Anglia DNA

Breakwater IT is helping companies, such as Anglia DNA, overhaul their business systems, ensuring a more efficient information flow across the organisation as a whole..
For Anglia DNA, based in Norwich, is one of only five companies in Britain accredited to the International Standard for paternity testing. It genetically analyses DNA for applications such as parentage tests, sibling testing, immigration, child support issues and birth certificates.
It works extremely quickly, with a same-day service if necessary, so information has to be swiftly converted from the swab used to take a sample (from the inside of the mouth) to the screen where it is analysed by scientists.

With many requests coming via the internet and others from courts, doctors and solicitors and arriving in the post, Anglia DNA has to be able to merge all the information, respect confidentiality and work swiftly to meet court and client deadlines. It has to ensure the steps, from the initial DNA request through to receiving the swabs and sending the results, are as smooth and efficient as possible, with client records kept – and absolute confidentiality ensured.
Dr Thomas Haizel, of Anglia DNA, said Breakwater IT’s involvement is crucial to the business plan. “We are embracing a big project in order to significantly grow the business. It’s very exciting and we are laying down the necessary IT infrastructure we will need,” he said.

The genetic profiling and identification carried out by Anglia DNA can be used for purposes other than parentage tests, such as ancestry tracing and even on animals to test pedigree lines or trace missing pets. It’s a fast expanding business, growing not only in Britain but across Europe and into India, Thailand, South and West Africa. And the IT system developed by Olaf Eulenstein, Systems Consultant at Breakwater IT, is designed to take it into the future. “The concept was for a robust system that pulls data together from different systems and presents it in one interface. It’s one system for everyone to use and benefit from – from the customers who can order on the Internet to the scientists in the labs,” Mr Eulenstein explained.

Dr Haizel said Breakwater IT far exceeded expectations when commissioned to take on the overhaul of the IT system: “We were looking at five different companies and Breakwater IT had by far the best understanding of what we required. We told Olaf what we wanted our system to be able to do and he came back very quickly with exactly what we needed. We were very impressed.” Mr Eulenstein said Breakwater strives first to understand the philosophy and the current and future plans of businesses it works with. “We look at the strategy of each business, the growth, what it is trying to do and how technology underpins it,” he added. He pointed out that an improved IT infrastructure tailored to an individual company is extremely cost effective as it saves time, effort and money.
For example, data does not have to be input more than once into several different systems. Mr Eulenstein said too many companies are working inefficiently, using different systems and growing in a fragmented way. If they stopped to look at how they wanted to progress, companies such as Breakwater could work with them to bring in the technology needed to make them far more efficient enabling a better customer experience. Dr Haizel said he was delighted to involve Breakwater IT in the future of Anglia DNA. “They are absolutely just what we needed. They worked very quickly and came up with the solutions we required,” he said. “Now the company has one system for everything it needs, with helpdesk and backup assistance from Breakwater IT when it needs it.

“Breakwater IT far exceeded our expectations. I thoroughly recommend them to other companies,” he added.

Oxbury and Company

Guidance from Breakwater was the perfect answer for Chartered Surveyors Oxbury and Company, which has a head office in Norwich and a branch in Chelmsford.

It had grown from two people 17 years ago to 40 people now, and desperately needed a new computer system and IT strategy to take it forward.

Chairman Nick Oxbury said the company was moving both offices and wanted to take the opportunity to review its IT infrastructure.

The computer system had been added piecemeal over the years and was frustrating staff with its inadequacies. Oxbury knew in layman’s terms what it needed, and a performance-specific tender was sent out.

“We chose Breakwater because its solution specifically addressed our needs,” said Nick, adding that the Breakwater proposal was the most suitable, and most cost-effective in the long run.

Oxbury needed a highly efficient modern system where the two offices could work independently but also as one. So, although each has its own server, everything is stored on both using file replication technology. That way, if one system fails – due to flooding or fire for instance – employees can work on exactly the same system in the other office, and all data is saved and safe.

Once the solution was chosen, the Breakwater team used the PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) project management methodology to manage, control and organise the project – that’s everything from weekly reports to informing Oxbury of potential problems and any action it could take to minimise the impact.

The project was helped by Oxbury staff getting to know the faces of the Breakwater IT team who took the time to explain how to use the system, as well as to set it up faultlessly. The Breakwater team delivered, and Oxbury staff were delighted, said Nick.

Finally, both offices have their own extremely efficient system, and both teams can work effectively together. “Our staff are so much happier,” he added.
Nick, and director James Oxbury, said Breakwater was a “brilliant” company to work with on the project. “We were surprised by how much we could rely on Breakwater to do everything; we kept asking them to do this or that and they did it. We knew exactly what was happening and when,” said James.

“Our move and installation really was completely seamless,” he added.
The Breakwater service continues as it is working as Oxbury’s IT department, so if there are any queries staff can simply pick up the phone and ask. Steve Bowles, who headed the Oxbury project, worked closely with Breakwater lead technical consultant Paul Durrant to provide the answer Oxbury needed. It’s one which will take them forward into the future and can easily incorporate another 25-30pc growth.

