Today`s workplace is a very different environment to the workplace of the past and Citrix South Africa`s channel manager Chris Norton is confident his company is ready to take advantage of the rapid move towards "virtual workplaces".
"As a company we are ideally placed to ease the pain as companies move into this new work environment," says Norton of the 13-year-old US-based company.
Citrix is one of the leading providers of virtual workplace software with products such as MetaFrame and NFuse Elite, the company`s newest portal product. But the company offers more than just a hyped up terminal server software, insists Norton. The range of products covers four distinct areas of work: remote office software, application deployment, business continuity and workforce mobility.
Known for its close alliance with Microsoft, Norton says Citrix recently signed another three-year agreement with the Redmond company. "Our strategy is to work closely with Microsoft`s .Net strategy because we see that as being the dominant player in the market in coming years."
On the other hand, Microsoft could well be viewed as a competitor to Citrix with its own terminal services products. Norton points out, however, that this is very much a "horses for courses business" and it is a question of picking the right product for the right situation.
But what Citrix does offer, says Norton, is a comprehensive range of solutions for customers. "Citrix may come in a bit more expensive initially, but no other company provides a comprehensive solution that encompasses all platforms."
Citrix`s offering strives to support as wide a range of hardware as possible, says Norton. "We even support handheld devices with a unique scrolling technology." Using a handheld, it is possible to view a full-sized remote screen on a PDA by either scrolling around the screen or by resizing the remote screen.
In the remote accessibility category, MetaFrame is Citrix`s flagship product. Using the software, businesses are able to establish both remote and fully functional offices, or to allow individual workers to access corporate applications while on the road.
It is this area that has brought Citrix to prominence over the past few years, with numerous corporate heavyweights investing in the technology. Locally, companies such as Telkom and Sasol are signed up Citrix users.
On the application deployment side, Norton says Citrix allows for quick and easy remote management. By being able to remotely manage hardware and software, business is in a position to reduce the head count in their technical departments, exacting significant savings, says Norton.
But an area that is often overlooked in the Citrix matrix is business continuity. Although the company is not in the business of disaster recovery, it is able to "re-establish an office in a matter of hours", he says, making a strong case for business continuance.
The Citrix iForum 2002 Africa, which takes place at Vodaworld in Midrand on 23 July, is an ideal opportunity for end-users to get a hands-on feel of what Citrix does. "I hope that everyone walks away from Citrix iForum with a better idea of what it is we do," notes Norton.
The event will include a technical stream for current users of Citrix products in an effort to "answer the questions users have". But there will also be a case study portion of the programme with speakers from companies such as Telkom explaining the business benefit derived from using Citrix products. A partner demonstration area will also give users a good idea of Citrix in action, says Norton.
Share
