Comms Dealer

Cardiff-based TWL Voice and Data has stated its intention to become the biggest business telecoms and UC provider in Wales.

The company notched up 28% growth last year reporting £2.1m turnover, up from £1.5m in 2014. The forecast for year end 2016 is set at £2.4m.

Andrew Nicholson, MD, said: "We have implemented new systems to encourage organic growth by focusing on client services and retention, as well as new business processes.

"However, our acquisition of JVH Communications in June was key in reaching our target turnover."

JVH was TWL's second acquisition, following the purchase of Danwood Telecoms in 2012.

Business advisory group Mustard consulted on the deal. Its Chairman, Alan Jones, pointed to the role that acquisitions will play in TWL's growth plans.

"Acquisitions have been a key part of the growth in 2015, adding an additional 30% onto one of the monthly income streams," he stated. 

Nicholson pointed to 'numerous growth strategies', saying: "We are also looking to expand the services that we offer to our customers."

Adoption of cloud for key business applications is widespread in the UK, but there is no uniform or consistent approach to procurement or strategy among UK companies.

This is the key message from recent research conducted by Managed Cloud Services Provider, Adapt.

The research also shows that while more than half of UK businesses see cloud as a means of removing cost from their businesses, actually achieving this objective is proving challenging, creating a gap between expectation and reality.

Businesses that look to cloud to support enhancement and optimisation initiatives however are finding it easier to deliver the benefits promised.

Key Findings:

92% of medium size and 85% of large businesses report that they now use cloud services in one form or another (an average of 88.5% across the sample).

While more than half of businesses (57%) viewed cloud as a way to reduce the cost of their IT, a significant proportion (42%) were finding it a challenge to meet that objective.

Cloud is delivering more effectively for those who approach it with broader enhancement or optimisation objectives (45% expected cloud to improve business flexibility, for example, but only 22% saw it as the most challenging objective).

The majority of businesses surveyed are aware that their staff are using unapproved cloud-based services for storing data, applications and services.

While the figures demonstrate that the case for cloud has been made, medium to large businesses have still not evaluated how to make the most effective use of cloud services strategically.

This may be because, in part, they are using different cloud providers for different purposes and because the IT department is out of the loop when it comes to the procurement process. The survey found the majority of businesses (55%) were already using more than one cloud provider, with a sixth (16%) using three or more. A key driver in the use of multiple cloud providers has been the bypassing of the IT department by functions such as marketing, business development and sales to identify and procure cloud services specific to their needs.

That figure is likely to be even higher given the number of unapproved cloud services being used by employees within UK businesses. The survey found that 59% of businesses were aware their staff were using unapproved cloud-based services for storing data, applications and services.

With a multiplicity of cloud providers and the growing involvement of other departments in procuring cloud services, the survey reported that a majority of UK businesses (68%) found the prospect of engaging a single supplier that could help them take control of all their different cloud solutions appealing.

Kevin Linsell, Director of Strategy and Architecture at Adapt said: "Businesses need to recognise the broad availability of customised and niche cloud services has changed procurement behaviour. They need to adapt to these changes to deliver key objectives such as cost reduction, performance improvement, business risk reduction and security enhancement.

"Organisations understand that managing a multiple provider strategy has disadvantages and recognise the benefits of a tighter, coordinated approach.

"The report suggests businesses are finding it a challenge to define and implement a cloud strategy that closes the gap between potential, planning and reality. Where this becomes difficult or unmanageable, businesses should seek advice from Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

"Our role is to help business identify the right balance and blend of platforms to meet business objectives and pull this together into a custom strategy that is completely aligned with workload and application requirements - from any department."

Timico, the business Internet, hosting and communications service provider, is launching a new volume SMS service in response to the growing demand from businesses to incorporate text messaging into their offerings.

Timico has seen a dramatic increase in the number of businesses interested in texting information to customers over the last year. This ranges from sending appointment reminders and booking confirmations to exclusive offers and discounts.

