Well-known national clothing retailer Queenspark, listed on the JSE, has invested in and incorporated voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communications across its head offices and national chain of stores, with the complete outsource services of its ICT partner Integr8 IT.
Rex Trueform has over 35 Queenspark outlets across SA. The company viewed the opportunity to install VOIP capability as a strategic financial investment to lower the cost of inter-branch communication and general telecommunication.
National network integration and advanced infrastructure management specialist Integr8 IT implemented a technology (being VOIP over existing network) and selected to go with a fully-fledged Cisco-based network with a multitude of redundant links for backup of branches. This took place initially at core sites and then was extended nationally to the edge of the network.
"We consolidated the dedicated lines to allow for substantial telecommunication savings and IT cost savings, by using an existing single infrastructure and allowing it to be used for an array of shared services," explains Robert Sussman, joint-MD of Integr8 IT.
"The new VOIP services make extensive use of quality of services to ensure pure voice clarity, while inter-branch connectivity via thin-client Citrix ICA connections to the centralised server, as well as the provision of local data backup via the D8tavault synchronisation of critical data (while compressed and encrypted) to a centralised server is well balanced and optimised. The key critical element was to ensure quality of service from the outset."
Quality of service refers to the prioritisation of specific applications and voice channels over that of low key or non-time-dependent applications. This improves operation flow by raising the profile of voice calls over that of data.
Integr8 IT successfully delivered on its commitment to Queenspark, by ensuring zero downtime during the project.
Together with the client, Integr8 IT performed a comprehensive audit of its systems and procedures to ensure the investment would make complete business sense. This, says Sussman, is critical before any business decides to fully implement this technology.
"Although businesses are ready to experience these kind of cost savings, caution should not be thrown to the wind. Business requirements must be in line with technological requirements and decision-makers ought to conduct a thorough analysis of how this will be implemented and what cost savings there will be. Queenspark is an example of how best to approach this investment," adds Sussman.
"It was undoubtedly obvious to select Integr8 IT for our VOIP roll-out because they understand our business and core focus, as well as house the highest level of skills in this regard," says Gerald Radowsky, Head of IT at Queenspark Group.
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