RETURN TO THE TECHNICAL TEAM

Here at the Sussex Office we must have been very good all year because we have got an early Christmas present in the form of Dom Edwards. Dom is returning to our technical team after spending the summer working with Raleigh International in Borneo. Already a familiar face to many and ready to lend a helping hand to new customers, Dom is a very welcome edition to the Arcom IT technical team.

To help you recognise him on his next visit, here he is dressed as Willy Wonka. Alongside him is Tim Pateman, another of our terrific technicians (he isn’t usually orange!) who braved the streets of Aurndel as an Oompa Loompa to celebrate Dom's 27th birthday.

The team is led by Steve Tritton, our Technical Director and also includes the super talents of Marc Roberts, Mo Najjar, Amar Pazir and Chris Briscoe. Erik Morley, IT Manager of Wightman & Parrish says of the team “We have always found the chaps at Arcom IT to be very helpful, they will stick with a problem until it is solved and make an effort to talk to you at a level you can understand.” A sentiment which is echoed by Stella Buckingham, IT Manager of Classic Collection Holidays:- “Their style of working and fantastic attitude towards their clients means we get advice on tap, quick and efficient support”

We are keen to stress that it is their formidable IT knowledge rather than a penchant for dressing up and having green hair that qualifies them for the Arcom IT technical team.

But it does appear to be popular…..!!

Here is Chris Briscoe on a recent night out. He's great with IT and make up tips!

RED ATLAS GETS GREEN LIGHT AT BLACKBUSHE AND REDHILL!

It has been a fantastic month for the Business Development Team as after ten years of evolution, end user analysis and online demos, Red Atlas Airport Management Software has had a complete rewrite and has been given permission to lift off!

It is no secret that the UK has an enormous airport business with over 250 million passengers travelling annually from 30 major regional hubs. However, few people are aware that Britain is home to over 1750 airfields with over 30 airstrips in Sussex alone. Many remnants of the World War, these historic sites have now adapted to meet the demands of the leisure flight industry and provide key services unique to their locality.

But how does such a business built in 1934 cope with the demand of the 21st century?

Red Atlas is a unique software solution developed by Arcom IT to enable the various departments within smaller airports to work together ie: Air Traffic Control data feeds directly into accounts and vice versa. This allows the airports to work cohesively and efficiently.

Redhill Aerodrome (Prior to D-Day over two hundred fighter aircraft were based here to support the invasion forces) is located just a few miles North of Gatwick Airport and Blackbushe Airport (on the Hampshire\Surrey border) provides some of the finest executive and private aviation facilities anywhere in the UK. Recognising the potential Red Atlas would have for streamlining their business, Senior Air Traffic Control Officer Phil Wright and ATS Manager Tony Miles have been working with Arcom IT to design a solution that would fulfil all their particular business challenges.

Phil Wright - “It has been fantastic to work with Arcom IT. For the first time an IT company has genuinely collaborated with the end users to produce software that works the way we need it to and more. We look forward to January and all the improvements RedAtlas 2010 will bring.”

With installation due to begin in Jan 2010 preparations are being made for a smooth roll out.

For more information on Red Atlas go to www.redatlas.co.uk

A NIGHTMARE AFTER CHRISTMAS

Imagine the scenario. It’s the 4th January and you’re still smiling recalling the wonderful eleven days holiday you’ve just had. But as you enter the computer room you realise something is wrong, something is very wrong. Thanks to the chilly seasonal weather and a recent cold snap a pipe has burst and completely flooded the room. The server is literally swimming.

Or how about this? The millions of twinkly lights going on across the South of England have caused a brief power cut which has corrupted your servers disc…and you’ve no back up.

Aaarrrggghhh!

We certainly don’t want to continue on this theme (bah humbug) but it is worth pointing out that since businesses depend upon their IT infrastructure it is important to ensure that you have made adequate provision for the duration of the holidays.