Many are also interested in deploying the service as a way to boost the level of interaction they have with clients, especially given that a recent poll found that the average response rate to a text message is four times greater than email and eight times greater than direct mail, and that 92% of adults in the UK own a mobile phone.

Timico has worked closely with ProcessFlows to launch its new offerings, which will include virtual mobile numbers, short codes and various SMS solutions to allow its clients to send bulk text messages.

The system is managed in-house, so clients will be able to manage issuing their text messaging themselves, supported by Timico's carrier-grade network and the messaging expertise of ProcessFlows.

The solutions can also be integrated into a range of CRM systems, such as Salesforce, allowing SMS messaging to fit seamlessly into any business.

Andrew North, Director of Mobile Services at Timico, said: "Many more businesses are looking towards SMS messaging as a way to enhance their communications strategies, but you need to have the right systems in place to do this effectively.

"For example many 'unlimited' bundles aren't actually unlimited and will have restrictions. The last thing you want is bill shock when you think everything has already been covered.

"Timico's new offerings put everything in place to allow for the seamless integration of text messaging. The intuitive system is easy to use but also supported by the network capabilities of Timico and the on the ground expertise of ProcessFlows.

"It's a great combination for any business thinking about venturing into this high-touch method of communications."

Jeanette Fennell, Product Manager at Process Flows, added: "As more businesses are recognising the benefits of SMS messaging on a daily basis, not just for customers but also internally, we are pleased to on-board Timico where SMS messaging clearly complements the enterprise grade product catalogue."

The SMS solutions can be backed up on either a cloud-based or physical server, dependant on the needs of the client. Texts can be bought in bulk before billing, reducing the overall cost of messaging.

Entanet has its £32m turnover goal squarely in its sights following a year of strong partner growth.

The company has signed a number of new partners and grown its leased line and Ethernet business significantly over the past 12 months.

Entanet has witnessed 25% growth in its Ethernet and leased line estate; growth of broadband connections and upgrades as the UK fibre roll-out continues; a 14% increase in headcount to 100 staff; and has invested in key areas such as provisioning, support, customer services and software development.

New strategic relationships formed last year include a partnership with UCaaS specialist 8x8 Solutions.

Additional investments in operational systems, the launch of an Ethernet Quoting Tool and a new dedicated VPN management portal have positioned Entanet for continued growth this year, according to CEO Elsa Chen.

"Our growth is largely down to the efforts and loyalty of our partners and staff," she stated.

"Entanet thrives on the deep understanding and trust that we've built up with them over many years, and in some cases, decades.

"We've also formed a number of new relationships over the past 12 months and will develop more alliances in 2016, the year in which we celebrate our 20th anniversary.

"Entanet will also carry on investing in its network and systems. We envisage another year of steady, profitable growth ahead for our partners and our own business."

Dimension Data has released its IT predications for the next 12 months, and digital transformation is high on the corporate agenda because it's already reshaping the competitive landscape.

According to Ettienne Reinecke, Dimension Data's Group Chief Technology Officer, social, mobile, cloud, analytics, Internet of Things, and bimodal IT are all hot topics in the IT industry which divide IT functions and teams in organisations worldwide. But, he says, where do organisations prioritise their budgets and resources.

"All of these trends and technologies serve a larger purpose, because they enable the transformation of an organisation to become a digital enterprise.

"In other words, the business uses IT to respond faster to market opportunities and threats, and prioritises the experience of the people it works with, whether they're customers, employees, or business partners."

Reinecke said the digital transformation conversations that Dimension Data's teams are having with organisations revolve around four themes: data at the core of the transformation, hybrid cloud as mechanism for agility, workspaces for tomorrow, and cybersecurity.

NewVoiceMedia has been recognised as one of the top 25 hottest, fast-growing start-ups in Europe by independent media company Informilo.

Identified by some of the most active investors in the sector who nominated and evaluated 25 companies outside their own portfolios, NewVoiceMedia was selected for its impressive growth and 2014 Series E funding round of $50 million.

