Online Advantage lives up to its name with managed hosting solution

Company: UniPix

Web: www.onlineadvantage.com.au

Key business focus: Providing Online Advantage, an ERP system that performs all transactional activities including e-commerce for manufacturers and wholesale distributors.

Key challenge: To find a managed hosting partner that could provide full security, reliability and protection on an independent network.

Macquarie products and services: Complex managed hosting solution and managed security services.

Key results:

• Security improved with 24-hour physical protection and Macquarie Telecom's BS 7799 and DSD Gateway certifications.
• Enhanced speed of delivery: changes made to the hosted can be replicated across multiple sites.
• Increased accessibility for UniPix customers, who can now use the service from any Internet-ready device.
• Fixed-cost computing: UniPix customers know exactly how much it will cost to expand their system when new users come on board.

Switch from self-hosting to managed dedicated hosting delivers enhanced security, speedier delivery

“Once we made the decision to outsource the hosting environment…it was soon evident that Macquarie Telecom was in a one horse race.”
Rob Ellis,
Managing Director, UniPix

Overview

You would think a company that develops a dual award-winning ERP software suite would be satisfied with its achievements.

Not so for UniPix, an Australian company that develops, distributes and implements a software suite previously known as Online 2000. Determined not to rest on its laurels, the company spent the last three years re-developing its high-performance product with Microsoft's Visual Studio.Net. It re-launched as Online Advantage with a new browser based interface so clients can connect to their business systems in any way, from any place, at any time.

With its new name came higher expectations. UniPix sought a strategic selling point that would differentiate the updated model and potentially open up a whole new market. It found the answer in a secure hosting environment that delivers peace of mind to its 800+ customers, who rely on 24/7 availability for their supply chain, warehousing and e-commerce needs.

UniPix chose the Macquarie Telecom Intellicentre, which provides a robust managed hosting solution so that Online Advantage can truly deliver on its new name.

The Opportunity

Since Online 2000 was introduced to manufacturing and wholesale distribution companies in the Australian market, it has grown steadily so that today there are more than 800 companies licensed.

The online ERP system forms the backbone of operations for these companies: it manages tens of millions of transactions, representing many billions of dollars in company turnover across the Asia Pacific region; and it provides a seamless business management tool that covers everything from financial control and stock forecasting to order processing and factory scheduling.

Many businesses also use the Online Advantage system for e-commerce, providing real-time interaction with the backend system and the ability to service their clients with information 24/7.

The transition from Online 2000 to Online Advantage in September 2004 heralded a shift in thinking for UniPix. Recognising the potential to streamline operations and deliver an even better service to its customers, UniPix undertook a performance stock take and saw a number of areas for improvement.

“Previously, we installed software, operating systems and hardware on site with customers, which we called ‘self-hosting'. We would sell equipment or software as part of the entire solution, which also included onsite maintenance, software support and upgrades,” said Rob Ellis, Managing Director, UniPix

“The major challenge under the old model was the ability to replicate what we do in large numbers. With more than 800 licences – each with its own level of service – we had a huge drain on time and personnel, as we would need to go onsite to each customer to service individual terminals.”

‘Self-hosting' was to become a thing of the past when UniPix set a new strategic direction and moved to a hosted model.

The Solution

“Once we made the decision to outsource the hosting environment, we set a number of parameters. Primarily, the solution would allay customers' fears in terms of security and protection, reliability and robustness. And it would be supplied on a carrier independent network,” said Mr Ellis. “It was soon evident that Macquarie Telecom was in a one horse race.”

UniPix has now relocated the Online Advantage service offering to Macquarie Telecom's Intellicentre, a $35 million dedicated hosting facility based in Sydney, and its clients are steadily migrating to the new environment.

“UniPix is using the Macquarie Telecom managed hosting environment to deliver our core products and services,” said Mr Ellis.

“It is an extension of our offering, enabling us to run our business and our customers business's more efficiently.”

Macquarie Telecom's Intellicentre has premium security and unparalleled certification including BS 7799 and DSD Gateway. And it is the only carrier to have attained “Highly Protected Status” within DSD Gateway Certification – one of the most stringent categories within the certification. Macquarie Telecom also uses the latest surveillance systems for physical protection. UniPix uses Macquarie Telecom's Managed Security Services, which provide 24/7 monitoring and management, as well as regular and customised reporting.

The Macquarie Telecom security solution also incorporates content filtering, anti virus and anti spam, secure connectivity and authentication, managed firewalls and IDS.

Results

Speed of delivery, which was previously an issue, is now a major selling point of the UniPix solution. “In the past, the lead time to implementation was based around acquisition and configuration of servers and ancillary equipment. With a managed hosting model, we can deploy in hours because it is all set up ready to go,” said Mr Ellis. “Now, we make one change and it is replicated across all users on all sites.”

By locating Online Advantage in Macquarie Telecom's managed hosting environment, UniPix clients now have access to software that can run anytime, anywhere, anyplace. Users can be in an airport lounge, a hotel room or on the road – all they need is an Internet-ready device to log in and use the software.

“Our customers now get massive accessibility, and we can deliver all those benefits without the customer having to concern themselves with the security and management of the infrastructure and service,” said Mr Ellis.

The Macquarie Telecom managed hosting solution allows Online Advantage to provide fixed-price computing, on a per user per month basis. This is a cost effective, scalable option, giving UniPix customers transparency in terms of the cost of adding additional users.

The switch to a managed hosting model, using Macquarie Telecom hosting and security services, enables Online Advantage to live up to its name.