Finance lawyers

M&D Law is a leading provider of legal services to the receivables financing industry.  M&D provides friendly and business-oriented advice to a range of banks and finance houses, and it provides tailored solutions to a wide range of legal issues with a particular focus on client failure and bulk debt recovery.  As a result of experiencing rapid growth over the last several years, M&D's telephone platform and wide area network no longer met its current needs or projected growth.  With a busy office, and the need for remote workers, the WAN needed to support its data requirements and integrate voice services whilst maintaining the highest level of security for its clients.  In particular, the need to maintain business continuity was a concern; should a disaster strike M&D is required to provide “zero downtime” to its demanding client-base.

Challenges:

• High cost of calls
• No centralised Voice Mail Platform
• No centralised answering position (receptionist)
• No standardisation of telecom or data equipment
• Inability to transfer calls between remote workers or offices
• Inability to answers calls from any location if needed
• Limited capability of existing wide area network, including ability to expand
• Applications drove up internet and network bandwidth consumption
• No fall-back should the single broadband connection be down
• Only four calls maximum may be in progress at once
• Migration to new system must have zero downtime

Solution:

• VoIP Platform: Actopia Triton VoIP platform with Cisco endpoints
• Integrated high-speed 40Mb BT Infinity fibre optic broadband, with additional 24Mb backup broadband that would support M&D's data and telecom needs
• Fall-back from BT fibre optic to standard DSL
• Telecom Equipment – Cisco SPA VoIP handsets with attendant consoles for heavy users
• Integrated Voice Mail with Unified messaging/voicemail-to-email functionality
• Roll-out time: 5 days planning, installed and configured operational in under 2 days
• Triton VoIP means that there are no limits to number of simultaneous calls
• Triton implemented alongside existing telephony; as soon as the number port completed the VoIP telephones instantly became active – zero downtime

Benefits:

• Zero cost to call between office/remote workers
• 20%+ reduction in geographic/mobile call costs over BT
• More efficient use of M&D's data network (clear ROI)
• Centralised Voicemail
• Centralised answering position (receptionist)
• Shared network for Voice and Data networks with integrated fall-back/connectivity redundancy
• Fixed monthly cost – no hardware capital expenditure
• Higher level of security
• Scalable to match future business growth and needs

Managing Partner, Matthew Halton, had this to say about Actopia Triton:

Actopia has been our trusted IT provider for over 6 years now, and so naturally its Triton VoIP platform was worthy of investigation when we needed to upgrade our ageing telephony infrastructure.  We knew the service was already excellent; the icing on the cake was that its VoIP platform beat competitor offerings hands-down on almost every comparable metric.  Our staff have been thrilled with the new Cisco handsets, and for features, price, and quality of support, they had no equal.

Government advisory charity

The School Food Trust is a national charity and specialist advisor to Government on school meals, children's food and related skills.  Actopia Communications helped deliver the organisation's national service with 60+ seats and telephone numbers, including conference spider phones.

Challenges:

• Imminent move to new offices needed swift implementation of IT/comms broadband connectivity
• 50+ staff members needed to be operation with IT and comms simultaneously

Solution:

• Temporary installation of dual 24Mb broadband connections, with failover redundancy
• BT Leased line ordered and once installed, instant change over to leased line and existing broadband re provisioned as fall back/failover

Benefits:

• Met incredibly tight deadlines
• Estimated 44% saving based on TCO over 3 years compared to nearest PBX offering considered

Office & Facilities Manager, Clare Wade, commented:

The School Food Trust has recently undertaken office relocation within the city of Sheffield.  As part of this we required a complete communication and internet solution which has been provided by Actopia Communications.

The service received from Actopia has been second to none.  The quotation provided to us was timely and competitive and the on-going service, support and communication has been first class.

Our relocation was extremely ambitious with a very short time-frame.  Actopia has worked closely with us to provide both interim and final solutions to our very specific requirements.

We have received rapid responses to all of our questions and issues.  Darran and his staff obviously have a wealth of experience and knowledge.

I would recommend the services of Actopia Communications without hesitation.

Various anonymous cases

Case I: Purchasing consultancy — 25 users

This Client has a significant number of mobile PC users who require access to Corporate email and database applications. Active Technology has recently installed a much simplified head-office server system running Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 with a 2MBps broadband ADSL link to the internet.

Due to this client’s dependence on email communication an automatic ISDN failover system has been implemented which engages immediately should the higher bandwidth ADSL fail, thereby ensuring availability of both email and internet.

All remote users now connect to the internal systems via a secure VPN connection.

On the strength of our technical solution to their previously over-complicated and unreliable systems, Active Technology were awarded an outsourcing contract for the provision of a wide range of support services.

Case II: A high-tech manufacturing concern — 3 sites, 30 users

This organisation occupies three sites, one head office and two satellite offices separated by 30 miles. They required centralised, email, internet access and access to Corporate databases.

The primary site hosts a Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 system, handling file and print activities, Exchange email and SQL databases. A head-office ADSL connection provides internet and email connectivity which is accessed by the secondary site over an existing leased line.

Active Technology will shortly be handling an office relocation for this Client.

