Dimension Data Perspectives 2017
At its analyst event in Cape Town, South Africa, Dimension Data shared information about its progress to date, and where the company is headed. With the famed Table Mountain in the background, we heard several key themes throughout the two days – a focus on business outcomes, managed services, and digital transformation.
Dimension Data operates in 153 cities in 49 countries, serving over 6,000 clients, including 75% of the Fortune 100. The company claims to be “the leading, end to end, hybrid IT management company, across both infrastructure and applications, helping our clients to transform to digital enterprises through the use and adoption of technology.”
As a system integrator, Dimension Data works with a variety of products and vendors, with the key vendors being Microsoft and Cisco, as well as Avaya, Genesys, and others. However, rather than focusing on its vendor partners, Dimension Data discussed its solutions and platform, and how it brings solutions together to provide outcome-based services. The company is focused on being an outcome-based, services led, platform delivered, client centric organization. Another focus is hybrid IT, which is enabled through the services layer and decouples the workloads from the underlying infrastructure.
Services is a big part of the company’s offerings, including consulting services, technical and support services, and managed services. With its managed services offerings, Dimension Data “takes over your day-to-day operations to enhance your IT and business functions, and enable IT agility and scalability through our platforms.”
During the event, I had the opportunity to speak with Joe Manuele, Group Executive, Customer Experience & Collaboration. In this video interview, Joe discusses some of the key take-aways from the event, as well as the role of managed services, and Dimension Data’s new Customer Experience Benchmarking Report. He notes that based on the report findings, the number of channels customers are using has risen to nine, but there’s still a lack of connection or integration between the channels. Some of the analysts got a sneak peak at the new report while visiting and getting a tour of Merchants, a customer management outsourcing provider that Dimension Data acquired in 1997, the year Merchants began doing the benchmarking study.
One of the most impressive things about Dimension Data is its commitment to helping the community. As a South African company, Dimension Data has been involved in efforts to reduce rhino poaching and create a safe haven for the rhino population at a private game park adjacent to Kruger National Park, and has been working with Cisco for Connected Conservation. The rhino population in South Africa, which is home to 70% of the world’s rhinos, has been drastically reduced due to poaching, and the number of deaths will exceed the number of births by 2018, meaning the population will become extinct in a short number of years.
Dimension Data and Cisco have teamed up and deployed a range of technology at the game park to monitor and track individuals from the time they enter the reserve gates, until they exit. The Connected Conservation project is an example of the Internet of Things, and uses sensors, videos, cameras, thermal imaging, wifi hotspots, and of course an intelligent network and data analytics, to create a highly secure Reserve Area Network (RAN). The results so far have been extremely impressive, and the companies hope to use the technology to save other endangered animals in various geographies.
Another way in which Dimension Data is helping the local community is through its support of Qhubeka, which “believes that mobilizing people with bicycles can change lives through creating access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity.” Qhubeka provides bicycles to underprivileged youths in work-to-earn programs so they no longer have to walk over 60 minutes each way per day to get to school, which impacts their ability to concentrate and learn. By being able to ride a bike to school, the amount of tardiness and absenteeism is reduced, and the students have more time to study, work, and help their communities. At the analyst event, Dimension Data announced that for each analyst attendee, they were donating a bike to help mobilize change. That made my heart soar!
Bikes that Dimension Data is donating to Qhubeka from the 2017 analyst event
Dimension Data sponsors a professional cycling team, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, a World Tour cycling team based in South Africa, and the first African team to compete in the Tour de France. The team notes that “Qhubeka isn’t an afterthought, it is the reason we clip in and ride, the incentive to go out and train, and our motivation to win races.” The team’s mission is to fund 5,000 bicycles for people through Qhubeka, which it does through a variety of fundraising efforts (#Bicycleschangelives).
During the analyst event, I met with Doug Ryder, Team Principal for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka. Ryder is passionate about the team and Qhubeka, as you can see in this interview. He also discusses how Dimension Data technology was used in the Tour de France and how it helps improve the fan experience.
Aside from being in beautiful Cape Town and visiting its beaches, wineries, and exploring the natural beauty of South Africa, I got to learn about a sad part of our world’s history, while meeting some amazing people. I also learned about how Dimension Data is helping enterprises achieve business outcomes and transform their businesses. Most of all, I learned about how companies like Dimension Data can use their technology and resources to help impoverished communities and endangered species.
