Central Southern England City Council

Remote and
Hybrid Working

Location

UK

Completion Date

2022

Overview

The client’s existing contract for the provision of desktop and mobile telephony for the client was due to end. The client was obliged to re-tender for the services and in doing so move towards a cloud-based service better suited to a post-pandemic mode of working. With limited internal resource capacity, the client enlisted the help of PTS to prepare the procurement specification document.

Solutions

Discovery 

PTS obtained details of the existing telephony services that needed to be replaced and supplemented this with conversations with the principal stakeholder at the client.  

Specification Development 

The new voice service requirements were described in two specifications for cloud-based desktop and mobile telephony services respectively. Issued for client review these were then amended following feedback from the client to create documents that could be used for issuing to prospective suppliers. 

Benefits

The specifications are for cloud-based telephony services (Voice as a Service) that will facilitate a much more flexible mode of working that the client has adopted following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Approximately 75% of the client workforce now work remotely for at least part of the working week with many workers now home based on a full-time basis. The specifications will allow procurement of appropriate services and end point equipment that will better facilitate this flexible way of working. 

The client staff were able to focus on their existing roles rather than having to work on relatively unfamiliar activities and create documents that are only required every 7 years.  

PTS provides knowledge and expertise that the client does not possess and would require client staff to spend a disproportionate amount of time to create the same deliverables. 

Summary

Design and technology come together to create a stunning and modern distillery and visitor experience that reflects the heritage and world-class reputation of this Scottish brand.

Four hours from Edinburgh in the remote Scottish countryside, The Macallan Whiskey Distillery emerges dramatically from its surroundings. Named one of Time Magazine’s best 100 places to visit in 2019, the distillery and visitor centre is a unique blend of technology, design and nature. The 14,800 meter-squared site, while sympathetic to its surroundings makes a bold statement about the brand and its rich, world-class heritage. Synergy between aesthetics, architecture and technology are clear to see.

Despite tight timescales, PTS designed and delivered a discrete yet robust IT infrastructure, supporting the essential components of a high-tech distillery. These components include networks, Building Management Systems, AV solutions and the Distillery Telemetry systems. The latter help maintain the quality of the Client’s famous whiskey. The PTS infrastructure also supports the technology found within the visitor centre, which uses immersive technology to tell a compelling story of the brand’s history. It allows for the use of AV displays and interactive systems to provide a unique, engaging and immersive way for Macallan to connect with visitors and offer and unforgettable experience.