Retail Technology
| Log in | Subscribe



Subscribe | Log in
Retail Technology
Subscribe

Multimillion-pound contract extension ensures live auction TV shopping channel services are always available

Multimillion-pound contract extension ensures live auction TV shopping channel services are always available

 

Live UK auction TV shopping channel, Bid Shopping, recently revealed it had signed a £10-million managed IT services contract extension with Getronics.

 

The international IT outsourcing supplier, which has a longstanding existing relationship with Bid Shopping, will provide a number of business critical services, including hosting all of the auction channel's key back office operations at its data centre in Cheshire.

 

Mission-critical IT availability

 

Due to the live nature of its programming, the station’s revenue streams are intrinsically linked to its live shows and retail operation and, as such, the smooth running of its IT infrastructure is mission critical. The extension of Bid Shopping’s existing agreement with Getronics is designed to give the organisation the confidence in maximum IT infrastructure availability.

 

The agreement will also see Getronics staff and Bid Shopping’s own IT services department working together with unified management.

 

Paul Janse van Vuuren, head of information systems at Bid Shopping, commented: “The length of time we have been working with Getronics has led to a more stable IT environment and a greater understanding of our business."

 

He added that moving to the Getronics data centre has removed a number of problems and freed up a lot of time for the Bid Shopping IT team. "There have been cost savings, but knowing you have someone available to fix any IT issues at any time is far more important to us as a business, given our revenue streams," he said.

 

Scalable and flexible IT system

 

"Furthermore, having a fully scalable and flexible IT system designed to cope with sudden surges of sales at certain times of the year gives us peace of mind that our infrastructure is fully able to cope with all the demands that are put on it. We also get access to the latest technology, via Getronics, without having to go through the pain and resource-intensive process of upgrading all of our own assets,” Janse van Vuuren continued.

 

Bid Shopping’s IT team is now focused on more strategic and revenue generating activities, without having to cope reactively to busy periods and spikes in demand, which can now be dealt with effectively and efficiently.

 

“We have access to experts at the data centre whenever we need them and, if we need more servers, we aren’t constrained by issues like power supply or space. Getronics’ unique support model upholds a crucial part of our business, and the longstanding relationship we have with the team gives us assurance that their solutions will deliver great results,” concluded van Vuuren.