Start YourCustomized Search
SOLUTION AREA
SOLUTION PROVIDERS
- 8x8 (40) Apply 8x8 filter
- Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (50) Apply Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise filter
- AT&T (44) Apply AT&T filter
- AudioCodes (49) Apply AudioCodes filter
- Avaya (397) Apply Avaya filter
- Cisco (574) Apply Cisco filter
- Dell (11) Apply Dell filter
- Five9 (54) Apply Five9 filter
- Fuze (39) Apply Fuze filter
- Genesys (100) Apply Genesys filter
- HP (98) Apply HP filter
- IBM (171) Apply IBM filter
- Jabra (9) Apply Jabra filter
- Logitech (56) Apply Logitech filter
- Lumen (4) Apply Lumen filter
- Masergy (50) Apply Masergy filter
- Microsoft (766) Apply Microsoft filter
- Mitel (233) Apply Mitel filter
- NEC (128) Apply NEC filter
- Nectar (58) Apply Nectar filter
- Polycom (95) Apply Polycom filter
- Ramp (37) Apply Ramp filter
- RingCentral (126) Apply RingCentral filter
- Sennheiser (18) Apply Sennheiser filter
- Slack (13) Apply Slack filter
- Tata Communications (59) Apply Tata Communications filter
- Unify (186) Apply Unify filter
- Vonage Business (80) Apply Vonage Business filter
- Yealink (8) Apply Yealink filter
- Zoom (21) Apply Zoom filter
- Acme Packet (24) Apply Acme Packet filter
- Allworx (2) Apply Allworx filter
- Arkadin (22) Apply Arkadin filter
- Aspect (34) Apply Aspect filter
- BT (25) Apply BT filter
- CaféX (8) Apply CaféX filter
- CallTower (14) Apply CallTower filter
- Clarity Connect (10) Apply Clarity Connect filter
- Continuant (1) Apply Continuant filter
- Damaka (4) Apply Damaka filter
- Dialogic (5) Apply Dialogic filter
- Dimension Data (44) Apply Dimension Data filter
- Empirix (11) Apply Empirix filter
- Enghouse Interactive (17) Apply Enghouse Interactive filter
- Inference Solutions (9) Apply Inference Solutions filter
- IntelePeer (27) Apply IntelePeer filter
- IR (11) Apply IR filter
- Jive (21) Apply Jive filter
- Kurmi Software (21) Apply Kurmi Software filter
- Lifesize (33) Apply Lifesize filter
- Lightware (3) Apply Lightware filter
- Mavenir (6) Apply Mavenir filter
- Modality Systems (8) Apply Modality Systems filter
- Momentum (36) Apply Momentum filter
- Netfortris (5) Apply Netfortris filter
- NetSapiens (6) Apply NetSapiens filter
- NewVoiceMedia (31) Apply NewVoiceMedia filter
- Nureva (26) Apply Nureva filter
- NUWAVE (5) Apply NUWAVE filter
- Orange (32) Apply Orange filter
- OVCC (8) Apply OVCC filter
- Panasonic (18) Apply Panasonic filter
- PanTerra Networks (9) Apply PanTerra Networks filter
- ScanSource (21) Apply ScanSource filter
- SIPPIO (3) Apply SIPPIO filter
- Snom (20) Apply Snom filter
- Star2Star (8) Apply Star2Star filter
- StarLeaf (12) Apply StarLeaf filter
- Tadiran Telecom (2) Apply Tadiran Telecom filter
- TekVizion (9) Apply TekVizion filter
- Unimax (7) Apply Unimax filter
- Verint (41) Apply Verint filter
- Voice4Net (2) Apply Voice4Net filter
- VOSS (85) Apply VOSS filter
- Voxbone (14) Apply Voxbone filter
- West (28) Apply West filter
- XO Communications (3) Apply XO Communications filter
- Yorktel (17) Apply Yorktel filter
- Zultys (2) Apply Zultys filter
- 3CX (8) Apply 3CX filter
- ADDASOUND (1) Apply ADDASOUND filter
- Aerohive (1) Apply Aerohive filter
- Aryaka (1) Apply Aryaka filter
- Asurion (22) Apply Asurion filter
- Avnet (7) Apply Avnet filter
- Bandwidth (5) Apply Bandwidth filter
- Calabrio (5) Apply Calabrio filter
- Consilium Software (13) Apply Consilium Software filter
- Drum (5) Apply Drum filter
