Axon takes system to mid-sized firms

By ADAM GIFFORD

IT services company Axon is offering a version of its Quality Direct online IT procurement system to mid-sized companies.

Managing director Matt Kenealy said the new service, QD, would not involve the levels of customisation and personal service Quality Direct offered to large customers.

"We have made some minor adjustments so we can offer a service cost-effectively to medium-sized organisations - those with 20 to 100 'seats' - who have many of the same needs as large organisations but also some differences," Kenealy said.

QD general manager John Hayson said after four years in operation the turnover through Quality Direct is about $45 million. While only about 10 per cent of that is done completely online, 80 per cent of decisions are supported by the web. "There will be a call centre behind QD," Hayson said. "We hope to put a lot of transactional stuff through the web but the mistake people make in this area is to try to make procurement web only - people like to buy from people and deal with people."

Axon has partnered with DTSL to provide installation and after sales support, and will also work with customers' existing service providers.

Hayson said Axon's buying power meant QD would be able to offer smaller firms the sort of discounts corporates received.

It would also be able to address complex areas such as software licensing. Hayson said specialist staff who understood how licensing for products like Microsoft worked were saving customers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

He said smaller companies wanted the same desktop products and services as large companies.

"They want advice on what to buy, rapid and efficient delivery and installation, instant access to helpdesk support and onsite service as and when required.

"Most important, they want the same single supplier, whatever their location."

Kenealy said many smaller companies went to retailers to get IT equipment, which made it hard to get information specific to their needs.

"The value we provide to customers is we stand between multiple customers and multiple vendors and try to get them to do things in ways which help the end user."