Computacenter and Microsoft enable organisations to optimise workforce productivity and cost control with the latest productivity tools and industrialised processes.

1. ®
Unlock the benefits of the
contemporary workplace
Computacenter and Microsoft in partnership
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2. • • • UNLOCK THE BENEFITS OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORKPLACE • • •
Computacenter and Microsoft enable organisations to optimise workforce productivity
and cost control with the latest productivity tools and industrialised processes.
More for less has become an eternal mantra for the workplace.
Whether it is more time and less cost or more growth and less risk,
organisations have to be able to achieve their goals with reduced
effort and expense if they are to survive.
But the workplace rules have changed – and organisations need to
sharpen their game with optimised IT. The workplace is no longer just
Social Networking
an office. It’s an employee’s dining room, a hotel, an airport, a service
station or even a beach.
To maximise productivity and minimise cost in this dynamic operating
environment, organisations must remove more than just physical
boundaries in the workplace; they must also eliminate technological
constraints. They must be ready to embrace change. Instant Messaging
Exploiting the new rules
If workplace rule number one is greater mobility, the second is
increased collaboration. Instant messaging, videoconferencing,
social networking and file sharing via the cloud are just some of the
collaboration tools that are transforming workplaces around the world.
Greater Mobility
To leverage the efficiency and financial gains that come with these
innovations, organisations need to ensure that they have the right IT
foundations in place.
Legacy operating systems, email platforms and back-end
infrastructures were not built for today’s fast and flexible business
landscape, and will not only slow down benefits realisation but also Improved Collaboration
result in increased risk and support costs.
These challenges will be exacerbated as support for old operating
systems and applications are withdrawn, which will jeopardise not
only business continuity but also profitability. This risk coupled with
the pace of change in the workplace means it is no longer a matter
of ‘if’ but ‘when’ an organisation will transform its client infrastructure. Maximised Productivity
Microsoft’s latest productivity solutions, such as Windows 7,
Exchange 2010 and Office 365 will be central to this transformation.
These solutions have been specifically designed to help organisations
exploit the new rules of business. As well as empowering employees
to work faster and smarter, the Microsoft solutions remove cost and
complexity through reduced IT support requirements and greater
integration.
Reduced Costs
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3. • • • UNLOCK THE BENEFITS OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORKPLACE • • • • •
Repeatable processes, guaranteed outcomes, Simplifying the transformation journey
proven partnership Deploying the latest Microsoft offerings, however, is just one
As Microsoft’s number one enterprise partner for corporate piece of the workplace transformation puzzle. Organisations
accounts and the third Large Account Reseller in the UK, also need to consider other changes, including workstyle
Computacenter can help organisations source, deploy, profiling, application virtualisation, remote access and new
transform and manage their workplace technologies. delivery models, such as cloud computing.
We have developed a suite of repeatable best practice Thanks to our broad expertise, we can help organisations
processes that reduce implementation time, risks and costs transform their underlying workplace infrastructure and select
and accelerate time to value from Microsoft technologies. a licensing and delivery model that suits their budget, user
For example, Computacenter has developed a modular base and risk profile.
Desktop Migration methodology, which brings consistency
and control to Windows 7 projects. With key Microsoft software packages now available via
the cloud in the form of Office 365, organisations need
As a member of Microsoft’s early adopter programme, to evaluate if the traditional on-premise approach still
Computacenter has been implementing Windows 7 since represents best value.
2009. Many large and diverse organisations have embarked
on their Windows 7 journey with Computacenter’s help. Computacenter has developed a range of cost modelling
tools to evaluate the capital and operational overhead
From project definition and infrastructure remediation to data associated with the different delivery models for key
migration and user training, Computacenter’s industrialised workplace applications, such as Exchange 2010 or
approach encompasses an end-to-end set of processes, Windows 7 as well as potential efficiency gains and cost
procedures and tools to optimise the delivery of Microsoft savings from software licensing.
technologies to the workforce and ensure guaranteed
outcomes. With so many changes to consider and implement, it is
not surprising that industry experts are urging organisations
to allow between 18 and 24 months for operating system
upgrades and up to nine months for email migrations.
The longer an organisation takes to start its optimisation
journey, the longer it will take to realise the business benefits.
In today’s competitive business landscape, this delay could
become a defining factor between failure and success.
To stay in the game, organisations need to play by the new
rules. They need to seize the opportunity.
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4. • • • • • UNLOCK THE BENEFITS OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORKPLACE • • •
Empower, enable, energise
Computacenter and Microsoft enable organisations to achieve A powerful partnership: Microsoft
more for less. By combing best-of-breed productivity tools with and Computacenter
industrialised processes, we will help you to:
• omputacenter holds Gold Partner
C
Make financial savings status for Desktop, Virtualisation, Volume
£ Microsoft’s latest workplace technologies have
been designed to be as cost-effective as possible.
