Better communication and collaboration with a hosted ICT ecosystem

THE CHALLENGE

In 2016 we moved LRM onto their first hosted phone system. This meant UK staff and clients could communicate seamlessly with staff based overseas. As a result, LRM saw improvements in productivity and operational cost savings of about 20% in the first 12 months.

Having experienced the transformation that hosted telephony delivered, LRM were keen to move their IT away from the complex and expensive Citrix environment that they were using. Together we developed a plan to streamline their business IT infrastructure, migrate their data, and key business applications such as Sage Accounting, and Qube for block management, to the cloud.

THE SOLUTION

We agreed a phased implementation. This started with the move away from applications that relied on Citrix. A fully cloud-enabled version of accounts and block management software were installed, and the associated data backed up and migrated.  Once this was complete, we moved everyone’s email to Microsoft 365 and implemented two factor authentication to make their accounts more secure. The next phase was the migration of all company data to SharePoint cloud storage and the automation of backups.

After a couple of weeks, once everyone was familiar with Microsoft 365 and Teams for internal conferencing, we moved to the final phase.  This was the transfer of company phone numbers and the set-up of a Microsoft Teams phone system.  We provided the Teams mobile app for mobile phone users and new mobile phones and contracts for new starters. Finally, to ensure that office-based staff saw as much benefit as possible from the new set-up, when they returned after the Covid Lockdown, we provided a super-fast fibre line to LRM’s premises.

THE BENEFITS

LRM saw immediate benefits in operational cost savings based on a clearly defined price per user for all their IT, support and user help desk.  Accessing and sharing data is now faster and easier. This has translated into better collaboration across a dispersed workforce and improvements in productivity.

The introduction of a complete ICT ‘ecosystem’ means that infrastructure management is now less complex and correspondingly more secure.  Remote working is possible for everyone. The solution is scalable and flexible. It adapts readily to the changing needs of LRM’s growing business.

Communications Solutions UK continue to support LRM on both a day-to-day basis and partner with them on new in-house projects and client led developments.