Pathology laboratory group Ampath is projected to cut 30% off its total communications costs within three years as a result of the consolidation of its voice and data networks, facilitated by an infrastructure consolidation project managed by software quality assurance company iLAB Project Services.
"We had to move our main hosts in order to accommodate company expansion plans and to start running operations on a more cost-effective basis," says Denise le Roux, IT GM at Ampath. The pathology group analyses more than 90 000 blood, tissue and medical samples every day from its countrywide chain of 160 laboratories.
Cost-efficiencies have become a priority in the industry, and Ampath took the opportunity presented by a demand for more office space to simultaneously upgrade all of its communications networks, which included the installation of IP telephony equipment. The savings generated will, once the entire project is completed, cut up to a third off Ampath`s total communications cost.
The move was complicated because it was undertaken from three different sites: in Pomona, Kempton Park, on the East Rand, and two sites in central Pretoria. The new Ampath building is located in Centurion, just south of Pretoria.
The entire move was project managed by Hennie van Wyk, business manager, software project management at iLAB Project Services, working closely with Timothy Botha, technical manager at Ampath.
"The trick was to keep the host downtime as short as possible," says Van Wyk. Their entire laboratory results link into one central point, which then distributes results and is linked to other administrative functions, mission-critical to Ampath`s business.
"Extended downtime will severely impact time-sensitive pathology reports needed urgently all over the country, and Ampath could not afford any serious delays in getting back online," says Van Wyk.
The first part of the project, which started in August, was to move the entire server room, a feat completed in less than seven hours from switch off to switch on. This was followed by a three-week stabilisation period.
The IP telephony upgrade was simultaneously managed, along with an entire desktop infrastructure and cabling. Thereafter other departments, such as human relations, debtors, creditors and finance were moved in stages, with about 300 personnel in total having to be moved.
"We first had to make sure the infrastructure was in place before we could dare move the hosts," Van Wyk continues. "Only once everything was up and running, could the hosts be disconnected, moved and reconnected. The time urgency was so critical that traffic police escorted the vehicles so that they would not have to stop for traffic lights."
This project was a perfect example of the value of outsourcing a project management role, says Debbie Nelson, managing director of iLAB Project Services "Traditional project management skills are no longer enough to ensure success in projects that span multiple enterprises," she says.
"The first site was reconnected and live two-and-half hours before scheduled, despite two minor fires breaking out in the server room at critical moments," she continues. "The ability to still complete the project ahead of schedule is clear proof that specialist skill sets are vital in project management skill sets in the IT industry," Nelson concludes.
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