HCS Business Solutions expands national portfolio

Waterford based IT company, HCS Business Solutions has recently secured the IT contract for the provision of managed services for Connolly’s RED MILLS, manufacturers and worldwide suppliers of premium and high performance feed in the equine, pet and agri sectors. Connolly’s RED MILLS has an international remit and exports to over 30 countries.

HCS Business Solutions was successful in its bid to supply IT management and support systems to the company which has its Head Office in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, following a competitive tendering process.

According to Dan Hegarty, Director, HCS Business Solutions is pleased to be working with such a high profile international client. “We are delighted to forge this partnership with such a well respected market leader as Connolly’s RED MILLS.”

“Since its establishment in the early 1900’s Connolly’s RED MILLS has been manufacturing and supplying award winning equine feed and horse nutrition. As the company expanded so did their IT requirements. What was needed was a co-ordinated approach to IT issues, such as monitoring, security, reliability and development.”

“The introduction of TechWatch, TechAssure and TechSolve is a new departure in IT solutions, specifically geared towards the SMB market and it fitted the Connolly’s RED MILLS brief to perfection.”

TechWatch ensures early detection and prevention of network problems, TechAssure provides companies with a suite of maintenance and monitoring services and TechSolve delivers technology solutions that can save money and provide companies with a competitive edge.

Gareth Connolly, Head of Sales, Connolly’s RED MILLS added “As our company is continually developing so too was the need to partner with an IT support company that could remotely manage and develop our IT systems, optimise efficiency and consequently give Connolly’s RED MILLS invaluable peace of mind.”

“HCS now manages over 130 users spanning four sites in Ireland and across Europe and since providing our company with remote managed services it allows us get on with the day to day management and development of our core businesses.”

Today, HCS is accredited with a unique set of partnerships and accreditations that offers customers complete business solutions. With some of the highest certification in the industry HCS Business Solutions has plans to continue to grow and offer more and more exciting software innovations to customers in the South East.

For further information about HCS Business Solutions and the latest suite of managed services log onto www.hcs.ie or call 051 595200.

Microsoft MD urges Waterford businesses to take their share of opportunities from Cloud computing

Microsoft MD, Paul Rellis, proved to be a big attraction amongst Waterford businesses as almost 100 people attended a business briefing entitled “The Future is the Cloud.”

The event was sponsored by Waterford based HCS Business Solutions and co-hosted with Waterford Chamber of Commerce.

Cloud computing has been prevalent in the news recently as it has the potential to create almost 20,000 new jobs over the next decade in Ireland. The impact report, carried out by Goodbody Economic Consultants for Microsoft Ireland claims that Ireland is perfectly poised to capture "a disproportionately large" share of the global cloud market, which is estimated to be worth around €70bn by 2014.

Paul Rellis said that cloud computing will give huge opportunities to individuals and companies alike. “The power of computing that was once the preserve of large organisations can now be used by every organisation of every size. Cloud computing is a new industry that Ireland can take advantage of very quickly. The technology space changes so rapidly but this is a transformation that will be sustainable over the next couple of decades.”

Mr. Rellis added “If Waterford businesses concentrate on developing competencies in cloud computing, perhaps working with the Waterford Institute of Technology to develop those competencies there is nothing to stop the huge opportunities available in job creation.”

“It is up to the civic authorities, institutes of technologies and so on to try and make a difference here. There is no reason they can’t be more successful in Waterford than in any other part of the country.”

Neil Phelan, Director of HCS Business Solutions, which a certified Microsoft Partner, added the future is undoubtedly cloud computing.

“Technology has moved on so quickly. We moved from mainframe computing in the 70’s, to PC’s in the 80’s, the Internet and .com era of the 90’s and noughties, and now leveraging on the internet era the cloud is set up to take a big leap over the next decade.”

“Although some questions arise around challenges to adopting cloud services security will inevitably be a concern. Just like the internet era consumers and business people were afraid to use their credit cards on-line or do their banking on-line in the early days, now it is the norm. This same pattern will inevitably occur to the use of cloud based services for businesses.”

Mr. Phelan added that most companies and consumers are already using some form of cloud technologies and may not consider themselves as being cloud users. Services such as Online Backup and Remote Email Filtering are cloud based technologies that are being utilised already by many companies.

There may be Clouds, but the future looks clear for Waterford’s Businesses

Waterford native and MD of Microsoft Ireland, Paul Rellis, will address the region’s businesses on the future of “cloud computing” and the advances being made by Microsoft in this area.

