Specialist systems integrator Blue Sky Networks has deployed Cisco equipment in a voice-over- data network solution for Nestle South Africa which, as well as saving the confectioner R120 000 annually, makes it a technology innovator within Nestle worldwide. According to Blue Sky Account Manager, Chris Henchie, the Nestle implementation is also the first voice-over-IP installation in South Africa. Nestle has adopted Cisco as a standard internationally. John Griffiths, Nestle South Africa`s business systems manager for group information systems, says that although policy stipulates Cisco equipment, the local operation has had extensive experience of other vendors` networking offerings and has been highly impressed with Cisco. Blue Sky has provided consulting and services to Nestle, in a project, which kicked off last year with the rollout of a new Cisco wide area network and implementation of local area network switching at desktop level, followed this year by the re-introduction of voice-over-data.The initial network upgrade was implemented primarily to gear Nestle for an enterprise resource planning package installation. The Cisco network employs routing rather than bridging technology, which alleviates network congestion and overloading which had been experienced in the past. According to Griffiths, Nestle`s use of e-mail has increased dramatically as the number of company LANs has grown from two to 16 - equating to a couple of thousand employees communicating constantly via the networks. The use of routers ensures that network traffic follows the most logical and efficient path. In the past, e-mail was lost because of network congestion and was subject to long delays in reaching its destination. The router-based network has ensured that e-mail is delivered to the correct destination, on time. The network also features the ability to run concurrent sessions. In addition, Blue Sky has designed the network to incorporate extensive backup processes and redundancy to eliminate downtime. Where LAN users in Randburg were experiencing three to four network failures a week, the upgrade has eliminated this problem. The network operates between Nestle`s Randburg head office, Cape Town, Durban and East London offices, with plans to extend to smaller branches next year. The voice- over-data network currently links about 900 users, with the potential to expand to 3 000. Nestle`s WAN infrastructure is managed remotely from Blue Sky`s Woodmead Head Office, which provides Internet access for Nestle as well as maintenance and service. Blue Sky backs it remote support offering with countrywide representation. As part of the Usko stable, Blue Sky represents South Africa`s third largest IT vendor. As well as facilitating significant cost savings, quality of voice over the network is superior, according to Griffiths. Nestle opted for Blue Sky for the contract on the strength of the range of expertise as well as the focus the company brought to Nestle in assisting in defining strategic direction. Griffiths says: "Often technology that is cost-effective, well supported and readily available in Europe is not so readily available or well supported here. A key criterion in awarding the contract was the level of local expertise available in South Africa - Blue Sky has been first class. "The partnership between Cisco SA, Blue Sky and Nestle has worked extremely well."
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