30 March 2012
Knight Frank boosts multimedia applications with Virgin Media Business
Global property consultancy Knight Frank is supporting staff productivity with the implementation of a high-speed network from Virgin Media Business.
The network, which will be delivered as part of a five year contract, will provide staff in all Knight Frank’s 60 offices across the UK with increased bandwidth and easy access to its multimedia property database.
Knight Frank’s IT network delivers vast amounts of digital content such as video tours of properties and graphic-intensive multimedia files for staff to use when helping customers; it was therefore critical that it had enough bandwidth to support this. Knight Frank’s incumbent network was unable to support the large number of multimedia applications it required. The new network will not only provide the bandwidth to enable these applications but will also increase resiliency due to it being diversely routed to Knight Frank’s two data centres.
The new network will allow Knight Frank to deploy additional business network tools including personal video conferencing, seamless access to its internal search engine and remove restrictions on sites such as YouTube. Staff will now be able to upload images and videos more quickly to the central server. In addition to the immediate benefits to staff productivity, the new network can be grown according to the needs of the business, meaning it will support Knight Frank as it continues to develop.
“Knight Frank is well established to deliver second to none customer service. We want to ensure that our staff’s experience of our network is as seamless as that of our customers, to support them in their day-to-day jobs,” said Hardesh Degun, infrastructure manager at Knight Frank. “The Virgin Media Business network provides us with the speed and flexibility we need, which is key for us as a growing business, as well as proving cost effective.”
Knight Frank invested in an Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IPVPN), which provides them with easy and secure exchange of data across office locations including Bristol, London, Hereford, Leeds and Glasgow. Bandwidth available across the network can be increased as customer and business demand grows.
“Investing in the right technology can go a long way in helping staff do their jobs more quickly and easily,” added Brendan Lynch, director of business and partner markets, Virgin Media Business. “With multimedia tools now part of the furniture for businesses, it’s vital that companies ensure their networks have the bandwidth and resiliency in place to get the most value from this rich, interactive content. We’re pleased to be supporting Knight Frank to deliver the tools its staff need and continue delivering the great customer service they are already proud of.”
About Virgin Media Business
Virgin Media Business has the UK’s only nationwide fibre optic network, carrying 35 per cent of all business broadband traffic. Already able to reach 85 per cent of businesses in the UK, Virgin Media Business has the ability to connect to all organisations. The largest business-to-business brand in the Virgin group, it prides itself on delivering innovative, high quality solutions that breakdown the barriers facing UK businesses today.
Staff are located at 40 offices across the country, meaning that Virgin Media Business really is closer to its customers. Organisations working with Virgin Media Business include LondonCityAirport, Nottingham Building Society, Arqiva, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership and South West Water.
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