The new IT at Oxbury is a “converged” system, explained Paul, meaning a single common network for both the phone and computer systems. It is technology which larger companies have been using for some time, but which is now affordable and appropriate for smaller businesses.

The new secure infrastructure makes optimal performance possible and reduces running costs by combining voice and data more efficiently. By leveraging VoIP, voice conversations over the Internet can offer companies savings due to using a single network. In addition, VoIP to VoIP phone calls can be free (as in the case of both Oxbury sites), while VoIP to public switched telephone networks, PSTN, are provided typically at a lower rate to standard ones.

“We are extremely impressed with Breakwater,” said Nick Oxbury, adding that he would recommend them to other companies looking to upgrade or rethink an IT system.
Breakwater will soon be talking to Oxbury about electronic document management (EDM), “the paperless office”, which Breakwater identified in part of the tender process as being the big efficiency driver for Oxbury in the future.

Martin & Acock

Martin & Acock, the leading firm of Norwich accountants has signed a new contract with Breakwater to handle all of its ongoing IT requirements. As well as offering full IT support, Breakwater will be providing strategic guidance and advice for a business that is embracing technology as it looks to expand for the future.

With a head office in Norwich’s Cathedral Close and offices in Attleborough, Swaffham and Watton, the firm is keen to build on the technology investment it has so far made. Martin & Acock has always been very forward looking with its IT and views it as being absolutely key to its future growth.

After fully researching several different companies offering IT consultancy and support, the partners of Martin & Acock have signed an ongoing contract with Breakwater to be its IT partner for the foreseeable future.

“We didn’t just want the standard IT support that some suppliers give. We wanted an IT company to give us continuous strategic guidance and proactive advice so we can always be aware of the latest technologies as we continue to build our business. We have always embraced technology and an example of this is the document management system we installed two years ago. This now allows the firm to operate more efficiently as we move towards a totally paperless office. We feel this is only the start and going forward we want to take things to a much higher level” says Jeremy Robson, Operation Director of Martin & Acock.

“When we were looking for an IT partner we were impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of the Breakwater team. We also felt that they were looking for a long term business relationship rather than just providing us with short term solutions to keep us operational. The idea of a company providing for all our IT needs and strategic development also adds real value to our future plans and is very appealing to us”

Peter Davies , Chairman of Breakwater is equally delighted by the relationship. “Martin & Acock is exactly the sort of business we like to work with. They are professional, forward thinking and view technology as a real value not just a cost. They have always been one of the leading accountancy firms in the area and we want to help them grow significantly over the next few years”

In the next 12 months as well as reviewing the entire firm’s IT hardware, Breakwater will be helping Martin & Acock look at VOIP, wireless solutions, its e-commerce strategy as well as developing a number of its internal back office systems.

More information about Martin & Acock and the services they offer can be found on their website at:- www.martin-acock.com. Otherwise contact Jeremy Robson, Operations Director on 01603 612311.

Angling Direct

With around 30 PC-users across four branches, Angling Direct was overwhelmed trying to keep on top of its IT needs. One of the largest fishing retailers in the UK, the company was reliant on its staff to manage the online warehouse, in-store retail and insurance services. After an unsuccessful period with an in-house IT provider, the company turned to Breakwater for help.

“They listened to what we needed and altered our systems to make them faster and more efficient,” said managing director Darren Bailey. “They were particularly proactive and made our systems more stable. Breakwater have standardised all our IT across the company and sorted out any problems we have within two hours. It frees up our time to get on with the jobs in hand.”

Angling Direct now has the three aspects of its business integrated on one system, and all staff have received training sessions from Breakwater. The company currently has branches across East Anglia, but is looking to grow outside the region.

“When we expand, Breakwater will be expanding with us. They have become a part of our business, and when we look to acquire new premises we will have them audit the IT facilities available and listen to their advice before we buy,” said Darren. “We feel Breakwater have brought the IT services to growing small and medium-sized businesses that larger companies take for granted.”

Almary Green Investments

Almary Green Investments has been providing independent financial services to more than 3,000 individual and corporate clients for the last five years. In 2003 the company decided to become a paperless office and now all its client information is held on two servers.

“We are 100 per cent reliant on IT so it was vital to get it right,” said director Carl Lamb. “As a business of eleven staff it wasn’t cost effective to employ an individual solely to look after out IT. We knew we couldn’t work any harder, but we wanted to work smarter.”

When Breakwater came to Norwich the business launched in offices close to Almary Green. The investment company were so impressed by the IT provider’s “forward-thinking and proactive approach” they have used their services ever since.

Breakwater are now working with Carl and his team to develop a business contingency plan, which will mean if the worst should happen to the office, information sharing facilities and emergency strategies would be in place to ensure Almary Green’s key resources would be up and running again within 72 hours.

It is an example of the kind of updated service that the investments company would not have implemented without Breakwater’s help.