The company, which grew its international new business by 528 percent in FY'2015, is outpacing the rapidly expanding cloud customer contact market fivefold and now serves customers spanning 128 countries, including MobileIron, TNT, RAC, Canadian Cancer Society, Quintessentially and Wowcher.

Jonathan Gale, CEO of NewVoiceMedia, said: "Our technology continues to attract some of the world's highest-growth businesses as we are committed to driving innovation that is transforming the way they connect with their customers worldwide.

"We look forward to continuing our impressive growth trajectory and reinforcing our position as leader in the cloud customer contact technology market, while helping our customer-base grow their businesses with improved efficiency and greater customer advocacy".

IT solutions provider Camworth has kicked off an acquisition campaign with the purchase of Bristol-based cabling firm Cabletec Communications.

Camworth's Operations Director James Luck said: We've worked with Cabletec for many years and know that its expertise will help us to grow our own business."

"This acquisition allows us to deliver a full range of services, including Cisco solutions and support."

Cabletec's employees will be retained, including owner and Director Marc Johnson who will head up the Infrastructures Services department.

Camworth plans to relocate its logistics to Cabletec's premises, leaving its current Stonehouse base as the company's head office.

Johnson added: "We're looking forward to introducing Camworth's expertise to our own customers and playing a key role in providing an all-round offer."

Openreach has deployed ADVA Optical Networking's ADVA FSP 150 as the foundation of its new EAD 10G service.

The point-to-point 10Gbit/s Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) service will provide Openreach's customers with 10 times the bandwidth at little more than twice the price of the current 1Gbit/s product.

Openreach is utilizing ADVA Optical Networking's technology to respond to rapidly growing demand for bandwidth from enterprise customers across the UK.
 
Kerry Brennan, GM, Fibre Services, Openreach, said: "Throughout the project we've collaborated closely with ADVA Optical Networking's team. We've also listened to our customers. That's helped us to precisely tailor our 10G service to their needs.

"We know real estate is at a premium in many locations so EAD 10G uses rack space more efficiently. It's a single-fibre working solution, using only one physical fibre for both, transmit and receive directions, so installation and repair are simple and inexpensive.

"Customers will also save on power compared with legacy solutions. But the key benefit has to be that EAD 10G delivers 10 times the performance of 1Gbit/s at no more than 2.5 times the price."
 
The new service is built on the latest 10G variant of ADVA Optical Networking's FSP 150 product family.

IP Integration has secured APS as its first customer for the BT Wholesale Avaya Cloud Solution.

APS is a provider of banking solutions to mobile enabled customers

The move will enable APS to transform its customer contact strategy that supports the digital banking solutions it provides to consumers, businesses and local government.

Working with APS, IP Integration is tailoring the solution to enable the company to provide an omni-channel approach to its range of customers.

The proposition also enables APS to overcome any geographical barriers by delivering and managing access to contact centre tools no matter where the contact centre or resources are based in the world.

Rich Wagner, CEO and founder of APS, said: "Too often contact centre technology is only focused on improving the efficiency of calls. However, we believe we should make customer service easy for our customers and by making it easy for customers, they will naturally make it efficient for us, with the added benefit of being more satisfied than engaging with a traditional contact centre."

Content Guru has been included as a G-Cloud 7 supplier for its suite of multi-channel Cloud Contact Centre and payment services.

Content Guru has been awarded SaaS status within the G-Cloud framework for its range of multi-channel and pay-as-you-go services hosted in the cloud.

Martin Taylor, Director and Co-Founder of Content Guru, commented: "It's great to once again be selected as a G-Cloud supplier at a time when Public Sector organisations increasingly look towards cloud options to help alleviate mounting pressures to improve service levels while reducing costs.

"Since the initial scepticism we faced when we started in cloud ten years ago, the market for cloud-based services has taken off. As the growing success of G-Cloud illustrates, the trend is now firmly accelerating within the Public Sector as well, and we look forward to helping more organisations across the sector in 2016."