Axios Implements ITIL Framework for Arab Bank in Jordan

Axios Implements ITIL Framework for Arab Bank in Jordan

June 29, 2006

    EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
International IT Service Management (ITSM) solutions
provider Axios Systems (www.axiossystems.com), which
recently launched an Arabic language version of its core
product, assyst, has announced a contract with Arab Bank in
Jordan.

    Axios said the new business with Arab Bank, which has
the biggest branch network in the Middle East and is
considered the largest banking group by equity in the Arab
world, represented further significant success in one of
the world's fastest growing regions for IT expenditure. It
added that further agreements with new customers and
partners in the Middle East would be announced shortly.

    Arab Bank, which reported assets of almost $US 27.5
billion (15.3 billion Sterling) in 2005, said its decision
to purchase assyst was the result of a decision to
introduce processes based on the IT Infrastructure Library
(ITIL), internationally accepted guidelines for Best
Practice in ITSM. assyst has been developed from inception
around the ITIL framework.

    The solution is being implemented in its IT centre in
Amman which employs around 90 of the Bank's 2,500 Jordan
business staff, and is due to be rolled out globally in
phase 2. It replaces a mix of tools developed in-house and
purchased from external suppliers.

    Before opting for assyst, other top tier products were
reviewed. "Axios' offer was the most effective from a
value perspective," commented Basil Abdel Nabi, Deputy
Head of IT.

    It will use assyst for incident management, storage and
retrieval of knowledge procedures, storage and management of
Service Level Agreements, managing reporting for monitoring
and control, Problem Management, and Change Management. It
also plans to install the Web-based self-service companion
product for assyst, assystNET.

    In addition the Bank will take advantage of
assystDiscovery to collect information from Microsoft SMS
about PCs and servers. assystDiscovery integrates
up-to-date asset inventory information from external
inventory management software tools. "This will give
us the added benefits of an automatic, accurate and quick
way of keeping our assets information up-to-date all the
time," Mr Abdel Nabi commented.

    Integral to any ITIL Asset Management software
implementation is the single underlying Configuration
Management Database (CMDB) which provides an accurate
inventory of IT resources and the relationships between
them. The CMDB is at the core of assyst instead of being
simply a bolt-on as it is with some other ITSM tools.

    "We assessed that it was necessary to implement
ITIL standards to gain improvements in IT operations and
quality of service delivery," Mr Abdel Nabi said.
"Axios was selected because it is focused on ITIL and
IT Service Management, and has won global awards. Its
consultants also proved their experience and knowledge
during presentations at Arab Bank."

    Mr. Abdel Nabi added that ITIL was essential for
aligning IT services with the business and provided full
transparency of IT operations. The availability of an
Arabic language service was "mission-critical,"
he went on.

    "We are very excited about winning this business
from Arab Bank and the enormous potential elsewhere in the
region," said Markos Symeonides, Regional Development
Director for Axios Systems which has 11 offices in nine
countries.

    "Due largely to increasing oil and gas revenues,
the Middle East is becoming an increasingly important
market for ITSM," he commented. "Changing
business attitudes among local end-users combined with
increasing investment in complex hardware and software
technologies will continue to promote the rise in
interest."

    Mr Symeonides continued: "Arab Bank is helping
drive the adoption of ITIL Best Practice in the Middle
East. Axios believes assyst will create many benefits for
the bank. This signals another important step in our
company's geographic expansion."

    About Axios Systems

    Axios Systems is a leading provider of Best
Practice-based IT Service Management solutions. 

    Our customer-centric approach combined with our
award-winning solutions, ensure customers worldwide can
align their Service and Support organizations with the
overall business goals. 

    For further information on Axios Systems visit
http://www.axiossystems.com .

    For more information, please contact:

     Donna Kudarenko, 
     Axios Systems
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  Axios Systems Limited