JSE-listed I-Fusion Group has successfully completed two information technology projects for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), one involving the LAN networking at some 78 sites countrywide and the other, relocation and upgrading of computer equipment to the organisation`s new office complex in Brooklyn, Pretoria.
As part of its multi-million networking SARSNet project, involving 114 SARS branches throughout South Africa, the I-Fusion Group was responsible for 78 sites, in a deal worth millions. The company successfully installed the LANs in each of these sites within a seven month period.
Following this, I-Fusion was awarded the project to move the SARS computer equipment from its previous Head Office, and a number of other buildings, to its new office complex in Brooklyn, Pretoria. Through its subsidiary, Tswelopele Computers, I-Fusion won the Gauteng portion of the SARS 99 Tender. The tender essentially covered the supply, installation and ongoing support of SARS network and, by far the major single item, the move.
Re-locating computer equipment to new premises is a complex project at the best of times. When workstations have to be upgraded in the process, the project has to be planned with military precision - especially if down-time, disruption or loss of data could mean that the country loses millions.
"Tswelopele was awarded a portion of the SARS 99 tender because of its excellent track record with the old Department of Finance," says Hugo Vermaak, manager: Service Management of SARS. "It has been one of our service providers since the 80`s."
SARS moved from its previous head office in Vermeulen Street to a new complex in Brooklyn, consisting of eight buildings. I-Fusion`s first task was to design and install the LAN for the new office park in conjunction with the SARS team.
"We installed a fully switched, high-end ATM backbone in the new complex, and are responsible for its ongoing management," says Dean Hall, Managing Director of I- Fusion Networks Pretoria. Included in this network infrastructure are close to 100 Ed switches, with 24 points each, giving fast Ethernet to the desktop.
For the move, the project consisted of auditing the existing SARS installed base, upgrading where necessary, moving more than 1000 workstations, re-formatting the disks and re-loading software - all without disrupting day-to-day business.
"This involved massive planning. We used a phased approach, and performed four major moves over weekends. The project was completed on schedule and under budget, and SARS Head Office was up and running as planned," says Hugo Vermaak.
During the largest phase of the project, 1000 network points were installed and nearly 300 workstations moved over one weekend.
"Each PC had to be unpacked and re-formatted. The software then had to be re- loaded, and the workstation configured to meet the requirements of that particular user," says Vermaak. "I-Fusion did an excellent job."
I-Fusion was also responsible for the cabling, telephony, points and power management aspects of the move.
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