British Waterways’ Chief Executive, Robin Evans, explains: “Our absolute priority must be to maintain investment in the waterways and this means reducing spending elsewhere. The proposed new structure will both redirect important funding to essential works, but also make us much more responsive to customers and partners.”
The transformation journey proposed in its Strategic Review, 'A Vision for the Future of Our Canals and Rivers', impacts every area of the business. It has also influenced the decision to review how technology is delivered back to the business to achieve value for money, performance improvement and flexibility.
Richard Walsh, Head of ICT, British Waterways, explains: “The decision to embark on a second generation outsource came about as a result of the need to transform and improve the services delivered by technology, in addition to ensuring our operating costs are as low as they possibly could be.
“We have to respond to pressure for the smartest, fastest and greenest solutions, delivered when and where they are needed, at a predictable cost. This requires us to be more flexible in how we deliver systems to our people and extending the opportunities for remote working.
“Successful at creating strong partnerships, we wanted a genuine collaboration with an organisation that both understands our culture and will help achieve service transformation, supported by the best available SLAs.”
To achieve these objectives, BW initiated a competitive tendering process to find a proven technology solutions and services provider around the infrastructure. Demonstrating strong cultural fit - including a flexible approach, fast decision making and genuine added value - were all critical elements of the RFP.
British Waterways selected SCC to be its sole provider of integrated IT (http://www.scc.com/
The fully managed and hosted service includes the support and maintenance of the PC infrastructure, desktop support, Data Centre server hosting, (http://www.scc.com/
Other key components include:
Server virtualisation techniques to reduce energy consumption and maximise utilisation.
Remote management toolsets to better control the network, enhance its availability and reduce risk.
Desktop transformation, including virtual deployment and service desk, on a cost per user basis, to extend the opportunities for remote working.
Access to Microsoft Sharepoint to improve communications between end users.
Tracy Westall, SCC’s Director responsible for the Public Sector, said: “British Waterways has achieved affordable access to the best available technologies delivered as a service. Proven to remove inefficiencies and their over spend, this is a practical and flexible solution that will free up resource that can be redirected towards maintaining the waterways. Forward thinking and bold in its approach, BW is strongly positioned to improve services to customers and partners, in line with its ‘Vision for the Future’.”
ENDS
About SCC
SCC is Europe’s largest independent technology solutions provider around the infrastructure, and is part of Specialist Computer Holdings (SCH) plc. The Group has regional operations in eight different countries, employs over 7,000 professional staff and has delivered sustained, profitable growth for some 35 years, with annual turnover exceeding £2.5 billion.
Long term partnerships with the world’s leading solutions providers combine with SCC’s services capabilities to create a rapid return on an investment in IT. It has an enviable track record of successfully helping European-based companies and Government organisations better manage their technology infrastructure, remove cost and create business advantage.
To help your business release immediate savings, visit www.scc.com
