Alexander Forbes Risk Services, part of the Alexander Forbes Group, recently signed a multimillion Rand deal with Dimension Data to facilitate its move to new premises in Sandton.
The move to the new location presented Alexander Forbes with the opportunity to utilise the latest technology in creating an office of the future. The move will also allow Alexander Forbes to upgrade their facility requirements and consolidate their server environment.
Alexander Forbes chose to implement an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony and communication solution, together with wireless network connectivity. By making use of the IP network, Alexander Forbes will be able to stream company announcements/presentations and other programming to their business centre, the main reception area, and also across the Alexander Forbes network.
"Alexander Forbes has created an end-to-end enterprise-wide IP communication infrastructure and the Risk Services move to new premises allowed us to add IP telephony and capitalise on the benefits associated with this", says Brad Eliot, Alexander Forbes Group IT director,
"The significant savings from a server consolidation and cabling point of view, along with buy-backs on existing PBX equipment made for a convincing financial case," adds Eliot.
One of the benefits associated with IP telephony is the cost savings that are realised in terms of having a single cabling infrastructure for both data and voice.
The Gartner Group predicts that the adoption of IP telephony will accelerate in 2004, while industry analysts and commentators predict that IP will become the universal communication carrier of the future.
Once the move is completed, Alexander Forbes Risk Services will enjoy state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment in its auditoriums, meeting rooms and business centre. This includes plasma screens, drop-down audiovisual equipment in the training rooms as well as remote controlled sound and lighting.
Dimension Data will continue to manage Alexander Forbes Risk Services` entire IT infrastructure. This includes the set-up and maintenance of facilities such as computer rooms, critical electrical reticulation, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and generators.
Business infrastructure management reflects a new trend in the management of infrastructure. Nick Shaw, Solutions Manager at Dimension Data, believes that the traditionally distinct departments of facilities management and IT need to be seen as a single entity.
"Historically viewed as separate line functions, these are becoming inextricably linked and are moving closer together," concludes Shaw.
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Dimension Data Holdings plc (LSE: DDT) is a leading global technology company. The Group provides solutions and services that optimise and manage the performance of IT infrastructures to enable business to build competitive advantage. To achieve this, the Group delivers solutions using its proprietary `Application Network` architectural framework and its expertise in networking, application integration and managed services.
Dimension Data, founded in 1983, had revenues of $2.1 billion in 2003 and operates in 30+ countries with over 7 500 employees.
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