easily develop mobile services, making use of a unified, easy-to- use interface, coupled with relevant development tools, which Integrat also offers to its clients. In addition, the organisation offers shrink-wrap products that do not require external integration with an API. These offerings are made available to customers on a secure Web interface.

HIGH-LEVEL SERVICES

“Above and beyond these core products and services, we also offer a range of billable value-added services that include third party software development, hosted and managed solutions, a 24/7 consumer call centre and a range of consultation services,” says Parkin. “For example, in keeping with our reputation for customer service, Integrat offers clients standard services that include 24/7 technical support, compliance management and OPS support for service configurations. We also offer a real-time online account management interface and provide each customer with an assigned account manager.”

Parkin indicates that the contact centre is ideally suited to managing international or local customers’ needs, as it operates in eleven languages and offers state-of-the-art call centre ticketing, recording, call management, Voice over IP (VoIP) routing, tracking and transaction log access and call reporting capabilities.

By allocating a unique access number to each customer, it enables them to build their own brand, as required. While contact centre agents do provide basic device support, such as providing instructions on WAP enablement and device compatibility, in general the more prominent function is the facilitation of consumer services end user support. In other words, comparing such requests with refund indicators and processing refunds when warranted.

A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE

“The consultation service is yet another bonus that we bring to the party for our customers. This is because directors and staff have accumulated a wealth of knowledge within the value-added services space. In other words, we can provide relevant consultation services to enable customers to develop a strategy for their individual mobile integration needs,” says Parkin. “This consultation expertise reaches beyond mere strategic planning – Integrat has the skills and ability to assist clients with designing the specifications for their specific implementation needs.”

Since Integrat is a technology company, the core of its staff compliment reflects this competence. The company has extensive in-house software development skills, which range from technologies such as J2ME, WAP, Web and PHP, to C++, VB, .Net and Erlang, to name a few.

Integrat is also a firm believer in the methodology of project management. It applies relevant project skills such as business analysis and design, in order to deliver projects to customers on time, in budget and within specification.

Parkin explains: “Because we have a number of strategic relationships with outsourced software development companies, we can provide capacity for any sized project. Our team has already been involved in the development of a wide array of leading edge mobile applications, so it brings experience and creativity to the party in a manner in which our rivals cannot replicate.”

C O N T A C T

Norman Parkin
CEO: Integrat
Tel: 0861 222 767
Fax: 011 318 3334
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.integrat.co.za