Yesterday saw the official launch of Granada Computer Services International, the independent computer maintenance arm of leisure and retailing giant Granada Group Plc. Based in Wokingham, Berkshire the new subsidiary comprises a number of maintenance activities acquired over the last two years including Computer Field Maintenance, Mainstay, SMS and finally DPCE earlier this year. Derek […]
Yesterday saw the official launch of Granada Computer Services International, the independent computer maintenance arm of leisure and retailing giant Granada Group Plc. Based in Wokingham, Berkshire the new subsidiary comprises a number of maintenance activities acquired over the last two years including Computer Field Maintenance, Mainstay, SMS and finally DPCE earlier this year. Derek Lewis, chairman Granada Computer Services International, promises to supply total system maintenance for both multi and single-vendor accounts, as well as disaster recovery, networking, installation brokerage and operating systems software maintenance. The company employs over 1,600 engineers throughout Western Europe and North America and claims to support 450 hardware manufacturers. At the moment the fast growing European maintenance market is estimated to be worth in excess of $7,000m, of which the manufacturers claim 91% and independents the remaining 9%. Granada says it has cornered 18% of the $700m independent maintenance market, which would make it the biggest in Europe. The UK represents by far the biggest market, accounting for 38% of all European third party business, followed by France with 14%, Italy 10%, Germany 9%, Holland 8%, and others with 21%. An annual growth rate of 18% is forecast over the next four years, with Italy and France expected to experience growth well above that figure. Historically independent maintenance has been perceived as a risky move but Mr Lewis believes users are now looking for maintenance on a range of manufacturers’ equipment as well as freedom from manufacturer pressure to replace equipment.
