HiQ signs general agreement with Birka Energi

HiQ signs general agreement with Birka Energi IT and management consultancy HiQ is to sign a general agreement with power supplier, Birka Energi. The agreement relates to consultancy services within systems development and project management. Birka Energi is one of Sweden's largest power suppliers, with a wide product range including electricity, gas, cooling, heating systems and related services. The new general agreement covers consultancy services within systems development and project management. "The first assignment within the framework of the agreement is a project relating to the investigation of a business-supporting portal that is to enhance the efficiency of processes and raise quality for users," says Per Stigenberg of HiQ. "The power industry is a relatively new one for us, but it bears many similarities to the telecoms industry. It is largely based on the same kind of systems development process and a deregulated market, within which we are highly experienced. There are major similarities between a power supplier and a telecoms operator, particularly in terms of billing and the quality assurance of payment systems. For several years, we have been helping operators to develop their billing systems, banks to develop their trading systems for different kind of securities, and many other systems requiring high performance, reliability and security," says Lars Stugemo, CEO of HiQ International. "We work across the board at all stages within telecoms with suppliers, operators and users. Our experience of systems development and business in deregulated markets - telecommunications, for example - can then be applied to other industries based on the same technology, which is energy in this case," concludes Stugemo. For more information, please contact: Per Stigenberg, account manager HiQ, tel: +46 8 588 900 00 Lars Stugemo, CEO HiQ International, tel: + 46 8 588 90 000 HiQ is the IT and management consultancy focusing on high-tech solutions within telecoms, the mobile Internet and simulation technology. Formed in 1992, the company is now a leader in these fields and the Nordic region is its domestic market. The Group's turnover in 1999 was SEK 223 million and it employs 330 people in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. HiQ is listed on the OM Stockholm Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit our web site at www.hiq.se ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/08/11/20000811BIT00130/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/08/11/20000811BIT00130/bit0002.pdf