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Issue October 2008 |
Ferranti e-Newsletter |
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Events
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Nederlandse versie · Version française
Dear customer,
Dear partner,
In this edition of our quarterly newsletter you will find information on lots of new projects in both our business units Business Solutions and ICT Infrastructure & Managed Services.
At the end, you will also find an overview of upcoming events. Note them down in your agenda!
Enjoy reading,
Franky Baert
Managing Director |
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MECOMS Implementation at Essent Metering Data Company |
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 Ferranti is helping Essent with the set-up of the Metering Data Company through the supply and the implementation of a Metering Data Management (MDM) solution for E and G. This MDM system is based on MECOMS and is responsible for the automatic collection, processing and distribution of metering data that is the foundation for a lot of the customer processes of the Suppliers. These processes are crucial in the relation between a supplier and its Customers. The MDM system will also provide for the MDB to guarantee the in time, correct and complete delivery of Metering Data according the agreements with the Suppliers.
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Ferranti becomes an activist member of "Voices for Innovation" |
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 Voices for Innovation is an extensive and diverse network of technology professionals, business leaders, consumers and academics committed to advancing business opportunities within the technology industry and, to the promotion of public policies that support them. With the support of Microsoft, VFI members educate thought leaders and elected officials about new technologies and the positive impact they have on global economies and jobs. By participating in VFI, members raise the profile of their company, learn from tech leaders and help win policies that are beneficial for our industry.
As you know, energy in top-of-mind these days for different reasons, rising energy prices, issues on guarantee of delivery, environmental pressure. The European Commision’s ambitious 20-20-20 plan foresees in 20% energy savings, coupled with 20% usage of renewable energy by the year 2020. This policy can work when win-win scenarios are implemented that motivate the different market players active in this industry.
Therefore Ferranti has developed a vision how evolving towards a Smart Energy Grid could help us reach this goal. Smart Grids is all about integrating near-time consumption data and volatile local energy generation with existing generation capacity. This way the balance between demand and supply could be optimized at a level optimizing total costs for all players (consumers, suppliers, grid operators and producers). Smart gateways entering residential homes will allow residential customers to communicate their preferences on energy consumption and, if applicable, local generation towards their energy suppliers who can respond by presenting flexible and attractive pricing models.
Informing policy makers on how these innovative solutions can help them achieving their goals is crucial. Therefore we strongly believe in Voices For Innovation to serve as a communication platform to have our voices heart.
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MECOMS & Smart Home @ Metering Europe 2008 Conference |
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 We all are aware that substantial changes to our energy consumption behaviour are needed to ensure that the next generations are living in a world with the necessary resources to maintain and increase our level of safety, health and wealth.
A lot of European and Global initiatives like 2020 are started and other, even more ambitious, will follow in the coming years. The industry and governments invests a lot of effort and money in green initiatives, but involvement of all citizens will be necessary to reach the goals and to have full ROI of the investments of the industry and governments.
Ferranti believes that if the level of complexity to have insight and impact on your own consumption is not drastically lowered to allow nearly everybody to take part in these worldwide energy saving programs, this will not have the desired effect. As long as complex devices and computers are required, the consumers are not encouraged to take part in these programs. For these ambitious initiatives, continuous effort of everybody will be required.
To accomplish that everybody takes part in these programs, it will be required to have the threshold for the involved users to be as low as watching television and to offer direct incentives which are easy to earn. Nearly everybody knows how to operate a TV and uses its television every day. For that reason, Ferranti developed within Mecoms/AX © the next generation applications and user interfaces making fully use of this and other technologies and media. This together with the Smart Grid developments will create the Smart Home which empowers all of us to contribute to the world of tomorrow.
A sneak preview of this visionary applications could be seen on the Ferranti booth at the Metering, Billing/CRM Europe 2008 Conference.
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Cisco Digital Signage @ Ferranti |
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 Ferranti Computer Systems installed Cisco’s DMS system in its new offices for the provision of information to personnel and visitors on the one hand and for the management and display of meeting room reservations on the other.
