Cross-industry

ColArt rolls out Microsoft Lync globally

12 February 2013

ColArt, a supplier of colour and art materials, will be rolling out Microsoft Lync to 16 offices across Europe, America and China, with the support of Advanced 365.

The project follows a successful Lync project, which Advanced completed in two of ColArt’s UK-based offices in 2012.

Advanced implemented Microsoft Lync and a new VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephony system in both the London and the Kidderminster offices in 2012, replacing a number of disparate systems and servers.

This project involved integrating Microsoft Office Exchange 2010 with the new VoIP system using Microsoft Lync.

The roll-out of Microsoft Lync to 16 global offices will allow staff to communicate and collaborate more effectively, better supporting operations and enabling higher levels of efficiency

Mike Panther, ColArt  The installation has already enhanced communication across the group, especially amongst mobile workers, and has created a much richer collaborative environment for ColArt’s UK staff.

The project will serve as a best practice model for the global roll-out of Lync which will take place in 2013.

Mike Panther, global infrastructure manager, ColArt, said: “We needed to unify our global IT strategy so that IT can more effectively support the business. The roll-out of Microsoft Lync to 16 global offices will allow staff to communicate and collaborate more effectively, better supporting operations and enabling higher levels of efficiency.”

Once Lync is live across all 16 offices, ColArt is anticipating more unified working and an improved ‘single company’ mentality. There will also be reduced office-to-office international calling rates.

“We will be able to bring staff together into a single, international team, allowing us to keep everyone fully-informed of our strategy and make decisions more quickly,” added Panther. “Advanced has done a great job with the UK project and we’re looking forward to replicating this success across Europe, America and China.”

ColArt, a fast-growing business worth £150 million, holds one-third share of the world market for artists’ colours to the education and craft markets. The art supplier operates in 16 countries and sells products in 120 countries across the world.

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