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19/12/2005 - Churston Heard Selects Managed VoIP and Data Storage Solutions from hSo Leading commercial property consultancy reaps the benefits of VoIP Flexible and scalable platform enables simple expansion of voice and disaster recovery systems...more 09/05/2005 - River Publishing chooses hSo VoIP platform Major UK publisher implements VoIP solution Existing analogue system unable to handle voice capacity and longevity. Staged implementation removes risks and protects legacy investment...more 20/04/2005 - Infocorp opts for VoIP and scaleable Internet connection from hSo Research company aims to gather momentum in web space Infocorp selects hSo:VOICE+, and benefits from flexible Internet offering. hSo’s multi-delivery platform provides scalability and efficiency to SMEs...more 28/04/2005 - Blue Group International backs up data with hSo:VAULT Replaces cumbersome and time-consuming tape system Blue Group International installed the system early in 2005, following a time and motion study, which logged that the original tape back-up facility was taking one person around two working days to administer per week...more 31/03/2005 - Hunter & Partners has IT all managed With its IT managed by hSo, Hunter & Partners is able to focus on the work it does best "hSo's managed services have revolutionised the way we handle IT, delivering real and tangible value to the company."...more 31/03/2005 - British Land opts for utility computing solution with hSo Leading integrated communications provider to supply and manage hosted computing platform. Scalable outsourced rental model offers increased flexibility, resilience and transparency. British Land to benefit from improved operational efficiency...more Churston Heard Selects Managed VoIP and Data Storage Solutions from hSoLeading commercial property consultancy reaps the benefits of VoIP
Leading commercial property consultancy Churston Heard has selected VoIP and data storage services from managed IT services provider hSo. A period of significant growth for the firm necessitated a complete review of its IT infrastructure. Churston Heard's previous voice system did not provide business basics such as voicemail or conferencing, and a lack of resilience was having a serious impact on productivity. Data storage for disaster recovery had also become a priority following the installation of a document management system. The firm initially looked to hSo for broadband access but quickly recognised the value of other hSo services, notably hSo:MANAGED VOICE+ a fully managed Voice over IP (VoIP) service. Not only is VoIP an extremely cost-effective solution, it is also more robust than legacy voice systems and offers a raft of additional data services including remote access. The service is fully managed and all hardware is provided and installed by hSo, who also provide a multi service IP link to carry their voice traffic instead of using legacy ISDN lines. In addition, Churston Heard selected hSo for its offsite data storage solution. hSo:VAULT is a flexible and scalable service delivering fast and secure offsite storage, and offering the most cost-effective disaster recovery solution. Mike Benton, Finance Director at Churston Heard, said: "hSO:MANAGED VOICE+ delivers the flexibility and reliability of service necessary to ensure we provide an effective and professional service to our clients. As hSo provides a managed service we don’t have to worry about future investment for a considerable time to come. In addition, hSo:VAULT has made disaster recovery fast and straight-forward, giving us peace of mind that should there ever be a problem we can continue to support customers effectively." Simon Hill, IT Manager at Churston Heard, added: "The support offered by hSo is market leading, underlining the trusted relationship we have with the dedicated team there. There is one number for all enquiries and I don’t think I have ever been on put hold when I call which makes my life a lot easier." Chris Evans, Managing Director at hSo, said: "Many businesses view VoIP simply as a mechanism for cheap phone calls, but as Churston Heard has discovered it can offer much more. Concerns about investing in hardware have put organisations off in the past, but with hSo's managed service, hardware and installation comes as part of the service provided. This enables our customers to reap the benefits of VoIP services quickly, easily and extremely cost-effectively." Churston Heard is an independent firm, providing customers such as O2, Boots the Chemists, Threadneedle, Legal & General and Standard Life Property, retail intelligence and expertise on commercial properties across the UK and Ireland. Consultants advise their blue-chip clients on available properties and the best commercial opportunities. - ENDS - For further information, please contact: Dawn Harnetty/Natalie Murtagh top | River Publishing chooses hSo VoIP platformMajor UK publisher implements VoIP solution
