Sugar chose Bytes System Integration technology, to implement a state of the art converged network solution provided by ALE, marketed under the brand Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise.  With reliability and security as major requirements, the new ALE core solution will provide a more dependable platform to improve the reliability and efficiency of all communications to their servers. 

Dave Schaller, CIO, Illovo Sugar LTD., said: “Today’s businesses are faced with the challenge of keeping up with evolving technology. Our partnership with the Bytes team goes back 17 years, and theirs with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise almost as long. This, combined with the value offering and keen ROI made Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise solutions an attractive choice when refreshing our network. By increasing the stability of our network, we are now able to successfully facilitate new applications.” 

The deployment includes Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch Ethernet LAN switching portfolio which serve as the backbone of the network and OmniAcess wireless access solution to support next generation BYOD features. This solution will provide a more efficient and dependable platform whilst increasing the stability of the network to successfully facilitate the new applications running across Illovo Sugar’s infrastructure. 

From an IT standpoint, the solutions offer a full set of capabilities which includes real-time user and device monitoring, centralised configuration and compliance management.  The main advantage is that it provides IT managers with visibility and transparency so they can see exactly where users are and how the network is performing at all times.  

Ravin Naidu, Regional Director for Sub Saharan Emerging Africa at ALE said, “Our sustainable, cost-effective and accessible solutions are designed to increase customer satisfaction, enhance operational efficiency and employee productivity. Illovo Sugar chose ALE based on our history of proven experience and because of the converged network solutions which not only meet their current needs but position them for the future. We remain committed to providing innovative solutions that anticipate our customer’s technology needs.”