June 12, 2012, 4:05 PM — O2 has integrated CloudSense's Order Management stack into O2 Business' Salesforce.com platform in a bid to increase efficiency and bolster its customer relationship capabilities.
The sales and service cloud-based platform has been deployed within O2's Joined-Up Business operations, which is a division that aims to help companies connect their IT, staff and customers through communications products.
Ricky Mortimer, e-enablement programme manager at O2 Business, spoke to Computerworld UK and explained why it decided to opt for a public cloud offering over an on-premise deployment.
"Given the business challenge we have around managing this increasing portfolio of products [through O2 Joined-Up Business], whilst trying to drive down costs, cloud allows us to implement without large up front CAPEX costs and gives us a quick time to market," said Mortimer.
O2 has integrated CloudSense's Order Management stack into its Salesforce.com platform, which includes applications such as CS ClickApprove, CS Configurator and CS Orchestrator. These enable O2 to manage its products, quote customers, carry out electronic approval for contracts and enable end-to-end fulfilment in the cloud.
"We were using Salesforce at the time for lead-to-opportunity management - so pure sales pipeline stuff. We looked at how we could take that lead-to-opportunity and extend it all the way through to lead-to-cash," said Mortimer.
"The target was to do that in a way that would leverage the Force.com environment and run everything natively inside that platform."
Mortimer said that moving from lead-to-opportunity to lead-to-cash would enable O2 to develop a fully cloud-based CRM platform.
He said: "Our strategy is to get a full CRM system in place, 100% in the cloud, integrated into O2's systems via our service orientated architecture."
By running applications natively inside the Force.com platform, O2 was able to use Salesforce's other cloud services, such as Chatter, mobile and native security features.
O2 selected CloudSense over one other shortlisted company, an American-based firm called ChikPea, due to its "track record and proven experience of delivery".
Prior to this deployment O2 had been using a combination of manual processes and Microsoft Office products, but over the past 12 months has managed to get 800 users on the new sales and service platform. It plans to increase this to 3,500 users over the next 18 months.
Although Mortimer couldn't provide specifics about efficiency or cost targets, he did say that O2 Business will "grow and diversify its portfolio of products without increasing its operating costs".
He also stated that although the thought of cloud made many within the business "go pale in the face", the platform is running to service levels beyond what Mortimer was able to agree with Salesforce's commercial team.
"There were a number of concerns around cloud, not just the security element. This is business-critical activity and uptime is essential - this was clearly a big leap of faith," said Mortimer.
He added: "I tried to demand high service levels from Salesforce, but wasn't able to agree targets with the commercial team.
"However, we are actually operating to levels much higher than what I attempted to agree - we are operating at beyond 99.9% uptime.
"We have been using it for the best part of a year now and we haven't had an outage yet, which isn't what you expect from new platforms and new technology. Typically what you would be looking at is hundreds of minutes of downtime and how you would reduce that."
O2 also recently announced that it has signed a five-year managed services deal with China-based services provider Huawei. It will be transferring 118 staff to work for Huawei's managed services business, where under the agreement, Huawei will be charged with planning, implementing and managing Telefonica's core transmission, mobile access and network in the UK.
Nokia to provide incoming Seton Hall University freshman with Lumia 900 - YAHOO!
Seton Hall University provides Nokia Lumia 900 to incoming freshmen
Nokia‘s Windows Phone smartphone on AT&T extends the Academic Learning Environment
Orlando, FL – Nokia, AT&T, Microsoft and Seton Hall University announced today a step forward in Seton Hall’s Mobile Computing Initiative, whereby all incoming freshmen will receive a Nokia Lumia 900 each for extensive use across the University. The entire class of 2016 will receive a Nokia Lumia 900 powered by the Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, to support the university’s mission of providing state of the art technology tools to enhance the student experience and prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world.
Since 1997, Seton Hall has provided mobile technology to its students and faculty to support the integration of technology into the curriculum. Enhancing the University’s philosophy of open-ended exploration, students discover new opportunities for learning with mobile computing, sharing ideas and collaborating with peers and faculty while learning how to utilize technology effectively in their academic professional and personal lives. Mobile technology provides a means of enhancing all aspects of university life, and encourages students to engage with each other and the university community from orientation through graduation.
