When Brolaz Projects` technology systems started to reach the end of their support lifecycle, it engaged with partner Artec Computer Systems to evaluate the best migration path to take its business forward with new technologies, ultimately electing to remain on the Microsoft platform.
Brolaz is a professional services company that supports the cellular, telecoms, broadcast and electronics industries. While the company had been working on older Microsoft platforms, it had staff members who had previous experience with open source software; when it engaged with Artec, it wanted an evaluation of open source solutions compared with the most recent product releases from Microsoft.
Artec managing director, Patrick Maddox, says the company provided extensive consulting on the project. "We delivered considerable business research which enabled the company to make a sound procurement decision - it opted for a fully integrated Microsoft solution, providing it with optimal functionality at an acceptable cost, with very little interruption to users in terms of the migration," he explains.
The business research provided by the company looked at the long-term total cost of ownership. While on the surface it appeared that an open source solution would be more cost-effective to the company, the costs that could potentially be incurred from skilling of 120 employees, productivity losses, technical support and possible development fees proved otherwise. Furthermore, Artec put together information from research house, Gartner, which showed that in the productivity stakes, Microsoft came out tops.
Brolaz was already employing Microsoft solutions which its employees were familiar with. In order to implement an open source solution, employees would need to be trained, resulting in considerable training costs and lost time and productivity.
Technical support was a large factor in the decision to stay with Microsoft. The company`s servers are the backbone to the company and any faults need to be dealt with immediately. Due to the fact that no person or company has taken `ownership` of open source, Brolaz could potentially be left with a fault that little support could be found for.
Despite consulting several technology providers, Brolaz IT manager Shane Anderson, reveals that it was Artec`s commitment to its business - rather than the technology itself - that sealed the deal.
"Artec provided valuable insight into the technologies that we were considering, including independent research on the benefits and challenges of the various technologies that were on the table. This insight was provided before any decisions were made and without any expectation of return," says Anderson.
"We believe this level of dedication to our needs is rare in the market, and were pleased to award the contract to the committed Artec team," he adds.
Artec CEO Andrew Tucker says the company is aware that there tends to be a lack of consumer confidence in the technology field. "We conscientiously apply ourselves to help companies realise real business benefits from their technology systems," he notes.
In terms of the deal, Artec has supplied a further 47 desktops and two servers, as well as software licensing and implementation of supply of Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, ISA Server 2000, Office 2003 and Windows XP.
Anderson notes that with the right information available to them, the decision to continue using Microsoft technology was an easy one. "We hadn`t considered the implications of support and customisation. Companies very rarely realise that once an open source solution is customised, the company effectively becomes tied to the supplier for the lifecycle of the technology. If the supplier is no longer around, there`s no support and no means to expand the solution," he says.
He adds that the partnership with Artec has provided Brolaz with unmatched value in terms of pricing, support, accessibility, and business and technical advice.
"In today`s economy, you can never overestimate the value that trust brings to a partnership. Artec has proven itself to be a valuable guide to technologies available, as well as providing us with constructive insight into how it can help us drive our business," he concludes.
For further information, please contact Sharon le Page at telephone +27 11 706 8075; fax +27 11 706 8077; e-mail slepage@jhb.artec.co.za
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Artec Computer Systems is a primary IT consultancy and networking service provider with the expertise and skills that empower it to re-organise, re-engineer and restructure IT networks and computer systems for corporate clients. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Artec offers flexible outsourcing options and a full-managed services facility, and is also an associate consultant company for Microsoft Africa.
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