Surveying the retail scene - Icomm helps new retail property consultant get on line in just one week
Background
For many new start up ventures, one of the greatest challenges facing them is the establishment of an affordable technology infrastructure that allows them to function cost effectively from day one, yet retains sufficient flexibility for future growth. Few start ups can afford a dedicated IT professional from the outset and the luxury of having an in house IT expert once a business is up and running remains the preserve of larger organisations.
For any professional services firm, IT is often the DNA that ensures smooth and effective communication between colleagues and clients.
When Birmingham based retail property consultancy Rowley, Hughes & Thompson set up in January 2004, it recognised the need to find an IT provider that could help them get up and running quickly and efficiently and then provide the necessary ongoing support to help manage day to day issues and future growth. Cost efficiency was a major issue because the practice had already identified that at this stage it could not justify an in-house IT specialist.
The practice was founded by Jon Rowley, David Thompson , Ian Hughes , Marcus Jordan and Barr Muggeridge all of whom have a long track record in the retail sector.
The new firm was aiming to specialise in working with commercial landlords to manage letting and asset improvement as well as taking instruction from retailers to manage acquisition and disposals.
The practice needed an infrastructure in place from the day it started trading because the partners already had potential clients wanting to do business with them. It needed a provider that could design and implement a solution quickly and smoothly.
The firm turned to Birmingham based Icomm Technologies - an end to end provider of IT solutions to businesses across the UK in numerous different sectors. The company provides a comprehensive service as well as post sales maintenance and development. The company is a Microsoft Certified Partner and is also a Hewlett Packard Centre of Excellence. The firm already provides solutions and support for a number of professional services organisations in the Midlands.
According to partner Jon Rowley, “Icomm were the ideal partner for us. They have a strong track record working with professional services companies and were able to respond quickly and efficiently to our demanding requirements.”
The Challenge
“Get us up and running as quickly as possible”
The challenge faced by Icomm was to develop a complete IT infrastructure from scratch for the fledgling practice and ensure it was up and running in as short a time as possible.
As well as designing and specifying the solution, Icomm had to manage the entire installation process from data cabling to system configuration.
Icomm was also asked to look at the establishment of a back up procedure to ensure the practice could continue to function in the event of a major incident occurring.
In addition, Icomm also had to work closely with the providers of a bespoke surveying database solution PRIME, to ensure it worked properly on the proposed platform.
The Solution
The Icomm team divided the task into two key work flows:
- Installation of the cabling infrastructure at the firm’s premises
- Design and configuration of the overall system which was undertaken off site at Icomm’s headquarters
The decision to do this minimised disruption to the new business and allowed them to get on with getting set up and running.
Working against the clock Icomm installed a 40 point CAT 5 voice and data network within the practice’s Bennetts Hill offices to permit seamless use of both telephones and computers across the same infrastructure.
To provide an infrastructure that would be able to cope with future expansion of the practice, Icomm recommended the installation of an HP ML310 Server and a Microsoft® Small Business Server along with a number of networked PCs running Microsoft® Windows XP Professional and Office XP Professional.
A Symantec anti-virus solution was deployed to minimise the risk of business disruption and an integrated tape back up solution was installed to prevent critical data loss.
From a communications perspective Icomm set up and configured all Internet and e-mail services including integration with the practice’s database and management solution PRIME.
All of the hardware and software configuration was undertaken off site and was then brought together with the cabling installation. The decision to split the work flows was undertaken to minimise disruption and reduce the overall project cycle time.
As Jon Rowley points out, “We were looking to get up and running and we wanted to minimise the disruption around us. Icomm were able to specify an appropriate solution very quickly and worked to roll it out efficiently.”
The Results
The complete deployment including all testing took just seven working days.
The solution went live and since then has operated reliably and robustly and has provided a platform for rapid growth of the practice.
One month into its operation, the practice has successfully secured a number of prestigious clients in significant areas of Birmingham City Centre, including the new Bull Ring for Alliance and Prudential, The One Stop in Perry Barr for Standard Life as well as work further a field for the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton and the Guild Hall Centre in Stafford for Topps Estates.
What The Client Said
As Jon Rowley points out, “This had the potential to be a nightmare but Icomm worked with us at every stage of the process to ensure a smooth deployment. Critically, they continue to offer us support on an ongoing basis. Although we have not had any problems with the solution, it is reassuring to know that help is just a phone call away and the systems Icomm have in place actually allow them to undertake remote maintenance of our infrastructure.
Update: Icomm also provide web design solution
Since the successful set up of Rowley Hughes Thompson's solution, Icomm's Internet Services department have designed and launched a website for the company. See www.rhtretail.co.uk.
If you would like to know more about how Icomm could benefit your company, or have any other enquiries, please contact our sales team.
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