The business briefing entitled “The Future is the Cloud” is supported by Waterford IT company, HCS Business Solutions and Waterford Chamber and will take place in the Tower Hotel at 8.30am on Wednesday, February 16^th.

Paul Rellis was appointed Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland in December 2007. As MD he is responsible for Microsoft Corporation’s business in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and also represents Microsoft on all strategic policy and communications issues in Ireland.

Prior to being appointed MD, Paul was the Managing Director for Microsoft’s European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Operations Centre, based in Sandyford, Co. Dublin. His role includes overseeing Microsoft's channel partners, supply chain, finance and order management across the region. The EMEA Operations Centre services 131 countries across five time zones. Previously, he held the position of Finance Director for Microsoft Operations in EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

One of the most recent exciting developments in the IT sector has been the shift towards cloud computing, which ultimately has a simple purpose; it allows end users to securely leverage the Internet for application use, data storage, and other tools. Coupled with this, cloud options are more cost effective, there is no need for on site backup and no more costs associated with managing IT infrastructure.

According to Neil Phelan, Sales Director, HCS Business Solutions, there is huge anticipation ahead of the “cloud” amongst local SME’s. Mr. Phelan commented, “Cloud computing is, undoubtedly, the way forward and is being welcomed by companies of all sizes. Cloud computing will give users a more reliable, remote and transparent IT service resulting in greater uptime and more business stability, which in these tough times is crucial.”

Mr. Phelan added “As Certified Microsoft Partners HCS Business Solutions is delighted that Paul Rellis will join us to address Waterford’s business community about the significance of cloud computing and the huge commitment Microsoft is making to online services.”

Microsoft first opened its doors in Ireland in 1985 with a small manufacturing facility employing just over one hundred people. Since that time, Microsoft Ireland has grown to encompass four distinct operations at its campus in Sandyford in Dublin, employing over 1,200 full time employees and 700 full-time contract staff.

“The Future is the Cloud” briefing will take place in the Tower Hotel on Wednesday, February 16^th at 8.30am. This event is free. For further information or to book your place call Sheila Quinn at Waterford Chamber on 051 872639 or email sheila.quinn@waterfordchamber.ie

Waterford IT Company awarded Platinum accolade by European Market leader

When Hegarty Computer Services was established in 1994 one of its main objectives was to provide IT solutions to SME’s in the South East. Today, 16 year later whilst IT solutions are still an integral part of what the company does, it has moved on to provide innovative business solutions.

Following a re-brand to HCS Business Solutions, which demonstrates the company’s extended portfolio, HCS has been awarded Platinum status by Mamut Business Software to provide a breakthrough in information management.

As the only Platinum partner of Mamut in Ireland and the UK, HCS Business Solutions is now capable of providing a complete end to end business solution which allows customers to manage accounts, CRM and sales, field service, stock, web, project management and payroll solutions in one complete software package.

According to Neil Phelan, Director of HCS Business Solutions the relationship with Mamut has given HCS the impetus to increase its market share by offering breakthrough business solutions to companies throughout Ireland. “As Platinum Partner of Mamut, one of Europe’s leading exponents of business solutions with almost 500,000 customers, HCS has been able to provide tailor made effective management systems to some of Waterford’s thriving businesses.”

“HCS has the experience and back – up to implement a solution system that is guaranteed to save money. In fact many of our clients have saved up to €20,000 by choosing Mamut over the market incumbents.”

One such local business benefiting from HCS’s advice and expertise is Bluewall Technologies, based in the Six Cross Roads Business Park and regarded as one of the leading companies in security installation and service in Ireland.

According to Derek Tebay, MD of Bluewall Technologies “Although we pride ourselves on providing a gilt edge customer service, we needed to ensure that the management systems we implemented complemented our ideals of great service and efficiency.”

“As with all companies in the current tough trading environment we needed to streamline the business and maximise our efficiency. The advice provided and the system installed by HCS was invaluable. It allows me to manage my customers, suppliers, accounts, stock control as well as providing me with a full suite of management reports that I need to manage and run my business as effectively as possible. Bluewall Technologies has increased efficiency, improved communications with our customers and ensured that our data is as secure as possible. All in all the partnership with HCS has been of immeasurable benefit to us.”

HCS is accredited with a unique set of partnerships and accreditations that offers customers the complete business solution from cabling and wireless solutions to mobile and accounting solutions. With some of the highest accreditations in the industry HCS Business Solutions has plans to continue to grow and offer more and more exciting software innovations to customers in the South East.

For further information about HCS Business Solutions and Mamut software log onto http://www.hcs.ie/ or call 051 595200. You can also contact Karen at http://www.b2bcommunications.ie/