“Nokia has a long history of innovation and their partnership with Microsoft allows us to extend the core academic and community resources of the University into the pocket of our students,” noted David Middleton, Executive Director, Center for Mobile Research and Innovation, and Assistant Vice President of Administration at Seton Hall University. “By providing our new incoming students with the Nokia Lumia 900, Seton Hall University can expand our existing Windows services and infrastructure while providing a unique, high quality, dynamic and engaging mobile experience.”
All Seton Hall students have access to SHUmobile, an app available across multiple platforms that provides access to campus news feeds, directories and maps. However, Seton Hall freshmen will have access to a custom Freshmen Experience component of this app exclusive to the Lumia 900. This personalized element adds customized social media integration and direct communication channels with their freshmen peers, peer academic advisors, housing information and roommates. Additionally, the University will leverage Nokia Data Gathering, recently made available for Windows Phone, to communicate with the incoming freshmen beginning this summer by conducting polls, providing information to help students prepare for college and to learn how the Lumia 900 and other technologies are being used.
“Mobile technology has become ubiquitous and pervasive, but we are just beginning to understand the breadth of its impact across campus. Smartphone use in higher education has tended to rely on finding a specific app to fulfill a specific curricular purpose. With the close collaboration between Nokia and Microsoft on the Lumia 900, the phone itself takes center stage” added Michael Taylor, Academic Director, Center for Mobile Research & Innovation.
Professor Taylor explains that the seamless integration of core academic tools such as Microsoft Office increases the opportunity for faculty and students to connect, collaborate, and create. The synthesis of Windows Phone features and Lumia 900 hardware are a natural enhancement to the University’s commitment to teaching and learning with technology. Utilizing AT&T’s 4G network, these partnerships will help foster new opportunities for learning, content creation and experimentation. Teaching and learning can now take place not just in the classroom but virtually anywhere, providing a more engaged and integrated learning experience.
Nokia provides the business market with a portfolio of compelling, high-quality devices at every price point that meets the needs of people both as consumers and business users. With business productivity tools and applications to ensure that business decision makers and employees have access to the information they need within the framework of a well-governed IT environment and an ecosystem of partners and providers, Nokia ensures the long-term viability of businesses’ IT investments.
Here she comes! Cheryl Cole announces dates for her FIRST solo UK tour - Daily Mirror
Cheryl fans may struggle to contain their excitement after it was announced the singer will embark on her first solo UK arena tour.
It's been a good week for Cheryl who wowed Wembley at the Summertime Ball and her new single Call Me Name when straight to No.1 within hours of release on iTunes, clocking up record breaking sales.
Now it has been confirmed that the Fight For This Love singer will tour the country and Ireland for the first time as a solo artist.
Cheryl will play eight shows in October, including the O2 Arena and a homecoming at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.
She opened as a special guest for the Black Eyed Peas European tour in 2010 and played four sold-out arena tours as part of Girls Aloud.
She's one of the most exciting performers in music and will be performing songs from previous albums 3 Words and Messy Little Raindrops, as well as new material from the much awaited A Million Lights which will be released June 18.
There will plenty of surprises in store for fans who can purchase tickets from 9am on June 15 at Live Nation.
Can't wait until October to get your Cheryl fix? Read more below.
"Cheryl Cole is losing her touch": Desperate star adds nothing to the nation and it's time she went away: Read Mirror Online's guest columnist Fleet Street Fox brutal opinion on Cheryl.
Cheryl Cole pointless and unworthy of Prince Harry? She’s the perfect modern day celebrity and would blow Kate Middleton out of the water: Sunday Mirror celebrity columnist Dean Piper bit back at the Fox with his praising verdict of Queen Chez.
CHERYL COLE TOUR
6 Oct Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
7 Oct 02, London
9 Oct Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
11 Oct Echo Arena, Liverpool
12 Oct LG Arena, Brimingham
13 Oct Manchester Arena,
15 Oct SECC, Glasgow
17 Oct Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Nokia Maps with 3D navigation to replace Bing Maps in Windows Phone 8 - YAHOO!
Nokia and Microsoft are reportedly planning to follow in the footsteps of Google and Apple, and will offer a new powerful Maps feature in Windows Phone 8, according to WPCentral. The two companies will replace Bing Maps with Nokia Maps, which is said to feature 3D navigation, including recent traffic updates, and hardware acceleration across all Windows Phone handsets. Microsoft’s upcoming software update will also include Skype integration, Windows Phone Wallet, native gaming development and various camera improvements. The software giant is expected to announce these changes on June 20th at its Windows Phone Summit.
[Via The Verge]
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