River Publishing, one of the UK’s leading independent marketing-led customer magazine publishers, has selected hSo:VOICE+, a VoIP solution from managed services provider hSo. The platform will eventually replace the publisher’s existing analogue system, which can no longer handle the call volumes being generated. The hSo:VOICE+ solution – an IP telephony system that allows companies to leverage their data network to make telephone calls – went live on 15% of River Publishing’s handsets at the beginning of 2005, and runs alongside the company’s existing analogue platform. The VoIP solution will follow a phased implementation over the next 18 months, allowing the company to protect the legacy investment it had already made. Due to the fact the system is implemented directly on to its existing PBX network, River Publishing doesn’t have to replace all existing handsets upfront. River Publishing focuses heavily on research and marketing, supporting its customers to ensure the correct approach to market. Having already benefited from outsourcing, the company has selected hSo as its preferred partner for managed IT & telecoms services. The publisher plans to implement the VoIP solution at its remote offices and is also considering hSo’s Internet connectivity, placing its voice and data solutions on the same resilient platform. Tom Dinnis, IT manager at River Publishing, said: "There was a clear objective when we opted to install VoIP on to our network – to reduce costs. We estimate that this alone will introduce annual savings of around £8-10k a year. "There were no heavy upfront costs associated with adopting the solution; this has enabled us to protect our initial investment, and take a more flexible approach. hSo has worked to provide as tailored and resilient a platform as possible, and offers the highest standards when it comes to client support." Chris Evans, managing director at hSo, added: "Today IT is the back-bone of any businesses, and adopting flexible, resilient solutions will help River Publishing to continue providing effective customer service and to remain ahead of its competition. "This is an excellent example of a SME organisation that is benefiting from outsourcing elements of its IT function to create financial and operational efficiencies, whilst improving service levels. Working with a vendor that is able to tailor services should be a pre-requisite." - ENDS - For further information, please contact: Katrina Walker/Jill Benedict top | Infocorp opts for VoIP and scaleable Internet connection from hSoResearch company aims to gather momentum in web space
In a move to enhance its offering, leading market research company, Infocorp, has selected hSo to provide and manage a VoIP platform, along with a flexible Internet connection. Both services can be scaled according to key dates and projects, providing Infocorp with a cost effective and flexible platform from which to conduct web research. Originally, Infocorp opted for the VoIP installation in order to benefit from cost savings and increased resilience. hSo then advised on the flexible Internet connection that could operate ‘off-the-back-of’ the VoIP solution, providing cost savings and enhancing Infocorp’s capabilities in web based research and surveys. Infocorp is at the forefront of the market research industry, focusing on advertising research and HR, employee-based analysis and reporting. In a move to combat penetration and accuracy issues in the Internet research sector, the company has partnered with European fieldwork and online panel specialists, Research Now, who offer highly-targeted panel based samples. In light of its enhanced offering, Infocorp has taken the opportunity to increase its work in web research, providing its client-base with the cost, speed - and now accuracy - advantages of using this medium. hSo’s flexible Internet connection ensures that Infocorp only pays for low level connectivity for day-to-day usage, buying in greater capacity as and when necessitated by client demands. Richard Hurry, finance director at Infocorp, said: "Internet research offers clients the opportunity to turn surveys around in a far quicker timeframe than traditional paper-based questionnaires. We firmly believe that our advanced work in this area will provide us with a massive competitive advantage, and help us to grow our business. "We initially worked with hSo on the VoIP side, and having witnessed the benefits of this medium, we were then alerted to the support the company could offer with our Internet connectivity; hSo was the only player able to provide such a cost-effective and scaleable solution." Chris Evans, managing director at hSo, added: "Infocorp originally came to us with the need to support VoIP connectivity; we assessed the needs of the organisation and recommended a multi-platform approach, which would encompass VoIP and flexible Internet connectivity. Convergence will enable Infocorp to maximise efficiencies and support the company’s projected growth. "We aim to work with our SME clients to offer best-of-breed technology that will help them meet their needs. Today, off-the-shelf solutions simply don’t respond to the growing IT demands of UK businesses." - ends - For further information, please contact: Katrina Walker/Jill Benedict top | Blue Group International backs up data with hSo:VAULTReplaces cumbersome and time-consuming tape system
Blue Group International, a specialist recruitment consultancy, has installed hSo:VAULT, a remote-back up solution from leading managed services provider, hSo. The system has been installed to replace the original tape back-up facility, which was fast becoming cumbersome in nature. Working across the health, social care, construction and telecommunications sectors, Blue Group International places qualified professionals across an international client base. The recruitment consultancy has two UK offices and employs 140 staff. The hSo:VAULT platform is a managed remote back-up solution for companies of all sizes, providing high levels of performance, security and network availability. Blue Group International installed the system early in 2005, following a time and motion study, which logged that the original tape back-up facility was taking one person around two working days to administer per week. The organisation was also undertaking an average of one file restore per week, taking many hours to complete. With hSo:VAULT, the IT department now logs on to