Neckarsulm/Ditzingen, 13 May 2014 – The Logistikzentrum Baden-Württemberg (LZBW – logistics centre of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg) has awarded Bechtle the framework agreement for the procurement of Apple products, which also includes Bechtle services. Signed in April, the agreement has a two-year duration with an estimated value of 17 million euros, and contains an option to extend the contract by two separate 12-month periods. The agreement encompasses the entire Apple range of products, as wells as Bechtle IT services and warranties, and gives public authorities a quick and easy way to order Apple products, including iMacs, MacBooks, Apple displays, iPads and iPhones. Beneficiaries of the new agreement include public colleges and universities, the Baden-Württemberg Landtag, as well as all state ministries and offices. Additionally, as an Apple solutions expert for education, and Apple-authorised systems integrator, Bechtle will provide on-site service for Apple hardware until the end of March 2021.
“This agreement lets us provide future-proof IT to Baden-Württemberg’s government employees and its institutions of higher learning. Our close ties with Apple, but also our extensive expertise in the field of IT mobility and system integration and services were the keys to winning the tender. As a company with its roots in Baden-Württemberg, we’re of course very proud to be selected to carry out this contract,” says Bernd Ihle, head of sales for the public sector division at the Bechtle IT System House in Neckarsulm.
The agreement, the first of its kind for Apple hardware in Baden-Württemberg, offers the LZBW a single source of procurement for all its Apple products. “It enables a highly efficient and user-friendly procurement process. We’re of course very happy that we were chosen for this important task, which also reflects Bechtle’s competence and strength,” explains Sandro Loi, account manager at the Bechtle IT System House in Neckarsulm, who was involved in the tendering process since it first began.
Customised Online Procurement Platform.
For the procurement and ordering process of the Apple products, Bechtle will provide a customised online shop, which will streamline the entire process. The online platform offers a specific customer portfolio with detailed product information, making single orders easy and efficient to process. “The customer can even configure his own products direct in the customised online shop before placing the order. The shop is available round the clock, so you can place orders or view ordering details at any time, which makes it the ideal solution,” explains Nico Rack from the Bechtle IT System House Neckarsulm, responsible for project management and system development.