Interview DRGT
ALWAYS ON CALL
In three short years, DRGT has grown its Belgian gaming business into a major global systems force. G3 interviews CEO Jurgen De Munck
THE ACQUISITION OF SIP CAME AS A SURPRISE TO THE INDUSTRY - WHAT WERE THE REASONS FOR THE PURCHASE (YOU ALREADY HAD SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY) AND HAVE THEY PROVED THE RIGHT ONES?
The clear synergies possible by purchasing the Austrian company Systems in Progress were clear to us. SiP has an excellent position in the marketplace due to its quality. This was the first of a number of reasons for integrating SiP within DRGT. Secondly, SiP offers serverless technology just like we do – so technically the merging of both systems fit on the right platform. Thirdly, our technology focuses on the marketing possibilities of systems. Thus, this is a perfect fit and both sides of the systems have been integrated. The industry knows and trusts SiP systems and we have added the marketing opportunities such as with drScreen.
SYSTEMS INTEGRATION IS NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT, HOW HAVE YOU COMBINED THE INDIVIDUAL DRGT SOLUTIONS WITH SIP AND WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND GREATEST REWARDS?
We looked for commonalities and synergies. We were very excited at the prospect of purchasing SiP and integrating such strong and proven systems. We knew exactly where we wanted to take the company and that naturally made the integration much more straight forward. Our goal and challenge is to make the question you have just asked something that belongs to the past... so you would ask in future something like “Systems integration used to be notoriously difficult”. We are taking systems to a new level – and systems is being seen in a different, a new and exciting light. Systems are not just a necessity – they are a marketing tool – an excellent way to reach the individual player. Systems can open up a new world of choice – for example, how to best manage the slots based on the clear, precise information
February 2013 PAGE 50
JURGEN DE MUNCK,
CEO, DRGT. “Systems are not
just a necessity – they are a
marketing tool – an excellent way to
reach the individual player. Systems can open up a new world of choice –
for example, how to best manage the
slots based on the clear, precise
information that we provide.”
that we provide. Systems grow with our customers. We have especially made our solutions flexible and modular so that they can be built upon / expanded when the time is right for each single customer.
The greatest challenge lies in front of us – to grow the company to find its just potential. These are very exciting times and the demand for DRGT systems is constantly growing. We have to keep pace – have the necessary investment in infrastructure – to ensure that we are in the position to offer the support to our customers around the world. We do appreciate that this is a step-by-step process. In 2012 our major focus was on the Peruvian gaming market with the required systems connection in 2012. We see it as our duty to support and educate where we can. Thus, operators come to us knowing that they have a partner who will not just implement a system – but provide the training and support so that the customer can then master and make use of the full systems potential.
HOW MUCH UPDATING OF THE SIP SOLUTION HAVE YOU UNDERTAKEN? IT'S A PRODUCT THAT WAS LAUNCHED 10 YEARS AGO AND HAS CHANGED HANDS BETWEEN UNICUM, WMS AND NOW DRGT, WHAT HAS BEEN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SOFTWARE AND WHAT DEVELOPMENTS ARE YOU UNDERTAKING AT PRESENT?
The answer to this question is to look at the name of SiP today. It is called DRGT
systems. The previous owners did not have their main focus on systems. That is where we make the difference. We are a pure systems company and have our specific knowledge in this field. SiP is not a subsidiary of the owner as it was in the past. SiP is fully integrated within DRGT with a new company name to resemble that. The team has been completely integrated and each person knows his or her duties and responsibilities. Our dedication to the Austrian base in Graz (the SiP location) was underlined very quickly as we moved to larger, more modern and convenient offices in Graz (above) within nine months after having purchased SiP. The Austrian team is continually growing in size.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STATE OF THE SYSTEMS SECTOR IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW AND HOW DO YOU SEE THINGS CHANGING?
My challenge that this question, too, will change in the near future to: “How have you been able to make the systems sector so user-friendly, such a great marketing tool?” Our goal, our added-value, our raison d’etre is to make systems accessible to our customers. Accessible means that our customers see the great benefits we offer, embrace them and make complete use of them. We are constantly developing new ideas. Our drScreen provides key data directly on the slot monitor. Players can continue to play the game and see the accounts
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