Having the full view of contracts and licenses on IT-equipment is a challenge to most large organizations.
The consequences from lacking overview and compliance can result in wasted money and resources. Also, with regards to operations, one can be affected, if critical equipment shuts down and impacts parts of the infrastructure – or all of it. For Danish Region Zealand, however, this is not a concern. They have a full view through a strong partnership on support and license counselling.
A Modern, Strategic Partnership
The modern IT-organization takes many shapes. Common for all is, however, that everyone needs the right strategy regarding which resources you have in your organization – and which you rely on from the outside. “We have a long-running collaboration with Danoffice IT. It started out because we, together with our sister-organization, The Capital Region of Denmark, were to implement a new strategy for our network-infrastructure. Here, we chose HPE Aruba and Danoffice IT, who have proved themselves a highly capable partner because of their high technical level and specialization”, says Andreaz Hanskristian Victor Kaizensted, Team Lead, Region Zealand. ”The collaboration has developed from a classic supplier-client-relationship to a modern, strategic partnership which makes a real difference in the operation of our large, complex network”.
Alignment and Overview
Is a hardware contract expiring? Are we paying for redundant equipment? Do we need more – or less – support? That is some of the central questions which are being answered through a strategic partnership on support and licenses. The right consulting on this field can, especially for larger organizations with complex infrastructures, be an important element in operating their IT, says Michael Knudsen, Senior Solution Manager, Danoffice IT. ”We are lifting a quite heavy task here by creating an overview over something very complex”, he states and adds: “Based on strategic considerations we maintain a view to get all of the client’s contracts aligned. If there are any odd expirations, then we consolidate them. We also make sure that the client only has what it needs. What makes sense to renew? What does not? Where do we need support? And, importantly, which elements are critical? Every time new parts are delivered, support is needed, so it is a big overview to maintain”.
A Good Example
In the middle of Danoffice IT we have our team of Hardware Service-specialists, creating the critical overview. “Earlier on, our network operations were ad-hoc bases. We fixed things along the way, which was not effective. What made us change that and reach out for advice and consulting, was our new maintenance-strategy for our network. Here, we realized that we needed to get everything in a system and create an overview”, says Andreaz Hanskristian.
According to Bente Selbach, Service Manager in Danoffice IT, and service contract and license-specialist of many years, then Region Zealand is a good example to many others. “We often see that larger organizations does not have the overview needed in order to secure the operations of a secure network – and IT-infrastructure in general”, she says and explains:
“The essence of our partnership with Region Zealand, is that our team constantly makes sure that the client knows what equipment they have, and what they are using it for. Everything from serial numbers to service-levels. We keep track of all contracts and thereby we secure two important things: That they are not paying for more than they need – and that critical network-equipment in their infrastructure does not shut down all of a sudden”. Andreaz Hanskristian adds: ”With Bente and her team by our side we always have a total view of all our equipment in our network. We see the entire landscape because they have created a highly detailed data-based insight, making it possible for us to be effective – and now we are on the third year of this contract on support and licenses”.
High Level Synergies
The character of this partnership is defined by the level of expertise on both sides. In Region Zealand Andreaz Hanskristian leads a team which stands out partly from being a big IT-department and partly from being a team of highly specialized technicians. And, exactly that, is the foundation for a unique dialogue. “Because we are a big and highly specialized in-house department, then we can have a very valuable and equal dialogue”, he says. “We have many employees and a high technical level – and we implement and maintain the solutions ourselves. But this just means that we can have a very direct interaction with both Aruba and Danoffice IT”. Andreaz does, however, add that Danoffice IT themselves stand out from the rest. “The great thing about them is the type of clients they have. Through that they have a quite different experience compared to other suppliers, and that makes them stand out in the crowd”.
Dialogue and Savings
A central element of any it-department is the budget, and here license- and support-consulting can play a big role, Andreaz tells. “Danoffice IT’s advising shows us which equipment is about to go End-of-Life, and this is crucial when we are creating our budgets for a new year. The databased insight we have now enables us to create good budgets and it just gets better each year. We can reach out to Bente & co. and ask, how is the landscape looking? Already now, this is a win for us, but I expect that it will result in even bigger savings in the future”.
Bente Selbach agrees and adds. “The proactive and forth-running dialogue is really important. We are checking in from both sides, and this must not only be when there are breakdowns or crises. The constant contact and dialogue is crucial so that we can have the client’s back covered”. A contract like this might sound like a heavy cost, but on the contrary, it is actually an asset for the business. “We have a big overview and an outlook which the client can look into all the time. We create forecasts so that they year after year know what they are paying for. This can make a big difference budget-wise”, she says.
Not Afraid to Challenge
“I like the fact that we are being pushed a bit sometimes – and challenged on our choices. It is healthy to re-consider if we have made the right decisions, and we get this challenge from Danoffice IT. They have the level to do it, and they are not afraid to do it”, Andreaz explains when talking about the character of the partnership. “We do not always agree, but this only makes the partnership better, and it creates great reflections on our side”. Michael Knudsen adds that Danoffice IT in this context also is the client’s loyal servant. “Our team of Service- and License specialists knows the history if the entire system – on all processes regarding the client’s equipment. We are – so to speak – the client’s watch dog. We make sure that everything the manufacturers say and promise, actually holds up”, the states.
“This is a partnership which we wish to develop and take to the next level. The next thing, we are going to talk to Danoffice IT about, is network solutions aimed at the citizens, and we look very much forward to that”, concludes Andreaz Hanskristian Victor Kaizensted, team lead at Region Sjælland.
