IT specialist will keep Metro group in touch

Jul 2 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE wheels are in motion for a technology specialist which has secured a contract to support one of the region’s main public transport providers.

Croft Technology, of Newcastle, won a competitive tender to provide network support to Nexus, the group responsible for Metro and bus services in Tyne and Wear.

The IT specialist will be responsible for all communication links across Nexus’s four offices and will also support the business’s entire network infrastructure.

It offers applications, consultancy and support to businesses UK-wide.

The contract covers a range of support functions and ensures that Croft has a team of mobile engineers on hand at all times.

Account manager Steve Hood said: “Our network support function can be used across a range of organisations and sectors, giving client peace of mind and minimum disruption to the business.

“We have worked hard to ensure the service is as efficient and effective as possible. Once a call is received, the details are relayed directly to our engineers using the latest 3G technology.

“The engineer also has access to previous call histories and spare part inventories to ensure that remedial action is both relevant and effective.

“As the call progresses, the engineer will provide regular status updates into the NOC [network operations centre] until the fault is resolved.

“Our system will also automatically track the progress of each call to ensure that service levels are met. When the call is completed a site visit report, with details of the repair are all emailed directly to the client.” Nexus head of IT Neil Lee said: “The professionalism and service provided by Croft Technology gives Nexus a high level of confidence that any network-related issues are expedited, ensuring that impact to the business is kept to a minimum.

“The approach of a working partnership means that Nexus considers Croft as an integral network support section within the IT department.”

Croft, which has 112 staff, is the preferred partner to a number of the world’s leading IT manufacturers, including Microsoft, Mitel, HP, Cisco, ADC Krone and Kyocera.