Case Studies

A tribute from a satisfied customer of ABCOM

Situation:

We took over the support for this North London-based company about a year ago.

We were recommended to them by another of our clients based in Brighton.

Upon review their server was 11 years old and they were using tape drives for back-up.

Our new client had an old SIP trunk phone system costing them over £300 per month.

Solution:

We helped them migrate and upgrade to a cloud solution comprising Microsoft 365, and an automated offsite backup system, producing reports on data volume, status and so on.

We established a help desk system for their staff to contact us. We installed our remote access and monitoring software so that when Covid lockdown happened we had already equipped the workforce to be able to work from home with a remote solution.

After establishing support for the client we turned our sights to how we could bring their telecoms into the modern age and reap savings. We upgraded their phone system to a modern VOIP package that included new handsets in the process with free bundled minutes, and a mobile app enabling the phone system to be used from home - seamlessly.

Outcome:

Client gained flexibility with their infrastructure. Comparing the bill from before we took over the client saved on average £146 per month on their phone and line bills.

They have benefitted from the savings for over 6 months so far and gave us a glowing testimonial from the Manging Director. The staff now have control of the general administration of the phone system.

Quote:

“We needed to migrate from our ISDN and multiple lines to something more flexible and scalable. We were recommended to ABCOM by one of our clients. I can say we have definitely made the right choice with this hop over to VoIP. Saved money too.”

Derek
Managing Director
Industrial Design company

A tribute from a satisfied customer of ABCOM

Situation:

We took over the support for this Sussex based company about 3 years ago, having been recommended by another of our clients based in Newhaven.

Review of their systems showed where improvements could be made. Business growth demanded additional computers, and existing systems were not performing as well as they should.

The network infrastructure had been neglected, and included some ad-hoc fixes, which were not always ideal.

Windows systems had not been patched with security updates.

Slow speeds across the network.

Everything needed refreshing.

Solution:

The Client knew that the system needed updating so we compiled an action plan for the next 2 years. We helped them migrate and upgrade to a cloud solution comprising their IT and telecoms. They moved to Microsoft 365, and an automated offsite backup system, producing reports on data volume, status and so on. The VOIP phone system linked to their retail outlet and enabled them to control calls and be more effective in picking up calls by using hunt groups.

Once the Client could see the overall benefit of the refresh, we could focus on their internal systems. We helped them switch to a cloud-based accounts package and that would coincide with a cloud-based Stock and Point Of Sale (POS) system.

As the Client relied more and more on their internet connection we introduced broadband failover.

Outcome:

The Client gained a sense of agility with their upgraded infrastructure. Comparing the previous system with what was achievable now showed a dramatic change of pace and control. With the confidence of greatly enhanced IT and communications, the Client has truly gone from strength to strength.

Our refresh saved over £50 per month on phone calls, using bundled call-minutes with our VOIP system. Previous IT support was “Pay-As-You-Go”, and is now saving at least £90 per month with our structured support package.

They have been befitted greatly from our initial action plan and we are pleased to support them. Here is a testimonial from the Manging Director.

Quote:

“I like the fact that I now have one supplier for our technical needs, for the phones and IT. They are a responsive and knowledgeable team.”

Catherine
Managing Director
Clothing Design company (Sussex)

A tribute from a satisfied customer of ABCOM

Situation:

We took over the support for this Sussex based charity approximately 4 years ago.

We were engaged by the Charity as we had previously been working in this field and had assisted a number of other organisations, such as Martlets Hospice and The Disabilities Trust.

This charity was growing and merging with others into a Sussex-wide operation. The technology needed to be resilient and reliable because of the nature of their business. They are on-call and people depend on the vital services they provide.

Solution:

We needed to review the systems and work within a tight budget. We installed our monitoring software and began patching systems. We improved many slow machines with memory and solid-state drive upgrades - hardware would be replaced as and when needed.

All the sites needed unifying, so we installed broadband and a cloud-based telecom solution over all.

This ensured that calls were always answered and messages recorded and passed on.

We used open source firewalls for security and this helped keep the costs down but also ensured the systems were secure. Savings were estimated at £900 across three sites. We were able to donate the hardware, to sweeten the process even more.

As a charity they were entitled to discounts on software from numerous suppliers. We advised them on the best deals, they are currently saving about £100 per month on licenses. We later set up Multi Factor Authentication to keep the operation safe and secure.

Outcome:

The charity has grown and we are proud of the setup and the support we have provided them. We are always conscious that a charity needs solid business support as much as any company, but we are also mindful that budgets are more restricted. So we work with what they have and use our creative flair to give them the best.

They have been benefiting from our interaction and we are proud to support them. Testimonial from the CEO.

Quote:

“…combines drive, enthusiasm and creativity with in-depth knowledge and excellent delivery.”

Matthew
CEO
Community Purpose Charity (Sussex)

A tribute from a satisfied customer of ABCOM

Situation:

The client had grown over the last 10 years. The needs of the business could no longer be met by the local IT help, who brought us in to take over the support. It needed a fully managed helpdesk and the introduction of modern working technology. The Directors needed peace of mind that their back-office systems were stable enough to sustain growth. Their clients were beginning to request technical information on how their IT systems operated, seeking assurance that their information was secure. There was no formal paperwork or system in place. In summary there was lots of work to do.

Solution:

Rolling out our various monitoring and remote-access software on all the systems was the starting point. From here we could quickly improve their security, patch machines with updated software and address and identify failing hardware and potential threats. We rolled out Microsoft 365, introducing SharePoint and Teams. We introduced a managed Firewall to help secure the business even further.

Outcome:

When the first lockdown was imminent, we already had in place the remote access, remote systems to support many of the 40-plus staff to work from home.

The business continues to grow and we are proud to be there, innovating and ensuring that they are one step ahead. In this last year we helped them gain accreditation in CyberEssentials. This allows their clients, and suppliers, to know that they have secure procedures in place to guard against cyber threats.

Quote:

“…It’s been a challenging time for business this year. We have been very busy dealing with unknown situations and had to act quickly on putting plans in place for different scenarios. One of these was remote working. As soon as we needed to act, ABCOM were straight on it and were there for us when we needed them from the start. Having a whole office work remotely at a flick of a switch is not something that is ever going to be easy but the headache of the IT side was taken away. Thank you for your continued support and proactive service. ABCOM continue to excel!

James
General Manager
Facilities Management

A tribute from a satisfied customer of ABCOM

Situation:

A major NHS trust needed a multi-tiered recycling solution to help manage several sites with a sweeping IT refresh program. Other aspects of the project included the need for onsite shredding of hard drives and repurposing and recycling of equipment.

Solution:

We established a cloud-based asset management system. The downloadable spreadsheets detailed make, model, serial numbers, status and eventual demise. The online portal allowed the Trust to access any certificates or documents relating to asset disposal over the course of the project.

We arranged for onsite shredding of hard drives containing sensitive data, at a very competitive rate, reducing costs by £200-300 on each occasion.

Some of the equipment while out of warranty, still held residual value, we were able to broker deals to return funds to the Trust.

Outcome:

The client was extremely happy with our services. We always welcome flexible solutions for corporates and their redundant IT. We ensure the disposed assets are documented, data is erased and handled properly.

Quote:

“During our partnership with ABCOM, they have been accommodating, flexible, trustworthy and professional and are a pleasure to carry out business with. ABCOM provide a service which can only be classed as excellent meeting all of our requirements with consummate professionalism and their service has our full and utmost recommendation.”

Tony
Project Manager
NHS Trust