Hilti SA, a specialist in construction industry tools and systems, aims to increase productivity and improve customer service levels with the installation of a centralised wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) across eight of its nationwide branches.
In a deal valued at over R1 million, I-Fusion Holdings was selected to install and set up the new infrastructure which includes routers, switches, servers, software and over 30 desktop PCs.
Paul Turner, MD of Hilti SA, explains why the technology was upgraded: "The previous IT infrastructure was simply not meeting our business needs. I-Fusion conducted a complete assessment and has a clear understanding of the nature of our company, as well as the business processes that underline it."
Ricci Hertzberg, account manager at I-Fusion Holdings, comments: "In assessing Hilti`s requirements for its WAN, it was clear that performance and reliability were of the utmost importance. Furthermore, it was vital to improve connectivity to all of Hilti`s branches - including Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and East London. I-Fusion also upgraded the LAN so that it could support an effective customer relationship management (CRM) application."
"Without the CRM application," adds Turner, "we had no way of successfully adapting to customer demands. Now, with easy access to customer data, we hope to improve and maintain customer service levels."
I-Fusion also supplied Hilti SA with Palmtops, enabling the company to automate its sales force and respond quicker and more effectively to customers.
Says Turner: "In terms of the overall infrastructure, the biggest business benefit is our ability to rapidly and easily exchange important customer data. In this way, Hilti SA can expand its market reach and gain access to resources and information not previously available."
"I-Fusion aims to install reliable, cost-effective and complete IT solutions," states Hertzberg. "For Hilti SA, we selected products according to industry- and company-specific business needs and have provided not only an upgraded IT infrastructure, but also a centralised knowledge database from where the company can significantly improve its response to customers and prospects."
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Hilti is one of the World`s leading companies specialising in the field of fastening and demolition systems in the construction industry. Quality, innovation and extensive application know-how, resulting from close contact with customers, are Hilti`s main strengths.
As a group, Hilti operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. Two-thirds of the 14 000 employees work in marketing organisations, ie in sales, engineering and customer service functions. Corporate headquarters are located at Schaan in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Hilti has several production plants in Europe, America and Asia. Research and development is carried out in Liechtenstein, Germany and China.
I-Fusion Holdings
Addressing the needs of medium-sized businesses across SA, I-Fusion Holdings is a leading provider of IT services, systems and infrastructure. The group offers a complete IT solution including consultation and evaluation, supply, service, support, implementation of equipment and ongoing management. Its comprehensive range of products and services extends from local to wide area networks - with a specialist emphasis on outsourcing services, which includes hardware, software, networks, services, management and support.
Based in Midrand, I-Fusion has national coverage in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and points of presence in all the main business centres in SA as well as in Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana. In July 2000, I-Fusion Holdings Limited became a member of BIDVest Group Limited, a multibillion-rand investment holding company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in the services sector.
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