The Cape Town tourism industry has been given a boost, with the installation of a state-of the art computer system at the new Clock Tower Precinct at the V&A Waterfront.
Installed by Enterprise Connection, a sister company of the retail group, Incredible Connection, this new system allows both tourists and locals to access a range of services through a centrally situated Tourist Information and Reservation Centre, seven days a week. There is also an Internet Caf'e from where e-mail can be sent and the Internet accessed.
The V&A Waterfront`s Clock Tower Precinct was opened in October 2001 to both local and international acclaim, and is the gateway to Robben Island - a major tourist attraction. The Clock Tower offers a selection of cultural stores and restaurants, along with a state-of-the-art Tourism Centre. Everything that international and local tourists could want or need, in the way of information and reservations, is now available at this new destination centre.
Having just provided the V&A Waterfront`s with just on a R1 million worth of Microsoft software, Enterprise Connection (EC) was challenged again. Its brief was to provide technology that would enable the Waterfront to give real value to the 45 earmarked tenants from the retail and tourism sectors - these are companies such as Avis, Rovos Rail, Medi-Clinic, Win Helicopters and National Parks, to name but a few.
The V&A Waterfront Company sees IT as a strategic business unit and not just as a provider of IT services. With this visionary stance, it wanted to create opportunities and facilities that would give it an income stream, while providing improved business services to its tenants, and ultimately to its consumers.
The opening of the new Tourism Centre presented the perfect opportunity for Enterprise Connection to assist the V&A Waterfront in realising its goal. The V&A Waterfront wanted to be able to rent various computer services to its tenants, and Enterprise Connection obliged, with the installation of cost-effective and practical business hardware and software.
The V&A Waterfront is now able to make PCs, business software, Internet connectivity and technical support available to its tenants on a rental basis. Tenants use these services with peace of mind, because EC has installed specialist technology (a V-Lan based architecture) that ensures the security and confidentiality of all information. The Microsoft platform was chosen so that all of these businesses are able to communicate with one another in a seamless manner.
EC installed a Microsoft Windows 2000 network, with active directory. It also supplied network computers and Exchange 2000 on the mail content side; all of this running off an Enterasys Vertical Horizon backbone.
The MS Exchange platform was selected to allow for common-based mailing and content sharing facilities. Internet browsing, mail and fax facilities have also been included. All of these services make the daily tasks and responsibilities associated with running a business, much easier and faster.
Noer Asmodien, Network Manager of the V&A Waterfront, comments: "The V&A Waterfront consider EC as a long-term strategic partner, as they consistently deliver the high service levels and technological expertise that we demand."
In line with the V&A Waterfront and Enterprise Connection`s vision, plans are already afoot to extend the IT facilities in the future - ensuring that these V&A Waterfront businesses remain at the forefront of technology. This means reduced expenses and improved business practice for the tenants, and naturally, improved efficiency and service to consumers.
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