Background

Pentalver is a well-established transportation and logistics company that offers innovative container solutions. The company are experts in specialist haulage, container and storage services throughout the UK and overseas. Over the past 30 years, Pentalver have expanded through business growth and self-investment to become a leading provider of their container related services in the UK.

Its services are now provided via the UK’s four main ports, and a state-of-the-art inland depot in the heart of the Midlands. From there they employ over 600 staff and operate 80 acres across the five facilities and are dedicated to offering innovative container solutions.

Introduction

As part of a UK IT restructure review, upgrade and implementation, Pentalver required a solution that would not adversely impact on user productivity and simultaneously ensure compatibility across the company’s dispersed workforce. With the end goal of possessing a viable IT architecture that enables Pentalver business concept with aspirations of increased growth.

Head of IT at Pentalver, explains that they considered a number of different propositions that would help manage their IT requirements before selecting Axians as their preferred solutions provider.

“The migration project was a huge undertaking for us, but with a lot of hard work it went more smoothly than we could have hoped for. With Axians solutions, we’ve found more than just a supplier, and consider them more a business partner, they’re a key element within our IT infrastructure”

Requirements

  • All users now operate in a unified way across IT ensuring user higher productivity and effectiveness
  • Greater flexibility, enabling remote/flexible working across the business
  • Fully customised centralised IT management
  • Rationalisation of associated IT process and systems
  • Cost efficiencies across the UK
  • Autonomy and ownership provided at the local level

“The introduction of Axians has proved so successful within Pentalver Transport that we have continued to work with them over an extended period of time”

“It was fair to say that we had an understanding of what was required, but unable to make this happen in its entirety. Providing strategic input, Axians were able to help roadmap our IT needs, and associated cost-benefit analysis as part of the initial steps and longer-term planning going forward. Various solutions were considered, but we recognised the need to have external input in order to convey best practice.”

Head of IT, Pentalver

What we implemented

When reviewing the potential options and the requirement to enhance the IT capability at Pentalver, it was the perfect opportunity to reassess the overarching strategy. Head of IT at Pentalver, explains how they considered a number of different solutions that would provide the required change before selecting Axians as their preferred solutions provider.

Results

The transformation is ongoing, but a number of significant actions have already been undertaken. Key achievements include:

 

  • Centralised server and storage platform
  • New internal network, including Wi-Fi
  • Core IT security
  • UK-wide hosted voice system
  • Proactive managed support services

Comprehensive, managed support across the UK; cost efficiencies and associated end to end solution that has:

  • Provided a unified way of working
  • Greater flexibility – enabling remote/flexible working across the business
  • Centralised IT management
  • Cost efficiencies across the UK
  • Rationalisation of associated IT process and systems
  • Autonomy and ownership provided at the local level

Ensuring user acceptance was vital to ensure that the staff understood and accepted the change.