AkzoNobel, a global paints and coatings company and a major producer of
specialty chemicals, and Orange Business Services signed a three-year,
multimillion euro deal for the global rollout of a 15-site, fully managed Cisco
TelePresence solution.
This contract includes network upgrades, equipment, global deployment,
maintenance, 24/7 end-to-end managed services, and concierge support for
AkzoNobel employees. Fifteen main office sites will be equipped with
TelePresence services, in countries such as Canada, The Netherlands, Sweden and
the U.K., along with office sites in emerging markets such as Brazil, China and
India.
The Cisco TelePresence solution from Orange Business Services
will enable AkzoNobel to increase its employee productivity and further
its employee development program.
TelePresence will facilitate collaboration on a global scale between project
teams. It will also allow improved access to training and remote learning
programs, as well as experts, while maintaining a balance between employees’
professional and private lives.
It will also facilitate acquisition integration. The company anticipates
that the solution will be funded by significant savings in travel costs and
efficient time management among other factors, and will help reduce the
company’s carbon footprint and energy consumption, further contributing to
AkzoNobel’s leading position on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
In line with our strategy, this focused investment will help us further
sharpen our competitive edge, enhance our frontrunner role in innovation and
contribute to our talent management program. Over the past years, Orange
Business Services has proven to be a reliable and innovative partner and is
best positioned to implement this highly visible project and manage the ongoing
service,” said Pieter Schoehuijs, CIO, AkzoNobel.
This agreement is the result of a successful seven-year collaboration
between AkzoNobel and Orange Business Services. Throughout the years, Orange
has provided AkzoNobel with a variety of managed services.
Orange achieved Cisco Managed Services Master Certification worldwide for
Managed TelePresence, and its ITIL-based service management has been ISO
certified. Its Telepresence Community opens up the ability for AkzoNobel to
hold business-to-business telepresence sessions with its suppliers,
distributors and customers.
Orange Business Services recently announced that it is launching
its new international gateway in Mumbai after receiving a clearance from the
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for its Indian entity Equant Network
Services India.
The new international gateway will enable Orange Business Services to offer
a richer suite of high-speed international connectivity solutions to meet the
growing demand of the Indian enterprise segment. Orange already owns a fully
resilient next-generation network in the country with 12 Telepresence-ready
points of presence in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kolkata,
Mumbai and Pune.
By
Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com
