Getronics is offering South African companies evolving into multinationals the advantages of a global network managed efficiently, cost-effectively and centrally from South Africa.
Geared for organisations drawn from any industry spreading their reach into world markets, Getronics` Network Place offering comprises four components: network management, call reporting, helpdesk and asset management.
Norman Royds, Getronics SA`s Network Integration divisional director, says: "We`re seeing a flood of local companies listing on international exchanges and South African organisations are playing an increasingly significant role in the global village, with interests spread across various countries and continents.
"As soon as local companies become international players, Getronics is in a position to add value with its Network Place concept. Network Place facilitates the connection of operations all over the world, controlled centrally from South Africa. While this obviously provides access to Wang support resources worldwide, control is maintained in Johannesburg.
"We offer a full suite of services, spanning the desktop, file server level, maintenance and software management."
Getronics monitors clients` network activity constantly, and is able to assess the status of any network device at any time. "It`s crucial for our clients that their international networks are up and running constantly - and Getronics functions as the `eyes and ears` on those networks to ensure that uptime.
"Network Place tests the realtime status of network devices and raises an alert automatically if a fault is detected. Faults can be picked up in this manner even before users become aware that a problem exists."
Depending on the nature of the problem, that call will be escalated to the next level - the helpdesk - and the problem will be resolved telephonically if possible. There are plans in the pipeline to cater for a range of languages at helpdesk level.
Beyond day-to-day network management, Network Place can also be used to conduct valuable "what if" analysis.
"If a client discovers a new business opportunity, for example, and wishes to link an additional subsidiary to the network, Network Place can determine the impact the new operation will have on the network."
Other functions include network capacity load assessment, as well as recommendations on how to maximise network resources and utilisation.
Network Place offers high level control, extending to disk capacity of network file servers - with warnings when capacity is set to be exceeded - memory capacity monitoring, and CPU utilisation assessment to ensure that CPU performance matches network performance.
Getronics is able to procure, install, maintain and manage all the components based on its recommendations.
In addition, Getronics is able to analyse the utilisation of equipment throughout a client`s network worldwide and devise recommendations on how to deploy and consolidate resources to best effect.
"The key benefit of Network Place is that it enable clients to capitalise on economies of scale, in much the same way as a maintenance contract works," comments Royds.
"It would be extremely expensive for individual clients to retain fulltime engineers to oversee world networks, but this way they pay a service supplier a fixed fee which guarantees them access to the necessary skills and assets when required, sharing the cost with other clients.
"In addition, the tools required to be the eyes and ears of the network are prohibitively expensive and, in networks of this size, would never be fully utilised.
"Getronics has made a considerable investment in network monitoring and management tools at its operations centre in Rivonia and sells the use of these facilities to clients, in the same way as maintenance contracts work. This provides a cost- effective tool to monitor and maintain networks, automatically.
"Getronics` Network Place offering provides a solution for any South African organisation in the process of becoming a global player: it gives those companies the ability to control their operations from South Africa as they spread their reach throughout the world.
"Conversely, it is also an option for international conglomerates setting up in South Africa," concludes Royds.
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