Case III: Chemical manufacturing company — 200 users

This organisation occupies sites all around the world, and has a head office located in Milton Keynes.

For in excess of eight years Active Technology has been their sole IT supplier handling all aspects of installation, support, connectivity and software development as well as providing outsourced IT Management services to the Board.

Case IV: A parts distribution organisation — 50 users

This Client operates from a single site. Their IT systems comprise approximately 50 client PC's running Microsoft Office connected to a Unix/Pick accounting system, an NT file & print server, a Microsoft Exchange mail server and an internally hosted Windows 2000 web server.

In addition to providing all IT support and Management assistance, Active Technology have been heavily engaged with in developing database software to centralise all known intelligence regarding their parts; technical applications and competitor cross references etc. This allows the Client to better manage their product portfolio and provide better service to their trade and retail outlets.

We are currently engaged to port this data to the web. This will allow their customers to interrogate the database online and will also provide useful tools for their sales force.

Other Cases

We are happy to engage with any size of organisation in any industry area.

We act for small Accountancy practices, Telecoms companies, Engineering concerns, Parts distributors, Solicitors, Pension Trust Companies, a lighting manufacturer.

'without any fuss or drama Active Technology more than meet expectations.  Its staff speak plain English and do not try to complicate matters...'

Various testimonials

These testimonials have been sent unsolicited to Active Technology, the computer support arm of Actopia.

I know I told you this before.  One of the many reasons why I enjoy working with you is that not only do we get the Active 'attention to detail' and 'smile', I also trust that when we request for a quote you have already done your best to make sure that it is a 'WIN-win' situation (the big WIN is our side, of course).  I don't have to ask again if this is the best price.  And, when a better price comes along, you let us know as well.

A big Thank You.  Rest assured I will continue to think of Active Technology as my true business partner.

JM, extremely satisfied customer
A very well known and fruitful multinational iComputer company

We are always willing to recommend local service providers in whom we have confidence, whenever we are asked for these - whether it be solicitors or IT specialists.

As regards the latter, Active Technology will be the only name that we consider, and we are happy to refer to our positive experience of dealing with this company over many years.

Kirk Clifford
Brown & Lee Clifford Billings

Just a quick line to thank you for your company's services over the past couple of years.  The level of service provided has been excellent.

Tim Cheek, Managing Director
Atlanta Facilities Ltd

Thank you so much for the cheque covering the cost of some of the prizes for the Calibre Golf Day Raffle, for which I am very pleased to acknowledge ...

We are most grateful for the support of Active Technology for what turned out to be a very successful day for Calibre.

On behalf of everyone here at Calibre I extend our grateful appreciation of your generosity and friendship, which we value very highly.

Terry Taylor, Fundraising Officer
Calibre Cassette Library

I would like to thank you and your team for enabling us to be up and running in as little time as possible and we look forward to a successful future working relationship with you.

Please pass on my thanks to [the engineers] for all their help.

Dawn L Hartwell, Company Secretary
PFC Asset Management Ltd.

Darran, Just a note to say thank you so much for speaking at our recent AGM.  The feedback that we received has been very positive and people liked the advice and top 5 tips that you gave.  Someone said to me that they were surprised as to how sensible you were for 'an IT person'.  I think this is praise.

Catherine Johnstone, former Chief Executive
Community Impact Bucks

Just to thank you for saving my skin and fixing my machine so promptly and efficiently this week, at extremely short notice.  This really did help me out and I am very grateful.

William Dale
Predicate Ltd.

Just a brief note to thank you so much for your caring and competent service when I was in the market for a complete computer system.  Not only did you recommend the best software for my use, but also installed it so I had an idiot-proof start to my learning curve.

I also need to thank you for being so supportive to my paraplegic friends when they chose to purchase a computer system from you.  It is a great comfort to know that there is a customer friendly computer business in Aylesbury that gives friendly and trustworthy service.

Enid Beck MBIM MIMgt MECI
Abbeyfield

May I express my sincere thanks for your sterling efforts in fulfilling our recent order for a PC workstation virtually overnight.

... thanks to all your staff for their dedication to such excellent customer service.

George L Higgins, IT Manager
Chemetall PLC

I wanted to write and thank you for making the possible nightmare of buying and a computer so painless for us!

We were very relieved when we got home and set up the computer ... to find everything so straight forward and user-friendly.

... It went to Derby on Sunday, where once installed it fired on all 12 cylinders immediately.

Shelley Marshall
Marshall & Fraser

I'd like to say another huge thank you to you and your company for your generous donation.

 

Andrew Grimley, Curriculum Co-ordinator
Thomley Activity Centre

I would like to take this opportunity to place on record my thanks for the outstanding service Belvoir received from Active Technology when we moved to our new address last week.

Because we had commissioned Active for this work, we were confident that this was one less thing to worry about during the relocation, but "the proof of the pudding" as they say "is in the eating."

To claim Active delivered is an understatement.  The decision and application of your staff reflects extremely well on your company and although we experienced a couple of technical hitches on our live day these were not show stoppers and were soon addressed by your staff in a friendly and helpful manner.

We will certainly be letting people know that Active Technology really do 'make computers make sense.'

Clive Harris, Partner
Belvoir!