Spark Response Extends Successful Technology Partnership

Spark Response, one of the country’s leading contact centre and fulfillment specialists, has extended its successful partnership with local information technology firm, Knowledge I.T.

The announcement comes after the delivery of a five-year service agreement between the two companies, which saw Knowledge I.T provide a major overhaul of Spark’s entire communications infrastructure.

The Gateshead-based company, whose clients include Toys R Us, Soap and Glory, FitFlop and Cancer Research UK, has taken the decision to extend the long-term partnership with Knowledge I.T to ensure it remains at the top of its field in terms of its communications offering.

Peter Slee, Managing Director, Spark Response, said: “The long-term partnership with Knowledge I.T has had such a positive impact on our communications and information technology capabilities during the five years its been in place that it was an easy decision for us to extend the agreement. It enables us to focus on our core business activity whilst knowing we are working with a trusted partner to manager our site and network infrastructure.”

The partnership between Spark and Washington-based Knowledge I.T, which is supported by two on-site staff, includes the continual review and improvement of site infrastructure and data security, robust network resilience, market intelligence and the review of existing and potential communications partners, on-site technical support, out of hours round-the-clock support and disaster recovery assurance.

George Sanger, Managing Director, Knowledge I.T, added: “We have worked with the team at Spark for a number of years now and the renewal of our contract represents the consolidation of a long term strategic relationship which we have cultivated throughout our association to date. As part of the new contract, Spark will benefit from a number of service innovations such as the introduction of new Cloud technology which will enable Spark to respond more swiftly and effectively to client needs and new web applications that will the company’s ecommerce division to be consolidated with the business as a whole.

“It is vital that more businesses across the region work together and develop long term associations as I believe that if the North East business community worked together in this way, sharing expertise and services, we could create a more sustainable regional economy while protecting and safeguarding jobs. Our contract with Spark is a prime example of how two businesses have formed a strategic partnership which will help secure the future of both companies.”

Knowledge I.T was also instrumental in Spark Response successfully entering into its third year as a company compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Spark was one of the first UK contact centres to become compliant with the standard, which is monitored by the PCI Security Standard Council.

The organisation provides robust and comprehensive standards and supporting materials to enhance payment card data security, which include a framework of specifications, tools, measurements and support resources to help organisations ensure the safe handling of cardholder information at every step.

Knowledge I.T, is an ICT Solution provider for businesses in the North East (Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Teesside etc.) and North Yorkshire (Leeds, Sheffield, York etc.) Call us today on 0845 142 0020 to discuss your I.T requirements.