Integrator Azzurri Communications has signed a five-year managed service deal to converge the voice and data infrastructure of flooring powerhouse Allied Carpets.

Allied Carpets currently operates separate networks for voice and data but has tasked Azzurri with bringing together its voice, data, mobile, LAN and WAN networks at its 225 retail stores, as well as its head office and distribution centres.

Allied Carpets hopes the deal will alleviate management complexity and lower costs.
The company will also deploy Azzurri's Retail Application Network which is specifically designed for the retail industry and manages operations including IP CCTV and electronic point of sale applications. The integrator has been charged with monitoring and maintaining all aspects of the service and providing 24-hour support.

Allied Carpets' IT controller Ken Moss said: "We wanted a long-term partner that could deliver all of our networking needs within one contractual framework.

“With Azzurri, we are able to bring together our entire communications estate under one roof using best-of-breed technologies and safe in the knowledge that the continued evaluation of our business processes means we will benefit from the most cost-effective and competitive IT strategy.

She added: “Throughout the re-procurement process Azzurri clearly demonstrated that they were the only service provider able to deliver and manage our entire telecommunications estate with the technical and commercial flexibility that we required.”