HCS Business Solutions recognised as finalist in 2014 Microsoft Small Business Partner Awards

Neil Phelan, HCS Business Solutions and Ciaran Keohane, SMB Group Lead Ireland, Microsoft

HCS Business Solutions was recently announced as a finalist in the 2014 Microsoft Small Business Partner Awards. The company was honoured among a global field of top Microsoft Corporation partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

Based in Waterford’s Cleaboy Business Park, HCS which employs 20 staff, held off stiff competition as more than 3,200 entries were received from 112 countries. 

In total there were 46 awards celebrating each of the core partner competencies, including cloud technology; Windows 8, Office and SharePoint applications; public sector; citizenship; sales excellence; and many more.  The award finalists and winners were selected from a group of nominations based on their commitment to customers, their solutions’ market impact and exemplary use of Microsoft technologies.

Director of HCS Business Solutions, Mr. Neil Phelan was delighted that the company was awarded such a prestigious accolade. “It’s a wonderful tribute for HCS to receive.  We became Microsoft’s first Gold Small Business partner in Ireland just two years ago, so to be recognised as a finalist on Microsoft’s global platform is a resounding endorsement of the team’s work here in Waterford and Dublin.”

“The criteria for the category were quite extensive, however we demonstrated that HCS has been proficient in embracing Microsoft services and providing innovative I.T. solutions to our clients which are, primarily, SMB’s across the whole of Ireland.”

“Microsoft’s core competencies differentiate them from any other competitor and as part of the Microsoft framework, HCS embraces those competencies, offers technological innovation, sales and service support, whilst all the while developing and building relationships with our customers.”

Phil Sorgen, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft Corp added, “Microsoft’s success as a company depends on great partners, and HCS Business Solutions is a shining example of the kind of innovation our partner ecosystem drives year after year.”

“We are honoured to recognise HCS Business Solutions as this year’s finalist of the 2014 Microsoft Small Business Partner award, and we applaud the team at HCS in their dedication to providing innovative solutions that drive results for our mutual customers.”

HCS Business Solutions will be represented at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, which is the annual, global convergence of Microsoft’s top partners, in Washington D.C. from July 13th to 17th.

For further details about the software, infrastructure and IT services HCS Business Solutions provides visit www.hcs.ie or call 051 595200 or 01 873 4120.

HCS Business Solutions to announce series of free Microsoft Office training workshops for 2014

HCS Business Solutions, Microsoft’s first Gold Small Business partner in Ireland, plans to announce a new series of free Microsoft Office training workshops in 2014.

The free practical, hands-on training workshops entitled “A New World of Work” are designed to give small business managers, owners and business decision makers the opportunity to “test drive” the new suite of Microsoft technologies including Office 365, Sharepoint and Windows 8 across phone, tablet and PC.

According to Neil Phelan, Director, HCS Business Solutions, the decision to roll out further workshops in 2014 was based on the popularity of the current tranche.

“We have been delighted with the response to these training workshops.  Since they were announced in late September, the workshops in Waterford, Kilkenny and Dublin were fully subscribed within days.”

“That is why we made the decision to conduct a further series of “A New World of Work” workshops in 2014.  It goes to show that businesses today, regardless of their size or number of employees, are conscious of addressing the ever changing work – life balance.  How we work and interact with our colleagues and clients remotely has an effect on productivity, efficiencies and the bottom line.”

Michelle Casey, Pre Qualification Manager, Winthrop Engineering, attended one

of the New World of Work training workshops recently. “The course was practical and applicable to many of the situations and scenarios I encounter every day”, she said.

“Before, some of these scenarios would have seemed problematic and disruptive, however working with the Office 365 range of features made these problems insignificant.  Also because the course was conducted on a wide suite of platforms such as tablet, PC and smartphone it was easy to see how Winthrop

Engineering Ltd. could benefit through implementing these technological developments without any major outlay.”

Mr. Phelan added, “These training workshops examine how our approach to technology must change as we work increasingly on the move and away from the office.  By introducing day to day scenarios participants are able to understand how these new productivity tools and technologies can enhance their business.”

For further details of the HCS New World of Work Training workshops for 2014 visit www.hcs.ie or call 051 595200.

HCS Business Solutions to deliver free Microsoft Office training workshops

HCS Business Solutions will host a series of free Microsoft Office 365 workshops over the coming months.

The free practical, hands-on training workshops entitled “A New World of Work” will be delivered in Waterford, Kilkenny and Dublin in October, November and December.

According to Neil Phelan, Director of HCS Business Solutions, the premise of these practical workshops is to give small business managers, owners and business decision makers the opportunity to “test drive” the new suite of Microsoft technologies including Office 365, Sharepoint and Windows 8 across phone, tablet and PC.

Mr. Phelan commented, “How we work is being challenged with our work-life balance evolving.  The future of productivity is about how our approach to technology is changing, how we are increasingly working on the move and how the idea of the office as the primary work location is no longer accepted as the conventional norm.”

“The New World of Work workshops will enable attendees to address and assess their changing circumstances and discover the right solutions for their businesses. Participating in the workshops is the best way to learn about the business productivity tools and technologies for your business and is designed to be interactive, experiential, and fun.”

