Customer Success Story
PROGRESS
BT Infonet Expands the Telecom Infrastructure for Progress Software
Progress Software Corporation creates and delivers the technology that lets Application Service Providers (ASPs), Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and IT organisations build, deploy and manage powerful, enterprise-class business software. At work in more than 100,000 sites and in more than 100 countries, Progress Software is widely used by large corporation IT departments to create Internet and enterprise-based business applications that automate internal, business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales, service and operational processes.
More than 60 percent of Fortune 100 companies use Progress Software solutions along with more than 2,000 ASPs and ISVs. The company's strategic partnerships and alliances include Citrix, Compaq, Data General, Fiserv, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, NEC, NxTrend, QAD, SCO, Security Dynamics, Sequent, Sun Microsystems, Symix and Unisys.
Founded in 1981 by high-tech veteran Joseph W. Alsop, Progress Software has grown into a U.S. $285 million global software industry leader, employing 1,300 people worldwide.
Building the Foundation
Denis Goulet is the Director of Operations, responsible for the company's IT infrastructure, which includes all voice and data communications, Unix systems, the PC infrastructure, Help Desk and IT purchasing worldwide. Reporting to Goulet is Judy Jankowski, Manager of Communication Services, whose group is responsible for maintaining communication across the company, implementing new technologies and supporting its global users.
Early in 1996, Progress Software's Information Technology group conducted a feasibility study to determine if they could consolidate their IT operations. In late 1997, Goulet and Jankowski selected BT Infonet's services. After seven months, 16 of the 19 countries in which Progress Software has offices, including corporate, were already accessing the network and achieving better than 99 percent up-time.
"If you view application infrastructure as a house that needs a foundation, BT Infonet helped us to build that foundation, from our financials to order fulfilment worldwide. We delivered on that - and the company has grown significantly," said Goulet. "Over the past three years we have added Sales Force Automation, Customer Relationship Management, e-commerce and Professional Services Automation applications. As a result we are placing greater and greater demands on our network," he remarks.
Continuing Its Global Expansion
Progress has expanded its global network to include 36 sites from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Chile to Austria, Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom. BT Infonet manages, secures and controls access from the Internet to Progress Software's intranet. And BT Infonet's dedicated security team ensures the integrity of that firewall 24/7.
For four of its international locations, Progress Software provides Internet access through BT Infonet's London gateway. Goulet and Jankowski have found that BT Infonet provides a total cost of ownership that is very competitive - and they appreciate having one firewall and one point of entry to the Internet. According to Goulet, "BT Infonet services have proven to be cost-effective and easy to manage. Most companies managing firewall services would sell a single managed firewall per location - and that is a large cost component." Jankowski adds, "We did not have to purchase, manage or monitor multiple firewalls. With a limited staff, we appreciate being able to concentrate on what we have to do and leave the rest to BT Infonet."
Goulet has found that BT Infonet provides good support and appreciates the company's global presence and focus. "I like the fact that they own and manage their own network and, as a result, the buck stops with them. If there are issues, they take complete ownership." Jankowski appreciates having one contract, one point of contact and one company to deal with. "Other companies offered consortium and partnerships and tried to make themselves look like one company - but they were not! BT Infonet truly is a global company."
And, when there is an occasional problem, Progress Software's IT Operations Group has found the time-to-resolution to be fast. "BT Infonet's local, in-country presence has helped us get things done," comments Goulet. "I view BT Infonet as being as close to a partner as you can get in a vendor relationship."