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Nashua Mobile chooses Microsoft EPM, New Era Solutions

When you are one of the largest, independent, tri-network, cellular service providers in the country, the ability to manage complexity and rapid rate of change is critical to staying competitive. This is the landscape that prompted Nashua Mobile to appoint IT partner New Era Solutions to assist the company with the deployment of the Microsoft Enterprise Project Management (EPM) solution.

Nashua Mobile provides services from the country`s three cellular network operators and boasts in excess 400 000 contract subscribers. In addition, the company deals with all major handset vendors and has the pay-off line `all the phones, all the networks, all the tariffs, all the time`.

Says Michael Brown, Divisional Director Business Solutions at Nashua Mobile: "Due to the rapid growth in our subscriber base, as well as the pace at which the cellular industry operates, the ability to correctly implement and manage our strategic plans within the confines of everyday activity had become critical. It is with this that we began investigating technology solutions which would assist us in automating our project management activity, the everyday tasks, and most importantly the reporting thereof."

After conducting an extensive search for a product with the right functionality, and more importantly a technology partner with the right skills and understanding of what Nashua Mobile needed, the company selected New Era Solutions. Brown adds that the selection of Microsoft EPM was also strategic to the company which is a complete Microsoft shop.

"New Era understood exactly what we needed. Their experience with reducing the complexity that often creeps into project environments slotted perfectly into our business needs. One of the other reasons we selected the Microsoft platform was because very little customisation was needed. We could instantly see the benefits of a seamless integration into our existing applications as well as it being a system the individuals in our business are already comfortable with," adds Brown.

Some of the direct benefits the company hopes to achieve with the installation are planning capabilities around new and existing projects, the ability to execute on these projects more rapidly, management of national projects from a central point, as well as the inclusion of disparate staff on a variety of projects at a task level.

States Scott McKenzie, Managing Director of New Era Solutions: "Nashua Mobile as a client know exactly what they are looking for, they have defined processes and procedures, and need a technology partner which can help them automate this. We believe that Microsoft EPM is the ideal solution for the company as it allows it to harness application integration across the enterprise, provide them a single view of projects, and as a result manage accountability on all projects and tasks allocated throughout the organisation."

The system will be rolled out throughout the course of September. New Era will provide Nashua Mobile with full support throughout the implementation, as well as training and ensuring that the system aligns to the company`s strategic business objectives.

Ends Brown: "All businesses have specific dynamics, unique to them and the markets in which they operate. The cellular industry is no different, and we are subject to a number of complexities that need to be managed correctly to ensure that we constantly stay ahead of the competition. We believe that the installation of Microsoft EPM will enable us to react more effectively to the needs of our business, potential competitive threats, and position us to better service our customers."

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Editorial contacts

Charlene Carroll
Anti-Clockwise
(011) 315 1448
charlene@anticlockwise.co.za
Jenny Bosch
New Era Solutions
(011) 318 3427
jennyb@newerasol.co.za