the system to request a file, which is restored within seconds. The solution also supports Blue Group International’s annual archiving activity, and the entire system is now backed-up, and sent to their offices, in a matter of days – saving the company a week of internal administration. Karl Perkins, IT manager at Blue Group International, said: "It is imperative to back-up data securely, particularly in the recruitment arena – because we have so much of it. We’re also doubling in size each year and data is crucial for the operation of our business. "hSo:VAULT ensures our data – 1/2 terabyte worth - is effectively protected, can be easily accessed 24/7, and remains private. This type of data storage application is far more cost-effective for the equivalent amount of administration, time and tape." Chris Evans, managing director at hSo, added: "Today, IT helpdesks in busy office environments would rather dedicate their time to providing support for company employees, as opposed to focusing heavily on data back-up. Solutions like hSo:VAULT remove the hassle factor, and provide a more secure and easily accessible format for retrieving data. "Our advice to clients – when it comes to backing-up data and reviewing business continuity planning – is to identify the most important elements of information. Companies need to categorise their data as either critical, essential, or ‘nice-to-have’ and then match their data back-up plans to their budget. Business continuity planning is like providing insurance for your business, and it needn’t be costly." - ENDS - For further information, please contact: Katrina Walker/Jill Benedict top | Hunter & Partners has IT all managedWith its IT managed by hSo, Hunter & Partners is able to focus on the work it does best Company Profile: Founded in 1955, Hunter & Partners is a practice of architects and project managers with over 150 staff located at offices in the UK and the Far East. The company provides strategic planning and design of new developments for education, housing, health and business. The practice has more than £300m of public sector work in progress across England. The Challenge: Hunter & Partners has intensive IT requirements, due to the fact that the company’s architects and project managers produce large volumes of data to complete the planning, design and monitoring of new-build and refurbishment work. The IT function was originally managed by the company’s group finance director, Ian Hurlstone. When the time had come to boost levels of IT support, Ian opted to outsource this function, as opposed to bringing technology expertise in-house. He comments: "From the outset, I was keen to work with a managed services provider, who would supply the right solutions to suit the Hunter & Partners business model, and in a cost effective way." The Solution: In 2001, following a thorough analysis of potential IT partners, Hunter & Partners chose to work with hSo, a managed services provider specialising in the SME sector. Ian Hurlstone comments: "We were looking for a supplier that would provide high levels of support, and a single point of contact. hSo offered the flexibility you wouldn’t ordinarily receive from an organisation that isn’t geared up to dealing with SMEs." Hunter & Partners initially subscribed to hSo:ACCESS, a managed internet service. Security concerns were addressed through hSo:EMAIL SHIELD, a service that filters out viruses and spam, and hSo:FIREWALL, which helps to prevent security breaches from compromising the network. These services included complete network management and 24-hour support. In 2003, Hunter & Partners opted to install hSo:VAULT, an online back-up and recovery system, to protect the company’s data, as part of its disaster recovery process. The organisation previously backed-up data on tape, a cumbersome process that required a Hunter & Partners employee to physically transport back-up tapes to a separate location. This system was insecure and data loss could mean reproducing labour-intensive files, including CAD and 3D presentation proposals. Chris Evans, managing director at hSo, comments: "As a services provider, we always look to provide IT consultancy above and beyond the service(s) our client initially opts for, in order to ensure they are maximising efficiencies in this area." With hSo:VAULT, all information is encrypted and then transferred to a secure, remote data centre. Hunter & Partners can now access company information online, and retrieve files quickly in the event of a disaster. The service includes a data monitoring facility, where hSo alerts the client when there are any data irregularities. Additionally, Hunter & Partners can prioritise what types of data are backed up, and at what intervals. Chris Evans adds: "As opposed to selling an off-the-shelf solution to clients, we engineer our products to ensure they address IT issues and resolve them. And from the outset, we agree with the client on the levels of support they require." Ian Hurlstone comments: "hSo provides an excellent customer interface. We have a dedicated account manager who we can call if a problem arises. "With hSo:VAULT, for example, all our data is backed-up automatically. However, if a member of staff does lose any information, we can phone hSo and have it restored within minutes. A business continuity solution like this is essential in a fast-paced, project-based environment." In July 2004, following an analysis of the company’s spending patterns, hSo advised Hunter & Partners of the business benefits of integrating its voice and data services. With Voice Over IP (VoIP) becoming a mature technology, the company decided to subscribe to hSo:VOICE, an IP telephony solution that allows companies