MGL Group is a huge contributor to the ongoing Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Waterfront redevelopment, undertaking the demolition of Castlegate Shopping Centre and the Swallow Hotel.
For nearly 30 years Odyssey, based in Stockton-on-Tees, has been proud to support MGL Group.
“We were extremely proud to be appointed for the demolition work enabling the Stockton Waterfront redevelopment. This is an important project which will breathe new life into the High Street and open out the town to the river; we are delighted to have played a role in that.
Our relationship with Odyssey, above all, has delivered reliable business telephony; a key reason why we recently made the decision to upgrade again with Odyssey. Our last solution from them served us for over 20 years and we expect the new Mitel solution to do the same.”
Mark Davison, joint chief executive of MGL Group
Odyssey completed the installation of the fully hosted system across all MGL Group locations. By creating one global group solution, MGL can communicate efficiently and effectively regardless of where each person is located, via both physical and software phones. Odyssey successfully migrated MGL to the new Mitel solution using a team of experienced in-house engineers. There was zero down time and not a single lost phone call.
“I have personally worked with MGL Group for the past 15 years, and am delighted to be able to continue our longstanding relationship. We know how vital our services are for clients like MGL and I am excited to see the new look Stockton town centre.”
Freya App, head of customer success of Odyssey
Odyssey now also offers a suite of IT solutions that delivers secure anytime, anywhere, any device access to business applications and data. The end-to-end IT solutions are delivered by Odyssey in partnership with Microsoft.
A better way to deliver business IT
Technology never stands still, and at Odyssey Systems the team continually work to innovate with products and services for clients across the Northeast.
Having delivered over 35 years of award-winning business telecommunications and connectivity, they have now successfully launched a new IT service.
As we know the pandemic changed how businesses used technology, working from home because the new norm for millions of people. This has left a legacy of hybrid working, which accelerated need for secure, robust IT for business to control and manage their entire workforce regardless of user, device, and location.
Odyssey Desktop is the flagship IT service that empowers businesses with anytime, anywhere any device access to applications and data. It is a complete, end-to-end solution delivered by Odyssey Systems in partnership with Microsoft, resulting in a perfect desktop blueprint every time, regardless of who the user is, where they are working from, and when they are logging in.
Odyssey Desktop gives business owners total peace of mind for their business continuity, so in the event of fire, flood or even in the event of another pandemic, trading is not interrupted, and all business-critical data is backed up securely and therefore able to be restored quickly if needed, with minimal disruption to the business.
Being a trusted technology expert, Odyssey clients have one point of contact that takes ownership.
People just want IT to work, they need to focus on their business. Most find IT requirements are difficult to forecast, and decisions are often reactive when an issues arises from a blind spot in ownership. Clients who opt for this service understand that we are taking control and responsibility to ensure technology enables them to succeed.
Matt ParkTechnical Director
There are many good reasons why Odyssey Systems has been around for 35 years.
The owner-managed business, with a solid reputation dating back to 1987, values good old-fashioned customer service – with a real person at the end of the phone who will answer within three rings.
Odyssey Systems’ convergence of the traditional and the state-of-the-art is evident everywhere you enter its Preston Farm premises.
Flat screen wallboards blink away, tracking the performance of all the firm’s clients’ services. But the décor also makes a firm nod to its history, with antique telephones dating as far back to the 1800s featuring in a boardroom media wall.
Traditionally a provider of telecoms and internet services, the company has experienced increasing demand to provide IT services with the same level of award-winning customer service.
“For many years, our clients have asked us to help with more than their telephony and internet,” says technical director Matthew Park.
“We had always resisted, feeling that the way IT is traditionally delivered simply doesn’t work. Odyssey did not want to become part of the problem.
“It is clear far too many businesses are using an outdated, inefficient, and ineffective approach to IT. Solutions are often sourced from many separate entities and treated as individual elements. Investment is usually erratic and reactive, with lines of responsibility blurred.
“If we applied the same logic to any other industry, you realise how bizarre the status quo within business IT is. When you a buy a vehicle, you expect reliable, predictable and safe travel. Nobody buys hundreds of parts, an engine and gearbox, then fits everything together expecting the same result.”
