Hosting 365

Cash and Carry Kitchens, the market leaders in kitchen and bedroom units for private purchases, has migrated its corporate internet requirements to a Hosting365 solution. The new solution, which includes a dedicated Cash and Carry Kitchens’ server in the Hosting365 managed data centre, has provided a robust and flexible web site as well as a new Intranet for the company.

IT manager for Cash and Carry Kitchens, Gary Carr, is responsible for the systems management of the 12 offices across the country. Back in early 2003 he began looking at a replacement for his then hosting provider. “We knew we wanted to create a website that reflected the quality of our product and after a range of different problems we decided to move provider,� he says.

“However, the move to Hosting365 has done far more than merely provide a stable web solution. We were so impressed with their services that we purchased a server which they manage and support in their datacentre. We developed the software ourselves but can easily monitor, change and support our systems through Hosting365’s excellent remote control panel. Everything from setting up new domains to changing emails addresses can be achieved remotely by our team.�

In addition to website, Cash and Carry Kitchens went one step further and developed a comprehensive Intranet to support sales and fulfilment across the 12 offices. “All orders are now collected via the Intranet onto the server. Sales, fitters and customer services representatives can see at a glance stock moving out, fitters booked and orders placed by customers throughout the country,� says Carr.

Support and upgrades to the dedicated server are managed on a dual basis. “Typically, we do most of the support work ourselves,� says Carr. “We have a dedicated IT team and coupled with the excellent remote access we can 90 percent of the work ourselves. On occasion, however, it can be easier to send a CD of new software over to the Hosting365 engineers and let them get on with it!�

With its sophisticated order management Intranet Cash and Carry Kitchens can easily track all customers orders – big or small.

“Above all, Hosting365 offers us 24 hour support which is invaluable,� says Carr. “Often we will do upgrade or maintenance work after hours. As with all tweaks to the system, this can cause problems but we can notify the support team and have everything back in place for our staff and customers for the next working day.