Macquarie Telecom delivers .Net platform and IT infrastructure to irwinSolutions

Company: irwinSolutions

Web: www.irwinsolutions.com.au

Key business focus: Developer and supplier of an online and wireless, scheduling and messaging solution called smartAPPOiNT™

Key challenge: Finding an outsourcing company able to deliver high levels of Microsoft expertise coupled with a robust, high availability hosting solution Macquarie products and services: Microsoft software and certified specialists; managed hosting and data network; managed storage and security services

Key results:

• A seamless, ongoing transition from visual basic to Microsoft's .Net development platform
• Faster development times when introducing new functionality to products by drawing on 24x7x365 access to a team of highly-skilled, Microsoft certified, IT professionals
• Improved availability and more robust hosting solution backed by Macquarie Telecom's infrastructure

“What really sealed the deal from irwinSolutions' perspective was the professionalism of Macquarie Telecom's team”
Ian Chan,
Managing Director, irwinSolutions

Overview

When Australian-based provider of hosted web-applications, irwinSolutions changed development platforms from visual basic to .Net, it was looking for a partner that could deliver the software, IT infrastructure and back it with expert know-how.

“Our needs were straightforward. irwinSolutions needed to find a company that could deliver the .Net platform and support it with extremely high levels of Microsoft expertise,” said Ian Chan, Managing Director, irwinSolutions.

“Coupled with this, we required a robust hosting solution that could scale to meet the projected growth resulting from the increased functionality of the product,” he said.

From a short-list of four companies, Macquarie Telecom was chosen to deliver the technology and services irwinSolutions needed.

The Opportunity

Founded in 1999, irwinSolutions' core business is the development and provision of an online, scheduling and messaging solution called smartAPPOiNT™. A real-time, web-based application smartAPPOiNT™ allows businesses to manage their internal and customer appointment needs via a web interface.

A unique function of is the automated dispatch of email and SMS appointment notifications and reminders. The product is used by more than 400 businesses across Australia ranging from prestige car dealers to healthcare providers.

Originally developed in visual basic irwinSolutions was looking to add greater functionality and interoperability to smartAPPOiNT™ by moving to Microsoft's .Net.

“We needed to make the transition to .Net, but bringing in a team of Microsoft experts to assist with the ongoing process was well beyond the company's means,” said Mr Chan.

The Solution

Macquarie Telecom delivers irwinSolutions cost-effective, flexible access to Microsoft platform licenses and services assurances through its Microsoft Services Provider Licensing Program. This includes access to Microsoft. Net platform, Microsoft Windows 2000 and 2003 operating systems and a team Microsoft certified specialists.

For hosting, IrwinSolutions chose Macquarie Telecom's high-availability, dedicated managed hosting solution. This includes provision of multiple managed services, storage on demand, managed firewall services and managed intrusion detection systems.

The infrastructure is supported with 24x7x365 security monitoring and regular patch upgrades. Irwin Solutions also uses Macquarie Telecom's data services for Internet and back-up.

The entire solution is underpinned by Macquarie Telecom's Intellicentre data centre- a $35 million, purpose built, world-class hosting facility.

The Benefit

“What really sealed the deal from irwinSolutions' perspective was the professionalism of Macquarie Telecom's team” commented Mr Chan.

“These guys have been in the business locally for a long time and this was demonstrated by their skill-set, knowledge of the issues at hand and ability to communicate with the team at irwinSolutions,” he added.

The success of the partnership will be put to the test when irwinSolutions delivers its smartAPPOiNT™ product to CeBIT Australia in May 2003.

smartAPPOiNT™ will enable CeBIT Australia visitors who register online to request a meeting at a designated time, with a nominated representative, from a list of exhibitors.

More than 20,000 visitors are expected at CeBIT Australia 2003, which will generate a significant amount of traffic to the servers on which smartAPPOiNT™ is currently hosted. “Macquarie Telecom has worked closely with us, undertaking extensive load balancing to ensure we are on track to support the projected traffic levels CeBIT Australia will generate,” said Mr Chan. “We are all confident that this will be a stroll in the park.”

Following CeBIT Australia smartAPPOiNT™ will be used at CeBIT Asia to be held in Shanghai in September 2003.

Mr Chan said, “It is a win-win situation for irwinSolutions. We can now focus on growing the business faster without worrying about non-core technology and telecommunications issues.”