After identifying serious shortcomings in its IT platform, Stellenbosch Vineyards (SVL), a leading wine producer in the Western Cape, appointed Space Age Technologies (SAT) to assist it with the challenging task of revising, upgrading and expanding its current technology platform to coincide with its changing business requirements, making SAT its primary IT partner.
SVL evolved after the merger of four wineries in the Stellenbosch region. Due to the physical distance between the wineries, the local area networks (LAN) are interconnected, to form a single wide area network (WAN).
"Working closely with SVL to identify their technological needs, we consulted them on the most cost-effective way to upgrade their network to provide them with flexible and reliable communication tools that would satisfy their business requirements," says Jochen K"ocher, Managing Member of SAT.
SVL recognised a need to control and manage its employees' Internet access more effectively. Red Hat Linux, performing as SVL's e-mail and Internet proxy server, was replaced with Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) 2000 Server, providing SVL with improved fire-walling, security and reporting functionalities, simplifying user administration.
E-mails were stored on each user's local machine, making roaming and effective backup of correspondence difficult. Exchange 2000 Server was installed as SVL's new e-mail server, allowing strict user policies to be enforced, preventing e-mail abuse and enabling effective centralised backup.
Employees of SVL now access their e-mail with Microsoft Outlook XP and even enjoy added functionalities such as Outlook Web Access (OWA), which enables them to log into their e-mail accounts, over the Internet, from anywhere and at anytime, enabling communication with travelling employees. Exchange's Groupware functions make effective and fast scheduling of meetings possible by allowing users to view their colleague's 'Free-Busy' information on their calendars.
Until recently, SVL was also using outdated word-processing and spreadsheet software. The fact that Microsoft-format e-mails had to be converted to Lotus-format by a colleague before sending or receiving such e-mail, created frustration with most of SVL's employees. This problem has been alleviated by deploying Office XP throughout the organisation.
Two powerful new servers use Microsoft Network Load Balancing Services and allow the full user-base of SVL to utilise Microsoft Terminal Services as the primary means of access to the network, thus enabling all the users to access Microsoft's Office XP Professional as well as their current database application, despite the fact that many desktops are somewhat outdated.
Another motivation behind the upgrade of SVL's network was the manageability of support and user administration. "As SVL's strategic IT partner, we are responsible for supporting their IT platform, and by standardising the entire network, user support, backup, anti-virus updates and daily IT operations are simplified," says K"ocher.
SVL has furthermore opted to sign an Open Subscription Licence (OSL) agreement with Microsoft, permitting it to lease, rather than purchase, software licences from Microsoft, allowing the company to spread the bulky cost of licensing over a longer period. The OSL agreement furthermore provides SVL with the option to upgrade its software to the latest version during the lease period.
While adding new functionality to its Windows 2000 platform, SVL will be able to work more efficiently, realising long-term business objectives. "Apart from the improved communication among their peers, our employees are able to work more productively and with less frustration," said Herman B"ohmer, CEO of Stellenbosch Vineyards.
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