- ESI (6) Apply ESI filter
- Esna (16) Apply Esna filter
- Exinda (2) Apply Exinda filter
- EZuce (3) Apply EZuce filter
- GUnify (6) Apply GUnify filter
- Highfive (4) Apply Highfive filter
- Huawei (47) Apply Huawei filter
- Imagicle (3) Apply Imagicle filter
- IPCortex (1) Apply IPCortex filter
- KnoahSoft (1) Apply KnoahSoft filter
- KOVA (1) Apply KOVA filter
- Logmein (9) Apply Logmein filter
- Metropolis Technologies (4) Apply Metropolis Technologies filter
- Mutare (2) Apply Mutare filter
- NextPlane (27) Apply NextPlane filter
- Ooma (16) Apply Ooma filter
- Patton (11) Apply Patton filter
- Radish Systems (1) Apply Radish Systems filter
- Radisys (3) Apply Radisys filter
- Shango (1) Apply Shango filter
- SMART (163) Apply SMART filter
- Stack8 (1) Apply Stack8 filter
- Swyx (1) Apply Swyx filter
- TrueConf (4) Apply TrueConf filter
- UJET (13) Apply UJET filter
- Voximplant (3) Apply Voximplant filter
CONTENT TYPE
- BC Expert Insights Market (43) Apply BC Expert Insights Market filter
- BC Expert Insights Objective - Vendor Neutral (42) Apply BC Expert Insights Objective - Vendor Neutral filter
- BC Expert Insights Planning (15) Apply BC Expert Insights Planning filter
- BC Expert Insights Solution (12) Apply BC Expert Insights Solution filter
- BC Expert Insights Vendor (80) Apply BC Expert Insights Vendor filter
- BC Expert Insights Vendor Solution (145) Apply BC Expert Insights Vendor Solution filter
- BC Expert Roundtable (133) Apply BC Expert Roundtable filter
- Bcs Webinar (0)
- Bcs Webinar Registration (0)
- Best Practice (38) Apply Best Practice filter
- Buyer Guide (14) Apply Buyer Guide filter
- Case Study (29) Apply Case Study filter
- Executive Interview (145) Apply Executive Interview filter
- Expert Roundtable (450) Apply Expert Roundtable filter
- Guest Contributions (35) Apply Guest Contributions filter
- Multimedia (38) Apply Multimedia filter
- News Analysis (2081) Apply News Analysis filter
- Newsfeed Article (1303) Apply Newsfeed Article filter
- Newsfeed Article (1) Apply Newsfeed Article filter
- Thought Leadership (21) Apply Thought Leadership filter
- Vendor Collateral (211) Apply Vendor Collateral filter
- Vendor Resource Best Practices (24) Apply Vendor Resource Best Practices filter
- Vendor Resource Buyers Guides (2) Apply Vendor Resource Buyers Guides filter
- Vendor Resource Multimedia Content (4) Apply Vendor Resource Multimedia Content filter
- Vendor Resource White Paper (4) Apply Vendor Resource White Paper filter
- Webinar (13) Apply Webinar filter
- Webinars (7) Apply Webinars filter
- White Paper (64) Apply White Paper filter
MORE FILTERS
INDUSTRY
- Banking And Investment (800) Apply Banking And Investment filter
- Education (446) Apply Education filter
- Energy And Utilities (487) Apply Energy And Utilities filter
- Finance (12) Apply Finance filter
- Government (675) Apply Government filter
- Healthcare (482) Apply Healthcare filter
- Hospitality (180) Apply Hospitality filter
- Insurance (100) Apply Insurance filter
- Manufacturing (704) Apply Manufacturing filter
- Media/Publishing (422) Apply Media/Publishing filter
- None (43) Apply None filter
- Professional Services (745) Apply Professional Services filter
- Retail & Distribution (798) Apply Retail & Distribution filter
- Technology (1611) Apply Technology filter
- Transportation (110) Apply Transportation filter
Comments
There are currently no comments on this article.
You must be a registered user to make comments