In what is seen as a powerful endorsement of its reseller channel, Workgroup, the holder of the sole SA distribution rights for Citrix server based computing solutions, has identified Bateleur Customised Solutions as the company to conduct Workgroup`s Citrix installation at its new Midrand premises.
The installation, completed ahead of schedule and within budget, coincides with Workgroup`s decision to `trim` its network ahead of its recent relocation to Midrand.
According to Workgroup financial director, Vaughn Parkin, Bateleur Customised Solutions, as a Gold Citrix Certified Solution Partner, got the nod as the company has consistently leveraged its experience and expertise to provide customers with considerable benefits.
"Our Citrix installation, being Bateleur`s first major server based computing installation, was most impressive. We were soon reaping unexpected benefits in the form of improved network manageability and enhanced costs savings. We all knew what Citrix was supposed to do, but we weren`t expecting such astonishing results," says Mohammed Haffejee, IT Director at Medscheme.
After this initial success, Bateleur conducted the Senwes switch to thin client where, in just over two days, 52 terminals networked to the server delivered a more cost effective IT infrastructure.
Nadine Barnard, Citrix Product Manager at Workgroup takes up the story:
"Senwes was another company ideally suited to Citrix server based computing, what with a head office in North West province, branches flung far and wide, and an IT skills shortage within the company. They needed a simple, logical user-friendly network and they got it, to the point where the user at a Senwes silo in the middle of nowhere who previously had little or no computer experience, now operates his system with utmost ease."
While Workgroup`s scenario differed slightly, the success of the implementation bears testimony to the flexibility of the Citrix solution. Before the relocation, Workgroup`s Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth branches were all run by a resident server in each branch. What was needed was a new cost-effective infrastructure managed from a central location and able to control the growing needs of a distribution company and its resellers.
"Everything had to be done at very short notice. We made the decision to appoint a partner to do the installation in mid September and needed everything up and running by the day of our move eight weeks later," says Parkin.
Prior to going live, Bateleur had to test all existing and new applications at the old site and ensure that the branches could be connected. The rebuilding of the servers also had to take place at the old site before they were moved across to the new site on the weekend before the relocation.
Thanks to all-round professionalism and teamwork, all was achieved on schedule, with the system up and running on the Monday morning of the move when 130 users countrywide switched on their workstations and continued working as if nothing had happened.
Immediate results were reflected in a 30% increase in productivity, which contributed to a record month of sales in November. All users, remote and local, now have immediate access to the server and the implementation of all new applications now takes place at a central location, thus reducing deployment time, costs and training.
Bateleur clearly demonstrated their commitment to their customer when Technical Director John Steyn literally rolled up his sleeves to help pick stock in the warehouse to ensure the smooth running of the process.
It is important to understand the pressure Workgroup were under to make all of this work. The company receives approximately 4000 telephone calls on a daily basis and was faced with ramifications if they were unable to deliver stock in time for the busy year-end period.
"Thankfully, Bateleur came through for us. They did everything we expected of them as an experienced Citrix Gold Partner. They`re enthusiastic about the product, they understood our business and the urgency of our requirement, and their hands-on approach was just what we needed," concludes Doug Woolley, Managing Director of Workgroup.
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