Clover Cargo in the driver's seat with Technology
Concepts
Issued by: TechNews
While the question of whether or not companies should
outsource all or part of their IT remains, for Clover
Cargo International, one of SA's leading independent
freight forwarding and cargo-handling companies, the
answer is simple: outsource - but to the right partner.
Says Clover Cargo MD, Geoff Partridge: "Being
competitive in this industry demands a lot more that
just the physical infrastructure necessary for the
transport of goods. Because we are highly reliant
on the predictable management of freight, effective
communication and technology systems are a key requirement
to our ability to maintain a competitive advantage.
Our success depends entirely on timeous and accurate
communication and information exchange from all corners
of the world. So IT is critical for our operations
- but we are not IT experts, nor do we want to be."
Clover Cargo has therefore outsourced its technology
requirements, and believes it is able to run a better
business as a result. Partridge engaged Technology
Concepts to take control of the company's IT requirements
environment in February 1999 because he was impressed
by the company's practical approach to solving business
problems.
"We noted that Technology Concepts would identify
issues in terms of business impact and address them
at almost half the cost of other service providers.
This was at the height of the dot comedy era and everyone
was promoting the fact that you had to have the latest
- and the most expensive - equipment to support your
business," he says.
Technology Concepts, however, chose to provide systems
that would address Clover Cargo's immediate and future
requirements, avoiding the hype that Partridge believes
was an industry characteristic at the time.
"Not only has Technology Concepts consistently
addressed immediate business issues, but it has also
become a trusted advisor, putting forward ideas to
assist and improve business processes. We do not always
make use of the suggestions, but a relationship of
trust has developed, whereby we are able to examine
new ideas objectively and either implement or not,
based on business-case analysis," says Partridge.
An example of the reciprocal communication and exchange
of ideas that has resulted in successful innovation
is the company's Intranet solution. From humble beginnings,
the Clover Cargo's 'Intraleaf' - designed and implemented
by Technology Concepts - has become a business-critical
facility for the exchange and dissemination of information.
According to Technology Concepts MD, Wayne de Nobrega,
the company approaches customer requirements within
a strict context of never trying to sell beyond the
needs of the organisation, and always within an agreed
margin.
Wayne de Nobrega, MD, Technology Concepts
"At our initial engagement with Clover Cargo
- to supply server infrastructure - we provided a
solution that cost less than a third of what competitors
were suggesting. That lasted for four years and has
subsequently been redeployed within the organisation,
so it is still adding value. We believe in providing
an option with an appropriate specification and therefore
a lower cost, with an upgrade path in order to reduce
capital expenditure. We prefer to grow our client's
infrastructure as their business requirements change,
addressing new requirements as they emerge,"
he says.
Other solutions that Technology Concepts has provided
for Clover Cargo include an offsite automated backup
and restore facility. Based on Attix5 software and
Internet links to a vault at Internet Solutions, the
company has a watertight contingency plan to protect
the data that is critical to the operation of the
business. "We once had a theft of 30 PCs from
our offices, so we know and understand the value of
a fully functional disaster recovery solution,"
says Partridge.
Because bandwidth is key for communication between
its offices in the major centres of the country, as
well as with partners and affiliates around the world,
the company has also installed a TC Bandwidth Manager.
The device improves the company's utilisation of its
bandwidth, and allows for the identification and removal
of inappropriate traffic.
"Over the years, Technology Concepts has become
an indispensable partner. The company understands
our business requirements and even participates in
budgeting and planning sessions to enable us to get
the most from our IT spend. We are in the business
of freight; we are not always aware of what our IT
requirements may be. We are, however, able to confidently
rely on Technology Concepts for guidance and assistance
on how technology can support our operation,"
says Partridge.
"Technology Concepts has effectively helped
us steer through the mire and minefield of the IT
world. Similar to how we relate to our customers,
this is a partner that can be relied upon to give
straight answers to straight questions," he concludes.
