Nashua Mobile, one of South Africa`s largest independent, corporate-focused cellular solutions providers, has optimised its bandwidth and eased congested network traffic by implementing Citrix`s Presentation Server, part of the Citrix Access Suite. The solution has substantially reduced network traffic, improving speed, productivity and customer service.
A customer-centric organisation, Nashua Mobile places great emphasis on client service and fast access to the billing system, a home-grown solution dubbed Cactus, is critical to meeting these requirements. However, as Cactus is a MS Visual Basic application that is bandwidth intensive, access to the application residing at the company`s head office in Midrand was slow and painstaking for staff at regional branches in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and other satellite service centres.
Explains Wally Fernandes, IT manager at Nashua Mobile: "KSS understood our frustrations and recommended a Citrix platform that would allow us to make better use of our current bandwidth infrastructure and reduce traffic over the network."
In March 2005, Nashua Mobile decided to invest in the server-based computing platform with KSS as its technology partner. Although only one server was required to run the application, two servers were installed at the head office in Midrand to provide load balancing and resilience capabilities, ensuring no single point of failure.
Says Amit Ramkissoon, technical manager at KSS: "Prior to Nashua Mobile`s investment, Citrix allowed us to implement a proof of concept as a `try before you buy` initiative. This highlighted our commitment and confidence that the solution would provide a technology platform that delivers on-demand computing. Pilot sites were implemented at the smaller Nashua Mobile outlets in Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. An existing server was used at head office before completing the larger implementations at the company`s main offices in the various regions."
The pilot sites were a resounding success and an order was placed for Citrix`s Presentation Server, part of its Access Suite.
"The new solution has simplified Nashua Mobile`s bandwidth challenges and enables easy access management. New users can be instantly added and applications can be deployed quickly -- in minutes instead of days or weeks. It has also delivered us the capability to intelligently consolidate Cactus applications and servers while improving access speeds and efficiencies within the organisation," notes Fernandes.
Printing initially proved problematic as printer drivers were installed on local PCs and these could not be read by the centrally situated billing system in Midrand. Fernandes explains: "Server-based computing makes use of technology that houses the application, data and intelligence on a central server. Information is accessed through terminals or `clients`. Due to the open architecture of the Citrix platform we were able to customise the solution to meet our printing needs. This included printing statements and information from the billing system from any branch in the country."
Although KSS recommended the solution, Citrix demonstrated a `hands on` attitude and assisted with the sales cycle and technical issues. It further assisted KSS with the scoping, design and implementation and was on hand whenever required.
Fernandes concludes: "The solution has provided us with an impressive return on investment as the improved service levels enhance our ability to retain customers. To add to this, efficiencies have improved dramatically and we are doing more with less. We are currently working on developing a new virtual database Smart Application, creating a lighter version of Cactus that will further improve bandwidth usage. Although this application is not yet complete, we have tested its compatibility with Citrix`s platform and are confident the migration will be as hassle-free as the current one."
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