Licensing, Software Asset Management,
Server Platform and Identity and Security
Self-service options, simplified IT administration and
• e have more than 300 Microsoft Certified
W
Cost Reduction reduced power consumption are just some of the
Systems Engineers who hold MCP
enhancements that will help to lower operational
qualifications in a range of technologies
overheads. At the same time, capital expenditure
including Windows 7 and Exchange 2010
can be minimised through the adoption of cloud-
based models. • omputacenter has deployed more
C
than 260,000 Windows 7 and 335,000
Minimise risk Exchange 2010 seats for its customers
Legacy workplace technologies lack stability, • omputacenter is one of the top Large
C
which means business continuity and data Account Resellers (LAR) in the UK and a
integrity cannot be guaranteed. These risks will be key Enterprise Partner for Group Corporate
Risk Avoidance intensified when support for Windows XP ends Accounts
in April 2014. By upgrading to newer workplace
• nlike the majority of the 18 UK LARs, we
U
technologies, organisations will be able to ensure
are able to provide consultancy, design and
quality of service is maintained. This will not only
deployment services for Microsoft solutions
safeguard revenue generation but also prevent
reputational damage and regulatory breaches.
Increase productivity
With a raft of collaboration tools at their fingertips,
employees will be able to work faster and smarter
from any location. There will also be fewer outages
Growth /
due to unstable legacy technologies, which
Computacenter is a key partner for
Business Change
means staff can spend more time on activities Microsoft in helping organisations
that drive profitable growth and improve customer maximise their investment in our
service levels. An empowered flexible workforce technologies. Their extensive
also means greater competitive advantage and
business agility.
experience and consistent results
enable customers to embrace the
latest productivity tools with minimal
risk and cost.’
Nina Sundberg
Director, Enterprise Partner Sales
Microsoft
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5. • • • UNLOCK THE BENEFITS OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORKPLACE • • • • •
Microsoft Solutions in Action
Windows 7
What's new Business outcomes How Computacenter can help
• nhanced security especially on
E • reater workforce flexibility and
G • uild a business case for the
B
mobile devices business agility migration and evaluate the impact
• aster boot times and improved
F • ower support overheads and
L on the organisation
performance power consumption • implify the deployment and other
S
• etter support for desktop
B • table platform to support next
S workplace transformation activities
virtualisation generation applications and with industrialised processes
• ore freedom to personalise the
M business growth • dentify application rationalisation
I
desktop experience based on opportunities and mitigate
different user requirements compatibility issues
Microsoft Lync
What’s new Business outcomes How Computacenter can help
• nified Communication
U • ncreased workforce productivity
I • eploy networking and data
D
Collaboration platform including and flexibility storage backbone needed to
voice, instant messaging, audio, • educed need for business travel
R support Unified Communication
video and web resulting in lower costs and carbon Collaboration solutions
• bility to share photos, files and
A emissions • implify the customer journey from
S
links during a chat session • ess risk of business disruption
L entitlement through to enablement
• sers can participate in web
U due to adverse weather conditions • ntegrate seamlessly both
I
conferences either through voice, or emergencies communication and messaging
audio and/or video • implified IT management
S platforms into existing infrastructure
due to consolidated Unified • rovide cross platform
P
Communication Collaboration interconnectivity for existing
platform room based or immersive video
conferencing systems into Lync
video
Exchange 2010
What’s new Business outcomes How Computacenter can help
• educed I/O overhead enables
R • mproved reliability resulting in less
I • valuate migration costs and
E
users to achieve more on lower business disruption and greater benefits of different delivery models,
specification hardware staff productivity for example public cloud versus
• elf-service tools for various
S • educed IT support costs and
R on-premise
common processes, including complexity • nable greater flexibility with
E
managing email groups, setting pragmatic cloud offerings, which
up automatic replies and changing provide organisations with the
address information option to deploy Exchange 2010 on
• etter search functions to aid legal
B a dedicated or shared infrastructure
discovery and larger mailbox sizes implemented and managed by
• ntegration with other Unified
I Computacenter either on-premise
Communication Collaboration or in one of the provider’s high
tools availability environments
• evelop Unified Communication
D
Collaboration strategies and
maximise integration with other
Microsoft tools, such as Lync and
SharePoint
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Office 2010
What’s new Business outcomes How Computacenter can help
• emote access to documents
R • Improved workforce mobility • uild a business case for the
B
via Windows Live SkyDrive and • Increased productivity migration and evaluate the impact
Microsoft Office Web Apps • Improved employee collaboration on the organisation
• hoto and video editing capabilities
P • implify the customer journey from
S
within PowerPoint entitlement through to enablement
• owerPoint Broadcast enables
P • educe the impact on the service
R
staff in remote locations to view desk during migration
material in real-time including live
video and audio
• nhanced data analysis capabilities
E
in Excel, eg. Spark Lines, which
enable greater visualisation of data
Office 365
What’s new Business outcomes How Computacenter can help
• loud-based versions of
C • liminate the need for email
E • valuate if users and applications
E
Exchange, SharePoint, Office Web upgrades, backup and security are suited to a cloud delivery model
Apps and Lync patching resulting in reduced cost • uantify migration costs and
Q
• pplication components can
A and complexity savings that can be realised