Mr. Phelan added that the benefits are manifold.  “Pre-empting the new direction in work practices and implementing a strategy to accommodate these changes has been proven to lead to increased productivity, better efficiencies and even a more content workforce. “

“With new technologies it is now possible to be connected anywhere, at any time and we can be as effective at home, at the airport or even waiting for a taxi”, Mr. Phelan added.

The series of free three hour training workshops will take place at HCS Business Solutions, Waterford on October 11^th, October 25^th and December 13^th, Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, Dublin on November 7^th and December 5^th and Kilkenny’s Ormonde Hotel on November 21^st.

As the first Microsoft Partner in Ireland to achieve the new Microsoft Gold Small Business competency, HCS is also the first company to roll out this new free training initiative.

Places are limited and early booking is essential.  To book your New World of Work training place, visit www.hcs.ie or call 051 595200.

South East businesses are ready for the Cloud!

HCS Business Solutions, an IT services provider with an extensive South Eastern client base, in association with the South Eastern Regional Chambers, recently conducted a survey about Cloud Computing and the perceptions surrounding it amongst businesses in the South East.

The survey was distributed to Chamber members across Waterford, Wexford, Clonmel, Carlow and Kilkenny. The findings reported that the majority of businesses were not only familiar with the concept of Cloud computing, but would consider using some form of cloud services. Only 4% of respondents had never heard of Cloud computing.

Simply put, cloud computing 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, with no need for on site backup.

Almost 74% of the respondents were representative of small businesses employing up to 50 employees. This seems particularly apt as Paul Rellis, MD Microsoft Ireland, recently stated 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.”

Based on the respondents knowledge of Cloud computing the most important perceived benefit of using cloud services were:

1) it requires no capital up front investment

2) it cuts company costs

3) it allows staff to collaborate and share more information

Despite the positivity surrounding cloud services, many respondents expressed concerns about certain aspects of adopting the cloud. Across the region 85% of respondents stated that reliability was “very important” or “a showstopper” for them. Whereas over three quarters expressed security as a very important or show stopping concern in adopting the cloud.

While all of the respondents have broadband facilities, their broadband speed varies considerably with 10% of companies having a broadband speed of less than 2MB, while the majority of respondents (29.3%) have a broadband speed of 4 to 8 MB. However, despite the variations in broadband facilities, almost half of the businesses (43%) were confident that their broadband connection was reliable enough to support cloud services to their business.

Neil Phelan, Director of HCS Business Solutions, which conducted the survey, believes that the results do endorse the future of cloud computing.

“The premise of this regional survey was to test the waters amongst businesses about their perception of the cloud, their knowledge of the services and to unearth their main concerns about implementing a cloud strategy.”

“Although some questions arise around challenges to adopting cloud services - security, speed and reliability will inevitably remain valid concerns amongst businesses. However, we do believe that in time companies not just in the South East of Ireland, but globally, will regard cloud based services for businesses as the norm. 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 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.

For a copy of the survey results or further information about HCS Business Solutions call 051-595200 or email info@hcs.ie

South East businesses are ready for the Cloud!

HCS Business Solutions, an IT services provider with an extensive South Eastern client base, in association with the South Eastern Regional Chambers, recently conducted a survey about Cloud Computing and the perceptions surrounding it amongst businesses in the South East.

The survey was distributed to Chamber members across Waterford, Wexford, Clonmel, Carlow and Kilkenny. The findings reported that the majority of businesses were not only familiar with the concept of Cloud computing, but would consider using some form of cloud services. Only 4% of respondents had never heard of Cloud computing.

Simply put, cloud computing 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, with no need for on site backup.

Almost 74% of the respondents were representative of small businesses employing up to 50 employees. This seems particularly apt as Paul Rellis, MD Microsoft Ireland, recently stated 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.”

Based on the respondents knowledge of Cloud computing the most important perceived benefit of using cloud services were:

1) it requires no capital up front investment

2) it cuts company costs

3) it allows staff to collaborate and share more information

Despite the positivity surrounding cloud services, many respondents expressed concerns about certain aspects of adopting the cloud. Across the region 85% of respondents stated that reliability was “very important” or “a showstopper” for them. Whereas over three quarters expressed security as a very important or show stopping concern in adopting the cloud.

While all of the respondents have broadband facilities, their broadband speed varies considerably with 10% of companies having a broadband speed of less than 2MB, while the majority of respondents (29.3%) have a broadband speed of 4 to 8 MB. However, despite the variations in broadband facilities, almost half of the businesses (43%) were confident that their broadband connection was reliable enough to support cloud services to their business.

Neil Phelan, Director of HCS Business Solutions, which conducted the survey, believes that the results do endorse the future of cloud computing.

“The premise of this regional survey was to test the waters amongst businesses about their perception of the cloud, their knowledge of the services and to unearth their main concerns about implementing a cloud strategy.”

“Although some questions arise around challenges to adopting cloud services - security, speed and reliability will inevitably remain valid concerns amongst businesses. However, we do believe that in time companies not just in the South East of Ireland, but globally, will regard cloud based services for businesses as the norm. 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 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.

For a copy of the survey results or further information about HCS Business Solutions call 051-595200 or email info@hcs.ie