As a leading local mobile service provider, Altech Autopage Cellular relies extensively on its billing systems, which form a central part of the company's success.
The result of which is that Altech Autopage Cellular needs to ensure it is able to process its bill-runs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Stephen Blewett, Managing Director of Altech Autopage Cellular, says: "Our billing system is the bedrock of our company and required upgrading due to increased company subscriber growth, we sought a solution that would provide a complete system upgrade, with an effective filing structure to assist us with our data management."
Business and technology goals
After an extensive search for a partner to assist it with improving its billing system, Altech Autopage Cellular selected Bytes Systems Integration (Bytes SI) as its technology partner of choice. The Netapp solution, selected as the technology vehicle for the customer's requirements, was selected as a result of key data management advantages offered by the backend storage application.
With productivity, agility and business efficiency core to Altech Autopage Cellular's wish list, the new IT solution is set to drastically improve the service provider's billing processes. Currently in the first phase of implementation, the second phase of the rollout includes an upgrade to the billing application to enhance the company's service and billing offerings.
The solution
Since there is a vast amount of client data involved in the billing process, Bytes SI provided Altech Autopage Cellular with a new front-end server, HP 7640 running HPUX11 connected over a Network File System (NFS) to a Netapp 3050 cluster. This powerful tailor-made HP/Netapp solution is a combined hardware and software solution, and has been customised and developed by Bytes SI with the explicit purpose of being able to support all of Altech Autopage Cellular's billing requirements.
The Netapp software solution provides Altech Autopage Cellular with a robust data filing system that includes Write Anywhere File Layout (WAFL) supporting snapshot technology, Data ONTAP software and SnapRestore.
Snapshots enable administrators to keep multiple read only copies of data per filer volume. While snapshots are read only, Data ONTAP software enables administrators to make snapshots writable, should it be deemed necessary. In addition to which, using SnapRestore the company can now restore damaged or accidentally deleted data, providing the ultimate backup system for its data.
Conclusion
"The solution has been implemented successfully and has met our billing performance and data management requirements. We now look forward to the next phase," says Blewett.
Benefits
* Improved agility for bill-runs.
* Disaster recovery.
* Snapshots allowing for multiple read-only online versions for administrators.
* Improved productivity and business efficiency.
* Improved time efficiency through advanced data filing system.
Fast facts Customer:
Altech Autopage Cellular
Web site: www.altechautopage.co.za
Number of employees: Approximately 800 staff
Country: South Africa
Industry: Mobile service provider
Customer profile Altech Autopage Cellular is the largest independent service provider in South Africa. It prides itself on offering the most suitable packages and advice where it is needed. Altech Autopage Cellular has a vision to become a complete communications company that can provide full spectrum communications solutions.
Software and services
* Products
* HP Itanium 7640
* Netapp 3050c
Partners
* Bytes Systems Integration (Bytes SI)
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