Their answer to this problem is Odyssey Desktop, which Matthew believes is a better way to deliver business IT. The service allows Odyssey to take total ownership of its clients’ technology, and in turn deliver significant business benefits. It is a complete, end-to-end solution delivered by Odyssey in partnership with Microsoft.
“People just want IT to work, they need to focus on their business. Most find IT requirements are difficult to forecast, and decisions are often reactive when an issue arises from a blind spot in ownership,” Matthew says.
Impressive – Odyssey Systems’ Preston Farm offices converImpressive – Odyssey Systems’ Preston Farm offices converge the traditional and the state-of-the-art. Picture: Cal Carey.ge the traditional and the state-of-the-art. Picture: Cal Carey.
The team has been developing the service for several years and has recently a completed a multi-million-pound expansion of their existing infrastructure into London Docklands data centres.
“Clients who opt for this service understand that we are taking control and responsibility to ensure technology enables them to succeed,” adds Matthew.
“It’s on us, and we do not hide behind ticket systems. Our solutions enable us to answer the phone and meet clients in person, instead of wrestling a huge backlog of support enquires.”
The service delivers benefits that are usually out of reach for smaller businesses accessing business apps and data from any modern device, anywhere. A consistent, secure experience with a perfect desktop blueprint regardless of who, when and where. Scalability to hundreds of users and sites. Rapid delivery of new users in minutes not months, and enterprise-grade security.
“How many business leaders are 100 per cent confident they can recover from a ransomware event?” Matthew asks.
“Data security isn’t just a button press. We bring industry-leading technology, decades of expertise and bulletproof process together to deliver next-level security, massively reducing the likelihood and impact of a breach.
“We see businesses fall down with tech security time and time again. An old PC in a warehouse running Windows 7 can be the weak link that takes a whole company offline. Sixty per cent of businesses who become victims do so for this reason – a known vulnerability in software that hasn’t been updated.”
As part of the service, Odyssey commits to the monitoring, assessment, and installation of updates for all software running on Odyssey Desktop, including operating system and client applications.
“Insecure password practices are exploited in 81 per cent of cyberattacks,” says Matthew.
“It’s human nature to take the path of least resistance, and unfortunately by default, that isn’t the path most secure. We provide tools to eliminate password reuse and allow management from one place, with secure sharing between users.
“We also include and enforce multifactor authentication as standard to prevent 99.9 per cent of automated attacks.”
The concept of being able to access the service anywhere on any device means it’s the perfect solution for business leaders looking for true peace of mind.
Data backup and business continuity are built in. No data is stored on local devices and work can continue in the event of any disruption to business premises.
Users can access the service via a web browser or app from the Google or Apple store. At office locations, Odyssey supplies secure all-in-one desktop Terminals and converters to re-task existing PC hardware.
“To convert existing PCs to an Odyssey desktop terminal we remove any data stored on the existing device and replace the operating system with Odyssey SecureOS,” adds Matthew.
“It’s a barebones environment with only one goal – to securely connect users to their Odyssey desktop. By doing this we extend the useful life of the hardware – two to three times is typical. This is particularly beneficial as Windows 11 requires a specific electronic chip that lots of older PCs don’t have.”
Odyssey provides simple options for administrative users all the way to computer-aided designers. Everything is based on a predictable monthly cost with zero upfront investment delivering consistent, high-quality business IT.
Some of Odyssey’s existing clients in the region include PD Ports, Charles Clinkard, Cleveland Containers and Nick and Gordon Carver Estate Agents.
Matthew Smith, IT manager at Carmel College in Darlington talks about his satisfaction with his new telephone system and his reasons for choosing Odyssey Systems.
At Odyssey Systems we host a bi monthly ladies discussion group. This film was taken just before the 2015 general election, where we discussed what was important for us a working women.
Early 2016 saw Odyssey Systems move into new offices. After extensive refurbishment our Preston Farm headquarters features a dedicated video conferencing suite, technology demonstration area and a data centre facility.