be purchased individually or as • ore responsive to business
M • dvise on most cost-effective
A
preconfigured offers growth and change licensing options and the impact on
• xtensive security measures to
E • Predictable monthly expenditure existing Microsoft agreements
support public key encryption and
digital signatures
• arlier access to application
E
upgrades than on-premise users
• oney back guarantee if service
M
level agreements are not met
SharePoint 2010
What’s new Business outcomes How Computacenter can help
• amiliar Office interface simplifies
F • ore informed decision-making
M • ive customised Computacenter
F
user adoption and accelerates time and greater agility offerings accelerate deployment
to value • implified IT management and
S and provide frameworks for
• onsolidated platform for intranet,
C lower maintenance and training common SharePoint projects, such
extranet and Internet sites costs as intranet, website and extranet
• entralised IT administration and
C • nhanced collaboration features
E development
management features increase employees’ productivity • nable greater flexibility with
E
• Mobile integration C3Collaboration offering
organisations the option to deploy
SharePoint 2010 on a dedicated or
shared infrastructure implemented
and managed by Computacenter
either on-premise or in one of
the provider’s high availability
environments
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7. • • • UNLOCK THE BENEFITS OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORKPLACE • • • • •
Case Studies
Morrisons keeps supermarket shelves fully
stocked with Computacenter partnership
Morrisons is the fourth largest supermarket chain in the UK with 456 stores and
131,000 employees. To ensure it gets the right products on the right shelves at the right
time, Morrisons operates a number of manufacturing and logistics facilities, including
around 20 factories, 16 warehouses and 15 distribution sites.
Gary Barr, IT Director at Morrisons, comments: “Up to 10,000 cases of goods an hour
have to be processed at each warehouse. If our IT systems are unavailable for just a
few minutes, we are unable to process stock for storage or distribution, This can impact
not only the availability of produce in our stores but also lead to perishable items going
out of date.”
In 2008, Morrisons launched a major five-year IT transformation programme, known as
Evolve with the aim of optimising efficiency throughout all its operation. One of the first
Evolve projects was the upgrade of Morrisons' email systems to Microsoft Exchange.
This involved not only migrating a large amount of data from 8,600 users' inboxes but
also implementing a new backend infrastructure to provide better disaster recovery.
Computacenter designed the new email environment and helped procure and
implement all the key technologies. “The email migration was a high risk project as
email is an important tool in the supply chain,” comments Barr. “We partnered with
Computacenter as it had the skill sets and resources we needed to deliver the project
on time and to budget.”
The email upgrade has improved staff productivity and satisfaction through enhanced
communication. “Computacenter help us safeguard IT service quality, which is key to
keeping our supermarket shelves fully stocked in an efficient and cost-effective manner,”
comments Gary.
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Hertford Regional College reduces risk with
Microsoft Windows 7 upgrade
Hertford Regional College (HRC) is a centre of excellence in vocational education. It has
nearly 4,000 full-time students and around 700 members of staff.
As a further education provider, HRC needs to ensure students are fully prepared for the
real world. Russell Barley, Network Services Manager at HRC, comments: “We need to
provide students with access to the same technologies they will use in the workplace,
this means we must offer the latest software.”
The college took the decision to upgrade its desktop estate to Windows 7 to meet this
requirement. “We needed an experienced and trusted partner that could reduce the
risks associated with the project and ensure our deadline was met,” comments Russell.
Computacenter worked closely with the college’s IT team to prepare the infrastructure
for the operating system migration. This involved upgrading some servers to Windows
2008 R2 and helping test the college’s 150 applications to ensure they would run on
the new Windows 7 platform. All 650 student desktops in more than 25 classrooms
were migrated to the new operating system over a four-week period during the summer
of 2010.
By migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7, HRC has been able to provide students
and college staff with a future-proofed and environmentally friendly desktop environment
that supports increased collaboration.
Windows 7 also offers greater stability and faster performance than Windows XP, which
means HRC can provide students and staff with an enhanced computing experience.
“Windows 7 is more intuitive and easier to use, particularly for students that are not
particularly IT savvy,” comments Russell. “We can now offer our students reliable and
high-performing computing facilities to ensure they have the maximum chance of
gaining success in their chosen career.”
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More Information
To find out more about how Computacenter can help your organisation work smarter and faster with
Microsoft technologies, contact your Computacenter account manager or call 0800 014 7420
Visit: www.computacenter.com/microsoft
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10. Computacenter (UK) Ltd
Hatfield Avenue
Hatfield
Hertfordshire AL10 9TW
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1707 631000
F: +44 (0)1707 639966
www.computacenter.com
Computacenter is a leading independent provider of IT
infrastructure services and solutions. From desktop to
datacenter, we help our customers minimise the cost and
maximise the value of IT to their businesses. We can advise
organisations on IT strategy, implement the most appropriate
technology, optimise its performance, and manage elements
of our customers’ infrastructures on their behalf.
Computacenter operates in the UK, Germany, France and the
Benelux countries, as well as providing transnational services
across the globe.
© Computacenter 2012
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