The coffee corners on every floor are equipped with a flat screen displaying both general and project information for personnel. The information is retrieved from various sources including the Ferranti intranet and the ICT trade press. General business news and information about Ferranti (events, news, etc.) is displayed in the reception area for visitors. In addition, a small display is located at the entrance to each meeting room with scheduling information for meetings to be held in that specific room.
Cisco DMS
Cisco’s Digital Media System incorporates technology that enables organizations to offer dynamic video and audio applications designed to bring customers, employees, partner companies and/or students in contact with each other anywhere and at any time...
Read the full story
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New Core Infrastructure for the city of Lokeren |
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 Lokeren is a man-sized city, characterized by the convivial and direct nature of a smalltown community, which has retained its smalltown feel. At the same time, the city offers an extensive and varied range of commercial, social, cultural, sports and recreational activities. Lokeren has an urban core, with a regional appeal, and is surrounded by a wide green belt of rural communities. From an economic point of view, Lokeren is a strong growth point, with a varied and extensive offer of companies and businesses.
The City of published specifications for the renewal of its then Nortel network, of which the entire core needed to be replaced. Ferranti Computer Systems responded to the tender offering a Cisco solution, which provides for the full consolidation of all routing, layer 2 and 3 switching, as a core for the City of . In view of the fact that municipalities are increasingly interested in providing information using ICT, we are proud that Ferranti has been chosen to implement the structure to do this for the City of Lokeren.
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Ferranti achieves Cisco Customer Satisfaction Excellence |
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 Cisco Systems is pleased to recognize and congratulate FERRANTI COMPUTER SYSTEMS NV (BELUX) for achieving Cisco Channel Customer Satisfaction Excellence.
Customer Satisfaction Excellence is the highest distinction a partner can achieve within the Cisco Channel Partner Program. FERRANTI COMPUTER SYSTEMS NV (BELUX) will be recognized for Customer Satisfaction Excellence in the Cisco Partner Locator (www.cisco.com/go/partnerlocator) with a special star indicator representing your achievement. Customers, Cisco personnel and partners will be able to identify you as having achieved outstanding customer satisfaction as part of Cisco s worldwide assessment process.
Channel Customer Satisfaction Excellence assessment is based upon the customer satisfaction results captured in the Cisco Partner Access Online tool (www.cisco.com/go/pal). Each quarter, Cisco will acknowledge Certified Partners that have the highest customer satisfaction distinction within each geographic region.
Customer Satisfaction Excellence is a core value we both share and a key driver of our current and future success. Thank you for your commitment to the success of your customers.
For more information on Cisco Channel Customer Satisfaction Excellence, please visit: www.cisco.com/go/pal
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Renewal and Upgrade of ICT Infrastructure Network at Oleon |
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 Oleon specializes in the transformation of natural fats and vegetable oils in a broad range of oleochemical products such as fatty acids, glycerines, fatty alcohols, fatty esters and biodiesel. These products do not only deliver excellent performance, but are also biologically degradable. Oleon is a European leader in its industry. The company’s products - approximately 400,000 tons transformed annually – are used for applications within the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries, as well as an additive for lubricants, the manufacturing of candles, the de-inking of paper, etc. Oleon’s head office is in Ertvelde; the company has four production sites - Ertvelde, Oelegem, Emmerich () and Sandefjord () as well as seven foreign sales subsidiaries, employing a total workforce of 520 employees. Oleon opened the first biodiesel production plant in in February 2007 and thus became relatively well-known outside its industry.
Next to setting up and maintaining a production reporting system, Ferranti has also been working for several years with Oleon, supporting the company’s ICT infrastructure network. Together we developed a solution for complete renewal and upgrade of the existing network in the Belgian branches. A project approach, developed in line with best practices, guaranteed a seamless migration to the refurbished network, which offers Oleon the required performance and quality guarantees for the future.
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