September 1 2008

A system overhaul is the way forward in economic hard times, according to Knowledge I.T.

There's little doubt that trading conditions are getting tougher, and likely to continue  to do so before the stormy clouds of recession eventually blow away to reveal a brighter economic outlook.

So as more and more firms start to batten down the hatches for the bumpy ride ahead, and look to tighten their financial belts even further, the area of IT expenditure is increasingly likely to come under the corporate microscope as the clamour from the top floor to slash costs gets louder.

But the message from Washington-based leading business solutions provider Knowledge I.T. is not to press the panic button. Instead, the company urges management to keep a cool head and look at ways of working their I.T. smarter, which will inevitably lead to improvements and cost-savings.

One approach could be to look at refreshing the entire I.T. infrastructure. Not only can this strategy reveal more innovative ways to achieve improved usage out of existing equipment and systems in the short term, but it’s more than likely to lay the foundations for a far more efficient and cost-effective network in the longer run.

That was the route Gateshead contact centre and fulfilment services company Spark Response took when it decided to call in Knowledge to overhaul its entire I.T. systems and procedures. The move eventually became Spark’s largest ever infrastructure refresh but delivered significant benefits in the process.

From home shopping and mail order support to telesales, marketing and promotional campaigns, Spark supplies core and ancillary services to household names across the UK including Toys ‘R’ Us Direct, Powergen and De Agostini and employs over 200 full and part-time people at its site on the Follingsby Park Estate, in Gateshead.

Before making the strategic decision to outsource operations, Spark had relied entirely upon in-house expertise for the maintenance and support of its busy networks, server and telephony infrastructure.

Knowledge I.T. experts came in and undertook a major refresh of the entire communications infrastructure, including central operating systems, email, telephony, core back-end applications, security solutions and internet connectivity. The move was extremely well-received by Spark’s senior management team, who immediately recognised the benefits.

Managing director, Peter Slee, says: “I.T. lies at the heart of everything we do at Spark, with every department relying heavily upon intuitive and stable I.T. systems.

“It was for this reason that we recognised the service solutions provided by Knowledge I.T. as integral to ensuring our company’s strategic development and investment plans for the future.”

The strategic partnership between the two organisations saw the transfer of Spark’s I.T. support team to Knowledge.

“We were delighted with the way Knowledge I.T. came in and delivered,” adds Peter Slee. 

“They provided us with the right products and services, enabling us to provide staff and clients with the most up-to-date communication technologies and ensure we stayed ahead in a very competitive industry.”

Knowledge I.T. proactively approached Spark with the recommendation after working for the company for several years, during which time it had provided telephony services, technical support and I.T. hardware.   

Before the migration to Knowledge I.T, Spark had been operating a mix of technology platforms, which required development into a single integrated solution to provide the support needed for the influx of new and varied business growth.

George Sanger, Knowledge’s sales and marketing director, reveals: “We spent a lot of time with Peter and his management team understanding their business strategy.

“We then worked with them to create a package that met their individual needs, providing a flexible, cost-effective ICT solution.

“In addition to outsourcing Spark’s technical support function and helpdesk, we upgraded their systems from Windows NT 4.0 and Exchange 5.5 to the latest versions of Windows and Exchange.

“Apart from this, we also manage their third party support contracts to ensure their suppliers are providing good value for money. The whole package of support, expertise and equipment provided will deliver long-term savings that can be reinvested in the business in other areas.”

Knowledge I.T. offers a range of communications technology to businesses throughout the North of England, including IP telephony, ICT, data storage, internet services and disaster recovery. It was the first North East service provider to unite all business communications into one package, allowing companies to replace multiple suppliers with one provider and just one bill.

Having won the 2006 regional technology award at Sunderland’s Portfolio Business Awards, Knowledge’s thriving customer base now extends to 250 of the biggest firms and organisations across the region. These include Durham City Council, the RVI Hospital, Mamas and Papas, Spark Response and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue.

For more information please call us on 0845 142 0020 or CLICK HERE to complete our online information request form.