Here are our top ten pointers for avoiding a Christmas catastrophe:-
 

is for contacts. Make sure that you have a list of numbers for key suppliers including electricity, telephone, broadband and your IT Support Company. Check the terms of your support contract to find out whether you have the coverage you need.

 is for hardware. Make sure that unused kit is turned off.

 is for recovery. Do a backup tape before you close and take it with you.

 is for iterate. Don’t leave it till Christmas Eve to do a systems check including backups. The boy scouts have it right…be prepared!

 is for security. Don’t rush off to the party without making sure that both your IT system and the building that houses it are completely secure.

is for TAX. Don’t forget that VAT returns to 17.5% on January 1st and make any necessary preparations.

is for mobile devices. Laptops, mobile phones etc now carry a huge amount of the companies data and are more likely to get lost over the festive season. Ensure staff either leave them securely at work or somewhere safe and that they have authentication passwords and PINS in place.

is for access. Having remote access for IT Managers is a great idea as it allows them to keep an eye on vital systems over the holidays.

is for software. Check the dates of your renewals so that no software licenses expire over the holidays.

! Give generously to your favourite IT Support Company: Arcom IT. You never know when a box of chocolates could save your company!
 
LORDS A LEAPING!

Okay – so we’re not leaping but then we have just had a three course Christmas dinner courtesy of Surrey Chambers. This is Baroness Warsi, a spectacularly inspirational speaker and Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action who was invited to speak at the lunch by Arcom IT MD Shahid Azeem. You may recognise her from the particularly controversial Question Time programme in which Baroness Warsi spoke up against BNP Leader Nick Griffin.

Baroness Warsi is the youngest member of the House of Lords (and was voted sexiest peer) so even though she isn’t leaping with 10 other members of the House, we are thrilled she accepted Arcoms invitation and think she thoroughly deserves her place here on the Christmas E-Shot.

 

WHY HAVE AN ELF, WHEN YOU CAN HAVE AN OLF!

If you have been to our home page recently you will have noticed a visitor perched on the Hot Topic box. This is our Christmas Elf who is there to remind people that Arcom IT has an online fault system (or OLF for short).

This is a fantastic way to log faults, orders, quote requests or other projects and it allows you to keep an eye on their progress too. Our customers have always been our priority and it’s important that every request we receive and the work we do is handled in an efficient and transparent manner.

If you would like to start using the OLF system, check out the Easy User Guide here.
 

WAR CHILD

It has become a regular feature on the Arcom IT e-shot to mention charity work undertaken by members of the team. This month the spotlight goes to Tim Pateman (Technician) and Alex Wheatley (Web Developer) who have, quite literally, fought to help children in war torn countries.

The GAME for Good weekend (on 5th & 6th of December) saw players of Modern Warfare 2 raise £250,000 for the UK based charity War Child. Over a million online players, including Tim and Alex, came together to help to transform the lives of thousands of children living in some of the world's most dangerous war zones.

AN OPEN & SHUT CASE

Having mentioned earlier in the e-shot the importance of looking after your system over the Christmas holidays, please make a special note of our opening times below:-

Thursday 24th, Christmas Eve Open
Friday 25th, Christmas Day Closed

Monday 28th, Bank Holiday Closed
Tuesday 29th Open
Wednesday 30th Open
Thursday 31st, New Years Eve Open
Friday 1st, New Years Day Closed

If you have a contract that entitles you to support outside of these office hours please follow the usual procedure to log any faults during the holidays.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

All that remains for us to say is thank you to all our customers for the support they have given us this year and to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.

See you in 2010.

From all the team here at Arcom IT.
 

Heather
Marketing Manager
Arcom IT
0845 241 4123

Head Office Unit 3, Walnut Tree Park, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4TR Tel: 01483 505055	South Coast Offices Ground Floor, Transair Building, Shoreham Airport, Shoreham-by-Sea West Sussex, BN43 5PA Tel: 0845 2414123
www.arcomit.co.uk