New IT outsourcing deal will bring operational benefits for THUS

A new five-year outsourcing agreement with Computacenter will enable network operator THUS to commit more IT resources to strategic business projects.

Under the managed services contract, Computacenter will be responsible for the delivery of a range of IT services to support THUS’ desktops, data centre infrastructure and applications.

Bob Baxter, IT Manager for THUS, commented: “We expect the contract to deliver significant operational benefits. By selectively outsourcing areas of our IT infrastructure management, we are able to focus internal resources on strategic activities that support business growth and the development of new customer services.”

THUS provides a range of voice, data and internet services to corporate and business clients across the UK; its Demon brand supports more than 150,000 broadband customers in the UK and the Netherlands.

Under the five-year contract, Computacenter will support THUS at every stage of the technology lifecycle from procurement and installation through to user support, maintenance and asset disposal.

Scott Haddow, Director for Computacenter Scotland, commented: “IT infrastructure management is becoming increasingly complex for organisations to execute in-house, as it requires such a broad set of skills and resources. The selective outsourcing model enables organisations to retain strategic control of their IT infrastructure while simplifying day-to-day management and reducing operational overheads.”

The contract with Computacenter will also involve an ongoing service improvement programme to ensure that THUS’ internal IT infrastructure remains cost-effective and efficient. One of the first initiatives under this programme will be a server consolidation project.

“We are always looking at ways to enhance our use of IT and improve operational efficiency,” commented Baxter. “The agreement with Computacenter will enable us to proactively manage the availability and capacity of our systems to ensure we keep pace with business change.”

The contract went live at the end of September and replaces a previous desktop-focused outsourcing agreement between THUS and Computacenter. The expansion of the service was benchmarked as part of an independent review by Morgan Chambers and involved the transfer of 18 staff under TUPE regulations.