In line with its OneNet strategy, Novell is moving away from the traditional network infrastructure of servers and cables, towards the provision of all its internal corporate information systems on the Internet. Secure, authenticated access to a company`s core business functions, outside the corporate firewall, is facilitated through Novell Portal Services.
"Our original 140 dedicated phone connections at corporate headquarters are in the process of being reduced to a mere ten," declares Joe Skehan, corporate business strategist at Novell USA, during a recent visit to South Africa. "Many of our employees now connect to their office via the Internet. Consequently, they enjoy the same network experience whether they are at home, on the road, or in a hotel room on the other side of the world."
"Portal Services provides everything a Novell employee needs to be productive and successful," Skehan continues. "A significant benefit of this solution is that because the employee is accessing these services through the portal, it is no longer necessary to install and manage software on the PC. This substantially reduces cost of ownership."
According to Skehan, use of Portal Services has dramatically improved productivity within Novell. "Previously, for example, our sales representatives would meet with customers in the field and then return to the office to input the new information," he explains. "By providing them with Internet access to the Novell network, they can input data from any location. Consequently, sales representative productivity has increased by as much as 20%."
Productivity from Day One
Novell Portal Services is complemented by Zero Day Start, an initiative residing on DirXML technology, and geared to making new employees productive from their first day on the job.
"When a new employee joins Novell, various services and facilities need to be enabled," Skehan explains. "These include a telephone, email account, remote Internet access, card key access to security doors, pension fund, and medical aid membership."
Skehan says Novell has identified 19 core databases within the company on which new employee information has to be entered. "Previously, the employee would have to fill in numerous forms and the information would be entered into each database. A staggering four to six weeks later, they would eventually have all they need to begin working effectively."
Zero Day Start, however, automatically and simultaneously activates all the facilities a new employee needs, as soon the offer of employment is accepted.
"Letters of appointment are emailed to the applicant, who is then referred to a web site," Skehan explains. "A click of a button accepts the offer, which generates a record in the Human Resource database and creates an identity in the Novell Directory Services. All the other databases are then automatically synchronised according to the new employee`s identity, job function and residence within the corporation."
By implementing Zero Day Start, Skehan says new Novell employees become productive within three days of starting employment. "Hardware such as telephones, PCs and printers sometimes take a little longer to arrive," he adds.
Should the employee leave Novell, privileges and facilities are instantly suspended off by Zero Day Stop.
"Zero-day start is geared to making employees to be as effective as they need to be at their job as quickly as possible. Zero day Stop is about securing your business and maintaining control over corporate access," Skehan concludes.
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