to leverage its data network to make telephone calls. hSo installed the solution directly onto the company’s PBX network, without having to replace handsets, which can be expensive. "By installing our VoIP solution, hSo:VOICE+, we helped Hunter & Partners save on the costs of dialled calls and line rental," says Chris Evans. "And with a more integrated system, we were able to upgrade the company’s 2MB network to a 4MB network for the same cost." To date, the VoIP installation has helped Hunter & Partners to achieve cost savings of over 10% on its phone bills and 30% on its monthly line rental. The Benefits: With the IT function now fully-managed by hSo, Hunter & Partners is able to focus on the work it does best. Ian Hurlstone comments: "hSo’s managed services have revolutionised the way we handle IT, delivering real and tangible value to the company. Hunter & Partners now has an effective disaster recovery system in place, and we’ve already witnessed significant cost savings from the VoIP installation." He adds: "Managed security services have significantly reduced the time spent dealing with junk emails and viruses. Remote email access has enabled home working, and increased bandwidth has enhanced overall productivity." Chris Evans says: "The managed services model has worked well for Hunter & Partners because it has enabled the company to access services like VoIP and disaster recovery at an affordable price, with high levels of support. At hSo, we eliminate the need for a huge technology investment upfront, and aim to work closely with our clients, to ensure they are getting the most from IT." Ian Hurlstone concludes: "hSo has provided solutions with the functionality and scalability our business demands. As a mid-sized company operating in a highly competitive market, our philosophy has been to work with organisations with whom we can build a relationship. We want to work with companies that can help to increase our efficiencies, and effective IT management has always been a must." - Ends - For further information/imagery, please contact: Katrina Walker/Jill Benedict top | British Land opts for utility computing solution with hSoLeading integrated communications provider to supply and manage hosted computing platform.
In a move to enhance IT scalability, resilience and efficiency, leading property investment company, British Land, has selected hSo, to supply a remotely hosted, high availability, dual datacentre computing platform on which to run its core business applications. The solution is being provided on a rented ‘utility’ basis, enabling British Land to focus on the application of IT to its business and establishing maximum business benefit, rather than daily operational IT issues. Following a successful one-year trial of the ‘Cloud Computing’ initiative, British Land selected hSo over a number of alternative suppliers as its chosen outsourcing infrastructure partner. Based on an innovative utility computing model, the three-year contract will see hSo provide, own and manage all the server and networking infrastructure for British Land’s applications for a consolidated per server monthly charge. The charge covers licensing, security, backup, disaster recovery and ongoing monitoring, and allows British Land to match its IT operating cost to the level of its activity. Among the applications being hosted is British Land’s award winning property portal 1, a secure online framework for the company’s business processes, document management and collaboration channels. The portal supports a range of processes encompassing the property lifecycle from acquisition through the asset management process, and through to disposal. Other core processes such as expenditure authorisation and tracking, and corporate social responsibility reporting are also included. The portal is accessed via the Internet not only by employees across a number of sites, but also by those business partners carrying out outsourced activities for the company, such as managing agents. The deal also includes hSo:VAULT, an innovative online data back-up and disaster recovery platform, providing British Land with a higher level of business continuity, enabling staff and external third party partners to work with minimal interruption in the event of a disaster. Peter Earl, Group Head of IT at British Land’s head office said: "Outsourcing our IT infrastructure has a host of benefits but was a major decision, so it was critical that we found a partner with the right skills to maintain a high quality of service, whilst helping us maximise the benefits from this approach. "We did initially look at a wide range of alternatives including a number of other suppliers, but after an extensive trial and appropriate due diligence, we opted for hSo since it not only offers excellent value but also, more importantly, is flexible enough to provide us with a tailor-made solution." Chris Evans, Managing Director at hSo, added: "This is an exciting announcement for hSo, and we look forward to working with British Land and helping it to achieve its business objectives from this project. The company has opted for a route that will allow for improved efficiency whilst maintaining transparency and control. "This type of utility computing platform is one normally selected by large organisations. British Land’s decision, however, reflects the current market and the fact that companies – both small and large – are beginning to focus on managed services and flexible utility IT models when looking to build scalable IT infrastructure to support ambitious growth targets." - ENDS - For further information, please contact: Katrina Walker/Jill Benedict top | |
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