Arcadia Group, the UK`s second largest clothes retailer, has selected Dimension Data, a leading global e-business network integrator, to introduce a next-generation network across its full range of retail and business outlets in the UK to secure its position as one of the UK`s leading retailers.
The new resilient network will support business processes and applications such as VOIP and streaming media, thereby facilitating group video conferencing and online consumer video catalogues.
Dimension Data has migrated Arcadia`s 2 500-user UK network, which spans Leeds, London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Bristol and other towns, onto high capacity Ethernet Lans. This has introduced a level of flexibility that ensures tight control on supply and demand of its many different retail brands. A parallel migration from PCs to a thin-client structure also ensured that before going live the new systems were fully tested, reducing the traditional risks associated with migration projects.
Commenting on the selection of Dimension Data, Dave Carter, data networking manager at Arcadia said: "Dimension Data was chosen over the other two main UK network integrators because of its sheer breadth of experience and knowledge, its ability to train Arcadia`s own networking team, and a very competitively priced and convincing proposal."
Carter continues: "Our decision to select Dimension Data has been borne out by the remarkably smooth implementation of the new networks, which has been free of any disruption to normal work. Despite the migration occurring during a period of widespread network equipment delays, I could not fault the team in any way, in fact the equipment even turned up early!"
Arcadia is also benefiting from an element of Dimension Data`s "Uptime" service, which sits on the unique GSOA (Global Services Operating Architecture) platform - an architecture that proactively maintains and manages networks online. Looking to the future, Arcadia is also considering traffic prioritisation across its networks, especially now that it has the flexibility to consolidate voice, data and video onto one infrastructure.
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Dimension Data Holdings plc (LSE: DDT), is a leading global technology company that represents a new category of systems integrator providing network and multichannel e-business solutions to deliver the complex integration and connectivity requirements of global corporations.
Founded in 1983 as a specialist supplier of technology and services, Dimension Data`s strategy has evolved with the emergence of the intelligent network as the most important enabler in business today. Dimension Data`s global presence combined with its expertise and extensive skills base in network infrastructure and e-business solutions environments enables its customers to ascend into the global marketplace through 100% connectivity and integration.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Dimension Data is a member of the FTSE 250 index, employs over 12 000 people and operates in over 30 countries on six continents. Dimension Data has achieved a three-year compound annual growth rate in US dollars of 73% in revenue and 36% in basic earnings per share. For more information, please go to www.didata.com.
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