Computing Awards - Best small business IT strategy shortlist

Who will win a Computing award?

Computing Awards for Excellence - Best small business IT strategy shortlist

TDX Group

Debt management specialist TDX aligned its time-to-market delivery strategy using agile and offshore resources to the exacting demands and requirements of the business and its clients. The firm has increased flexibility in the early stages of development, giving customers much more involvement in the process.

Imagine Homes

Property company Imagine Homes worked with outsourcing consultant Ramsac to rethink its IT strategy. The firm delivered a secure solution that provides access to files from anywhere in the world. A 10Gbit/s network backbone and token-based security were also implemented.

ProNet Computers

The IT team functions as a technological think-tank, inputting ideas, addressing management and allocating responsibility. Over the past year it has developed and deployed a telesales monitoring system, centralised data stores, a GPS tracker and a computer health monitoring system. The systems have saved time and money.

Imerja

This network and security service provider recently created internal practices designed to enhance flexible working. It sees IT as an empowerment tool and prides itself on providing a flexible work-life balance for staff. 3G-enabled laptop computers and smartphones aid mobile working, while desktop and laptop videoconferencing cut down on travel costs and carbon emissions.

ControlCircle

ControlCircle offers datacentre services that take stress and strain away from clients. It continues this internally, making sure its own staff feel the same benefits. IT is at the core of the company and a number of time-saving initiatives have been implemented, such as virtual machines and flexible development and testing environments.

Close Invoice Finance

The company launched a new invoice discounting facility in March last year after extensive market research and user feedback. The amount of paperwork has fallen to zero, access to documents has been improved and the system is fully transparent. Close estimates that it saved 1.6 million sheets of paper in the first year.

Business Stream

Business Stream’s IT was wholly dependant on its parent company, Scottish Water ¬ but the firm is in the process of breaking away. It aims to improve the level of service and increase management control, centralise resources, creating a
single view of each customer and launching a customer self-service portal.

Ecotricity

Ecotricity worked with IBM to deliver a robust IT platform that supports its continued growth and entry into new markets. Together they implemented an SAP platform in just seven months and have improved data handling and accuracy, plus customer relationship management. E-billing has cut down on paper requirements.