Acxsys Corporation and CGI Group (CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) today announced a 7-year, $23.6 million, multi-level IT services and technology outsourcing contract.
The services covered by the agreement include:
- Application maintenance for the Interac(R) Email Money Transfer service, the Interac Online service and associated software applications
- Enhancement of Interac Email Money Transfer and Interac Online services over time and,
- 24/7 infrastructure management to support these applications and operations
Acxsys offers the Interac Email Money Transfer and Interac Online services. The Interac Email Money Transfer service is a financial institution based, person-to-person funds transfer product that uses Email to notify consumers of the transaction while financial institutions transfer these funds using established, secure inter-financial institution settlement systems. Five of Canada's major financial institutions have adopted this service, making it the first of its kind in the world. Two more financial institutions will be joining the service in 2007. The Interac Online service enables consumers to make secure debit payments from their bank account when purchasing products and services from internet-based retailers - much like the point-of-sale transactions consumers make at traditional retailers.
This continues CGI's long association with the Interac brand. CGI has been providing 24/7 network management and managed support services to the Interac Association since 1993. Acxsys Corporation has been providing management services and facilities to the Interac Association since 1996.
"Acxsys Corporation has successfully developed and rolled out Interac Email Money Transfer and Interac Online. We're pleased to have CGI professionally manage systems operations and work with us to further advance these services" says Fred Harris, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Acxsys. "CGI's advanced technology and application capabilities combined with their experience with our organization, ensures that we will receive the dedicated support that these services require to meet the needs of an increasingly demanding marketplace."
"Providing consistent and increased levels of customer satisfaction is a CGI hallmark and will ensure that we continue to achieve profitable growth," added Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer of CGI. "We are pleased that Acxsys looks to us to deliver targeted services consistently, quickly, and at less risk as a result of our longstanding relationship and full service capability. We are excited to continue building on this relationship with them."