Modern Networks Providing IT-as-a-Managed Service at CityPoint



Modern Networks have been appointed as providers of choice for CityPoint for all aspects of IT and Communications over and above the current Framework Agreement currently in place for the CBRE Property and Asset Management Division. Modern Networks offer IT-as-a-Managed Service, and are a single point of contact for all of CityPoint’s IT and Communications requirements. This has significantly reduced the complexity of managing multiple 3rd party contracts, reduced 100’s of telephony bills to a single bill, and offer 1st line support for all IT infrastructure and connectivity. This managed service has proved to be essential for CityPoint’s Business Continuity Strategy.

As a unique and iconic building in the City of London, CityPoint are established as a flagship property within CBRE’s asset management business and continue to make milestones in the realm of property and asset management having been awarded the status of ISO 22301:2012 Lloyds Register Quality Assurance for Business Continuity Management Systems. CityPoint are the first Managed Property in Europe to gain this accreditation.

Modern Networks have engaged with CityPoint and all associated contractors as part of their regular Business Continuity forum and continue to be involved in the strategy for the building in the provision of a robust and resilient IT and communications platform for the management team.

Modern Networks inherited the IT and communications systems at CityPoint and have been working with the management team to provide an enhanced system to cater for full business continuity for all elements of IT and communications. To this extent , Modern Networks were awarded the contract for the building refresh of all of the management systems and communications platforms taking on board the existing systems to provide a more robust and feature rich environment embracing technology at the core of the network.

As well as being awarded the contract for the IT and communications network, Modern Networks are also heavily involved in the current refurbishment of CityPoint’s reception, working with the architects in the design and layout for providing a touch screen based concierge system, a fully secure wireless system, and on-boarding the Building Management Systems.

Not-for-profit Dimensions enjoys better communications; significant savings



Dimensions is a non-for-profit organisation looking after adults and children with learning difficulties and/or autism. With pressure on funding, an absolute priority is ensuring available resources are directed at further improving the efficiency of the organisation.

Reducing the time spent by managers travelling to meetings, client conferences and training sessions was a core objective; saving hours of time that could be spent at their places of work. Video conferencing had been installed and was some improvement but still required travel to conferencing suites positioned around the UK. It wasn’t a complete solution.

The internal IT team searched for a product that would integrate effectively with existing systems and significantly improve all communications between staff members, particularly managers, wherever they were located. The team settled on Microsoft Lync and selected Modern Networks to manage the installation throughout the extensive network of Dimensions offices across the UK and for all home-based staff.

From the early stages of the roll out it was evident that Lync offered a great range of benefits for the organisation and all the end-users: full integration with all the other Microsoft products used by Dimensions; an ease of use appreciated by all staff; instant messaging; the ability to see the in/out/busy/away from desk status of other system users; Skype-like speech only or video calls; is video conferencing; simpler training sessions for remote staff; the ability to use headsets for hands-free calls whilst accessing data required; up to 70% savings on travel time and, critically important, major cost savings.

Steve Scown, Dimensions CEO said “Lync has proved to be one of our best investments, we’re clearly getting significant payback – even in year one!”

Ray Fletcher, Head of IT for Dimensions was delighted: “a major success.”

‘AJ’ Willis, L & D, Helpdesk Agent, speaking for the front line team said: “Incredibly simple, everything was logical and familiar .. you felt like you could just pick it up and go with it. Plus we can see whether (internally) someone’s available or not when we’re on a call .. very useful. It’s really improved personal dating online customer service and it makes everyone feel that bit more connected.”

Data on demand for Blue Donkey



Award-winning, UK-based, B2B telemarketing company Blue Donkey needed a complete review and overhaul of its IT infrastructure to maximise productivity.



OVERVIEW


The challenge:

To replace the existing IT hardware with a new infrastructure that would enable the business to work more productively


The technology solution:

The Modern Networks ‘Data Centre on Demand’ Service


The business benefits:

An end to high capital spend on regular hardware refresh cycles
A resilient platform
On Demand IT
A new IT infrastructure which grows with the business


THE FULL STORY

THE CUSTOMER

The UK’s award-winning, B2B telemarketing company, Blue Donkey, pioneered the concept of Intelligent Telemarketing. Over the past decade, it has built an enviable reputation through managing a series of very successful campaigns for leading global brands – using unscripted telemarketing techniques. The company is now acknowledged as a Centre of Excellence in outbound telemarketing, appointment setting, lead generation, market research, database cleaning and training services.

THE CHALLENGE

Blue Donkey has successfully used Microsoft server and application technology for many years but, when faced with the costly replacement of its existing IT hardware, it asked Modern Networks to evaluate the options available and provide a recommendation.

