Voice and data communications

technology buying group

With many years international experience in IT managed services, IT Practice Director Steve Pye knows how to achieve supply chain cost savings without compromise to end-user service.

Steve set out to drive down the voice and data communications costs among some Prestige customers working together as a buying group.

Following a poll of potential participants, QMH Hotels, Exclusive Hotels, Malmaison (including Hotel du Vin), and Partnerships in Care joined forces to renegotiate new supplier deals.

Prestige worked closely with the clients to assess their current spend, and specific technical and operational requirements. The procurement programme was aimed at communication cost reductions, as well as a 'future proof' data network design. Given the dynamic nature of the UK hospitality market, it was also vitally important that the resulting contracts delivered a high degree of flexibility.

Prestige's expert network services procurement team developed a detailed Request for Proposal which was then sent to eleven pre-qualified suppliers. Four of these suppliers were asked to attend a two-day "Bid Summit" to present their case and answer questions. Through the thorough exploration and negotiation process, we found additional savings, improved service guarantees and preferential commercial terms.

The end result was greatly enhanced network technical design and, across the buying group, a significant six-figure saving that represented more than 25% of the total spend (and for some clients as much as 33%).

One of our clients then went on to engage Prestige for a seperate WAN contract market entry engagement, resulting in the appointment of a new provider offering much higher levels of service, care and attention, together with annual savings of more than 40% on current costs.