EOH Western Cape has implemented an integrated IT environment at Weylandts Homestores, specialists in contemporary furniture and unique d'ecor accessories, and will manage this new infrastructure for the retailer.
Clive Koen, EOH Western Cape Service Delivery Manager, explains that the implementation is based on the SYSPRO Integrated Business Software and provides an integrated office environment for secure communications between head office and all stores and depots, a balanced server and terminal hardware configuration, and a national telecommunications infrastructure (VPN Supreme).
With stores in Durbanville, Greenpoint, Fourways, Menlyn Park, Knysna and Umhlanga, and distribution centres in Stikland, Kwazulu-Natal and Johannesburg, Weylandts recognised the benefit of entering into a managed services agreement with EOH.
Koen outlines what this managed services contract provides to Weylandts:
Provision and management of VPN (virtual private network) services:
This solution provides Weylandts with active network management, router repair and maintenance, and measurement of end-to-end QS (quality of service), including proactive router and line maintenance.
Hosting:
EOH hosts five of Weylandts' servers in its data centre. Suitable power, air conditioning, fire protection, physical security, server cabinets and firewalls ensure uptime and risk management. EOH manages and maintains all hosted hardware to ensure maximum uptime and availability, and also ensures that all application software and tools are installed and used within the parameters of the licensing agreements. Regular patches and updates are applied as and when needed.
Remote monitoring and SMs:
These services ensure that EOH monitors the availability of the servers located in their data centre on a 24/7 basis, the benefit being maximum uptime for Weylandts.
Support:
SYSPRO application support and SQL administration are provided both via EOH's call centre and on-site as and when needed.
Web-based services:
EOH provides Weylandts with managed, unlimited e-mail usage for its 100-plus users, and managed, unlimited Internet usage for approximately 50 users. These services include world-class spam and Web control.
“Weylandts had previously relied on a standalone accounting package and a standalone POS retail application to provide them with accounting functionality upon which to base their strategic decisions in this high-value, quality-driven retail environment. Because of the disparate components being used, there was very limited end-user support, uncontrolled downtime, data security problems, virus vulnerability, lack of change management control, and business-critical e-mails were often lost,” Koen says.
He concludes that with an IT infrastructure that now fully supports the business strategy and is being wholly managed with the expertise of EOH, Weylandts is able to focus on its core business. The company plans to further optimise processes in its factory, and to also generate further business through its Web-based presence as well as transact over the Internet with its international suppliers.
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