As Modern Networks installed and maintained the existing environment, it had an intimate knowledge of Blue Donkey’s systems and, more importantly, businesses processes and culture. The team used this deep understanding to model a new system architecture – integrating all that was best about the existing, traditional environment with a host of new ideas that, together, would enable the business to work more productively.

This required the comparison/evaluation of three potential solution platforms: the high level design of a replacement on-premises solution; a hybrid private cloud solution and a solution using Modern Networks Data Centre on Demand. Unsurprisingly, the on-premises solution proved to be the most costly choice and failed to deliver on all of the key project objectives. The hybrid solution was technically excellent but could match neither the financial attractions nor the truly dynamic nature of a cloud platform.

THE SOLUTION

Following the extensive evaluation of the options available and a successful proof of concept, Modern Networks recommended that Blue Donkey transition their on- premises IT platforms to the Modern Networks Data Centre on Demand service – with Modern Networks implementing the transition, employing its unique knowledge of Blue Donkey’s systems, processes and culture alongside its technical skills.

Paul Landini, owner of Blue Donkey offered fulsome praise. “Modern Networks made the transition from internal based IT to cloud based systems incredibly easy and straightforward. Their knowledge and expertise ensured seamless continuity of business; their expert help provided support to all the staff in mastering the various upgraded systems.”

THE BENEFITS

After Modern Networks completed the decommissioning of the on-premise IT platforms and the disruption-free transition into the cloud, Blue Donkey enjoyed a suite of benefits: access to the most up to date Microsoft server and application platforms based on a high performance and highly available cloud infrastructure; a breakaway from the previously expensive hardware replacement life-cycle and the significant advantages of a reliable cloud platform able to deliver Blue Donkey’s key objectives.

James Tizzard, Managing Director at Modern Networks said: “I’m delighted with the outcome of this project, I think the new environment delivers fantastic value to our client and allows us to retain the responsibility for transition and support. Cloud services present systems integrators and their business partners with great opportunity, but most importantly, it means we can continue to provide great business solutions.”

Enterprise IT support for #1 Property Manager



CBRE is the world’s leading commercial property manager, with more than 300 offices in 50 countries around the globe, 140 of those in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Its Property and Asset Management division supports over 1000 properties and a robust, efficient, cost-effective IT infrastructure and support service is critically important.



OVERVIEW


The Challenge:

Managing and supporting a rapidly changing user base
Providing enterprise class IT services to remote users

The technology Solution:

A flexible and robust managed services solution

The business benefits:

Reduced processing costs
Greener building compliance
Increased infrastructure security


THE FULL STORY

THE CUSTOMER

CBRE is the leading commercial property management provider in the UK and globally. It has more consultants advising more customers than any other property firm and over 300 offices in more than 50 countries.

One of CBRE’s divisions is Property and Asset Management – supporting over 1,000 different properties. This is where Modern Networks comes in – supporting and servicing the critical ITC infrastructure for those properties that need it.

In a business where laws and other industry standards are increasingly complex, CBRE Property and Asset Management must maintain an infrastructure which allows the organisation to undertake services with strict compliance and unswerving integrity.



THE CHALLENGE

The property and asset management industry has become increasingly competitive over recent years and companies in the field have seen rapid change and consolidation. In this dynamic environment, managing and supporting its rapidly changing user base presented the internal IT department of CBRE’s Property and Asset Management division with a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

The requirement was to provide enterprise class IT services to the division’s remotely located sites, so the management team could work reliably, efficiently and effectively in this highly competitive market. To achieve that, CBRE needed to provide and maintain a robust and reliable infrastructure, whilst controlling the associated costs.



THE SOLUTION

Modern Networks collaborated with CBRE’s team to provide a unique solution, which was designed, delivered and tailored to meet the organisation’s specific requirements. “Drawing on our vast experience in this sector, we have produced a distinct managed service offering for the property management industry” said Matthew Reeve, CEO at Modern Networks. “Modern Networks is able to deploy services within a flexible framework, with client costs covered through on-going operational expenditure rather than funding capital projects.”

Alongside a tailored service desk and a fully managed service contract, Modern Networks has delivered fixed and mobile communications, the full complement of Microsoft core products and bespoke IT solutions, tailored to the individual needs of each remote site.



THE BENEFITS

Reduced call charges – 20% cost reduction

Reduced processing costs – over 32% increase of ROI

Greener building compliance – 60% energy bill reduction

Better quality of IT services – 80% of queries resolved remotely at first point of contact and site visits within four hours of an emergency

Monitoring and alerting service – leaves CBRE team to focus on core business tasks