Deployment of a new cost-saving WAN to support the installation of a new unified comms voice network, on time, without any downtime or loss of business.
An enterprise business with a wide range of activities wanted to deploy a new cost-saving WAN that would support a new unified voice network. The challenge was to develop the new system to run in parallel with the existing one without any disruption to the business, and to complete before the contract on the existing system expired.
It was huge success – delivered on time, on budget, and with absolutely no business disruption. During the project I was able to feed in more locations and more requirements that added value without adding costs or delays.
Industry
Enterprise Business – Security, Environmental, Catering, Facilities, Facilities Management, Cleaning, Washrooms, Waste Management, and Maintenance.
The Project
To partner with strategic suppliers to develop and install a new WAN and voice network. During the development period, new installation to run in parallel with existing WAN without disrupting the business and end-users’ productivity. Time-critical delivery to meet contractual obligations with incumbent and for realising projected cost savings. Also, a very short window of opportunity for testing while both services were live.
Activity
- Demonstrate the cost savings that the project would achieve.
- Agree programme milestones and the deployment of services in stages to bring in early benefits.
- Lead the project kick-off to draw external suppliers, the internal team and all customer stakeholders together with a clear understanding of what needed to be achieved and the rationale behind the project.
- Agree communication style and share comms via a collaborative tool that would give all participants full visibility of each project phase and the project as a whole.
- Ensure that the project team was collectively up to speed and empowered in ways that would provide quick solutions to early challenges.
- Be the point of escalation.
- Deliver the project to meet tight business deadlines and end contractual obligations to existing WAN supplier.
Outcome
Project delivered to timescales, on budget, and with zero disruption to services to enable business to continue. During the project we were alerted to a number of risks outside of scope. These were overcome with innovative solutions allowing the new WAN to be deployed earlier. Additional locations and requirements were eased in during the deployment, adding value to the overall contract and further future-proofing their investment for future technologies to be overlaid on the new WAN.