Focus on convergence: Case study - SABMiller

Combining services doesn’t mean compromising on quality: using new technology to bring together your primary voice and data systems can help you get the most out of your business.

‘The level of commitment from BT was excellent. They demonstrated the ability to draw on the relevant skills so that the right people were always engaged on the project at the right times’ - Roger Chappé de Léonval, IT Manager, SABMiller plc

SABMiller headquarters’ bar... where all the best ideas are brewed Operating in over 60 countries across five continents.

SABMiller plc is one of the world’s largest brewers. By 2004 its headquarters in the UK were overcrowded and a move to larger premises in Woking was planned. Roger Chappé de Léonval, IT manager at SABMiller (pictured above right) says: ‘The move gave us the opportunity to maximise the benefit we could get from technology – both for the people that work in the building and for the company as a whole.’

As well as voice and data convergence, a key requirement was a wireless network, offering public and private access so that staff and visitors could connect to the internet. As with any wireless local area network (WLAN) installation, high security levels were needed to prevent unauthorised access to company data. SABMiller requested Cisco Systems technology and a vendor with a successful track record in internet protocol (IP) technology. After approaching two suppliers, BT was selected. ‘We chose BT because they understood our objectives in business terms... and...adopted a flexible approach,’ explains Chappé de Léonval. ‘We had a very tight schedule and we knew it would be likely that we would need to change things during the project.’

Reaping the benefits

Chappé de Léonval adds: ‘The level of commitment from BT was excellent. They demonstrated the ability to draw on the relevant skills so that the right people were always engaged on the project at the right times.’ The WLAN has boosted staff productivity in the new collaborative working environment. Having a wireless network throughout the building and the flexibility afforded by IP telephony means staff members are no longer tethered to a fixed location. Voicemail can be accessed via email so people only have one interface to deal with and have easy access when out of the office. Having also gained financially by needing fewer staff to manage facilities and with ownership costs being very competitive, there are plans to extend the services to SABMiller’s City of London and Rotterdam offices. This will connect the existing Cisco CallManager platform over its global network to offer flexible working and put the cost of intra-site telephone calls at zero. The new infrastructure opens up a range of possibilities, including the rapid deployment of converged applications, like Microsoft Live Communications Server, to enhance real-time collaboration (eg file sharing) across the extended enterprise.

Chappé de Léonval concludes: ‘Working with BT has been a breeze... BT has demonstrated that its people know IP technology and can support it end to end. In addition, we believe that BT will be able to help us go forward as the technology evolves.’

THE TECH SPEC

BT’s solution was to use Cisco Catalyst switches to provide access to the network, Cisco gateway routers to connect the wide area, and two Cisco CallManager servers to deliver IP telephony. A Cisco Unity unified messaging solution with text-to-speech capability enabled users to manage voicemail and email though a single inbox. The secure WLAN was powered by Cisco Aironet access points, while 1500 Category 6 structured cabling outlets provided the physical connections. The network design incorporated separate virtual LANs: one for staff to access the corporate network and one for visitors and partners to access public internet services. As security was of utmost importance, BT also provided consultancy services to assist SABMiller with the definition and approval of its internal network security policy.