iTouch engaged the services of TPN to assist in centralising their IT infrastructure. The iTouch Group Mobile Platform Programme was initiated in September 2002, and aimed to serve all Global applications from a UK hub, replacing the myriad of bespoke systems that operated throughout the various Operational Centres around the world.
iTouch CIO, Jem Eskenazi, remarked "we have a very clear vision of centralising and deploying globally. At the outset we recognised that the Global Mobile Programme was complex, and was crucial to the business. We formed a dedicated team with the mission to procure, develop and deploy the various strategic applications that would sit at the core of the GMP".
In October 2002 iTouch, (based on a previous experience), turned to TPN to provide the Project Management expertise required to clearly define and deliver the Programme.
Says Jem "It was clear early on that we needed a strong Programme Manager, who could clearly define the scope of the programme and manage the overall programme status. However, it was also important that our lead could act as a 'hybrid manager' - one that was capable of driving the individual projects as well as managing the big picture of the overall programme. TPN proved a perfect match - they were immediately effective, quickly getting to grips with the key aims of the programme and subsequently actively managing several project streams".
The highlights of the Programme were -
- Delivery and installation of two new hardware platforms in the Group's data centre - including Fallback, Customer Acceptance, Development and Quality Assurance environments;
- Implementation of a global connectivity infrastructure - linking all operational centres to the group's hub in the UK
- Application and data migration projects onto the core infrastructure
- Delivery of a suite of strategic applications - full functional and operational testing and deployment to a global audience
Jem added "TPN presented iTouch the perfect match for the job in question. David Allmark, with years of experience in the telecommunications world and excellent programme management skills, quickly understood the requirements of the programme and established the proper relationships within the organisation in order to make it a success. By February 2003, the centralised platforms were installed and operational, ready to accommodate the application needs of all iTouch companies and global partners".
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