One of Ireland’s best-known master tailors, Louis Copeland, has deployed Google Apps for Business across its five stores in Dublin and Galway.
Google Apps for Business provides secure and reliable web-based office tools, including email, instant messaging and word documents. It is used by more than 3m businesses of all sizes across the world. It provides 25GB of mailbox storage per user, is interoperable with Microsoft Outlook and it works with Android, BlackBerry, iPhone and Windows mobile devices.
Finian Nally, technical director of E-MIT Solutions, a Google Apps reseller and IT partner of Louis Copeland, explained that as part of a strategic review of group IT operations, it identified that the existing server, located on-site, presented some reliability and uptime issues.
“It also lacked the flexibility to meet the growing needs of Louis Copeland so we recommended that it should be replaced. We discussed various options for the business but in the end the best option was a cloud computing solution, Google Apps for Business.”
Neil Delaney, head of enterprise sales Ireland, Google, explained that by moving Louis Copeland’s entire business from a single location-based solution to a multi-location, cloud-based Google solution, the problem of uptime has been greatly reduced.
“System reliability is a top priority for Google and over the last year, Gmail has been available more than 99.984pc of the time for both our consumer and business users.
“Most importantly, as Google hosts the service there is no software or hardware to install or maintenance required.
Fits right
“We are really impressed with the enhancements that moving to Google Apps has brought to the business,” said Henry Dixon, general manager, Louis Copeland and Sons.
“For example, we use Google talk to check stock at any of our other shops and we can contact suppliers to discuss materials and exchange images and brochures without fear of exceeding our storage limit. This is an innovative IT solution that will adapt to our needs. We are very happy with it and E-MIT Solutions ensured a seamless transition from our old IT system.
“Planning has been simplified as a shared calendar system makes arranging meetings or holidays very straightforward and when needed our staff can now send and receive emails and access our collaboration tools from any location in Ireland or around the world,” Dixon said.
