WRAP revamps UC platform with existing Cisco handsets thanks to hSo

WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), the UK’s resource efficiency expert, has just gone live with its new Unified Communications platform from managed network services provider hSo (HighSpeed Office Ltd), in order to maximise the productivity of its staff in helping governments, businesses and communities around the world achieve greater resource efficiency.

The not-for-profit organisation, founded in 2000 to promote sustainable waste management, has since then grown into a major actor in the circular economy  with offices in Banbury, Cardiff and Belfast and employs over 260 staff, many of them working from home or sent abroad to consult foreign bodies on environmental matters.

Until now WRAP was using a Cisco hosted voice platform from another provider but it often showed performance problems such as poor call quality and service availability, and WRAP doubted its current supplier could improve their solution. With the contract coming soon to term, Head of Information Systems Steve Coppin decided to issue a tender to find a new hosted voice provider with very specific requirements: the new provider had to be able to interface its own platform with the existing Cisco handsets, in order to avoid huge initial investment for the charity.

That tender was first issued outside of the Network Services Framework but since WRAP is partially funded by the UK Central Government, hSo approached WRAP and suggested they issued the tender through the framework, which would greatly help deal with legal terms and SLAs.

Indeed, hSo is one of the few SMEs to be appointed to the one year old Network Services Framework (RM1045) and has extensive experience delivering hosted voice services. 

“hSo immediately understood our needs and showed a lot of flexibility and commitment in helping us build the perfect solution. As an organisation whose mission is to be more efficient with our existing resources, it was important to us to keep our Cisco handsets and find a supplier that could integrate its platform and the handsets to avoid having to change everything and create more disruption for our employees,” said Steve Coppin.

Chris Evans, Managing Director of hSo said: “WRAP has made a name internationally in fighting for more efficiency from governments, businesses and individuals alike and it seemed fitting to us that they’d want to keep their existing Cisco handsets. It showed commitment and integrity to their actual mission and we were ready to help them by working internally on developing our platform specifically based on their requirements. We’re proud to be partnering with such an essential organisation in today’s economy.”

Steve Coppin added: “hSo responded by delivering a cost-effective, high-quality solution that helps us minimise our material investment and the required user training, as employees already know their handsets, and maximise our staff productivity and flexibility around the world. For us it means we get to do a better job of communicating and making our mission known to more people, ultimately having a greater impact.”

Notes to Media

About WRAP

• First established in 2000, WRAP is a not for profit organisation and registered charity whose vision is a world where resources are used sustainably. WRAP works with governments, businesses and communities to deliver practical solutions to improve resource efficiency.

• Our mission is to accelerate the move to a sustainable resource-efficient economy through:

a. re-inventing how we design, produce and sell products,

b. re-thinking how we use and consume products, and

c. re-defining what is possible through re-use and recycling.