IT contribution to successful tender bid
In early 2010, our client was tendering for a new contract to run a network of buses across a university campus. As part of their tender document Aparion proposed and detailed a GPS tracking system and an iPhone app as part of the solution being offered.
Our client won this tender, and both the tracking system – which allows the university and the operator to track buses on a live map – and the iPhone app – which allows students/service users to check next bus times and timetable information from their phone – have been provided and are now in daily use.
“The contribution from Aparion helped us to differentiate us from the other bidders and to win the tender” – Jean-Philippe Le Comte, MD England, Veolia Transport UK
Network design, migration and installation [IT]
In March 2009 a Tier 1 transport provider needed to move their entire server infrastructure from a datacentre in Hatfield into their Head Office in Birmingham. Not only did the hardware require moving, but the entire configuration had to be built afresh. The effect this would have on the business meant that we scheduled to do this work over the 4 day Easter weekend.
The relocation was a success – not only did not a single bus or coach fail to go out on the Tuesday morning, but within 2 weeks the company had 95% of its systems back to full service, with the balance mainly held up by 3rd parties.
The infrastructure moved was Windows 2003 network, with large Exchange and SQL systems and a Citrix server farm. Over 150 client machines were updated and the many and varied technologies – including ticket machines, on-vehicle systems and route planning software – in the organisation were successfully connected to the new configuration.
“We were particularly happy with the small amount of disruption our business encountered given the size and the very short lead-time involved in this project” – Peter Wilkinson, Commercial Finance Director, Veolia Transport UK
