What began as a straightforward enquiry about hosted telecoms quickly grew into a comprehensive, mission-critical transformation.
Michael Fisher, Finance Director at Thomas Armstrong, shared how Odyssey played a pivotal role in overhauling their outdated systems:
“We needed a fresh start to futureproof our business. Odyssey’s expertise and support have been key to making that happen.”
With a year-long timeline, this project was completed in December 2024, leaving Thomas Armstrong equipped with a robust, scalable, and secure technology solution.
Project Details
Odyssey delivered a full suite of solutions to ensure Thomas Armstrong’s systems met modern standards and could support their future growth:
- Cabling and Infrastructure: Upgraded cabling, Wi-Fi, and network switching across all sites to build a solid foundation for all technology services
- Telephony: Implemented a companywide hosted Mitel telephony system across all sites, introducing softphones for business continuity and removing reliance on multiple fragmentated legacy telephone systems and outdated ISDN lines.
- Connectivity: Installed premium Ethernet connections at every site, delivering faster speeds, eliminating bandwidth bottlenecks, and preparing for cloud-based services.
- Private WAN and Hosted Firewall: Created a secure, unified network across all locations, protected by enterprise-grade firewalls with advanced security features.
- Azure Migration: Transitioned critical business applications from ageing on-site servers to Microsoft Azure for enhanced performance, scalability and reliability.
- Microsoft 365 Migration: Migrated email systems from legacy Exchange servers to Microsoft 365, streamlining communication.
- Third-party Vendor Collaboration: Managed relationships with external vendors to deliver multiple transformation projects on time with no unplanned business impact
The Odyssey Difference
Odyssey didn’t just deliver solutions; they became a trusted extension of the Thomas Armstrong team.
“When we need support, they answer the phone within three rings and are always ready to help. Their network team jumps on calls to guide us through any challenges, and nothing is ever too much trouble. It’s so refreshing to work with a partner who responds immediately instead of hiding behind ticket queues or automated emails.”
Odyssey’s hands-on approach ensured a smooth transition for Thomas Armstrong, even stepping in to assist with legacy issues and liaising with third-party vendors to resolve long-standing challenges.
Impact
The effect of this project has been transformational for Thomas Armstrong
- A modernised IT ecosystem with no unplanned downtime during the transition.
- Seamless communication across all sites through a unified telephony system.
- Faster, more reliable connectivity to support day-to-day operations and future growth.
- A secure and scalable infrastructure ready for future innovation.
“I would wholeheartedly recommend Odyssey. The technology and guidance they’ve provided have been invaluable; Odyssey has become an essential partner for our business.”
Challenges & Successes
When Odyssey began working with Thomas Armstrong, the existing IT and network infrastructure was a fragmented and inefficient system with little documentation. Odyssey’s first challenge was to untangle and reverse-engineer the setup while maintaining uninterrupted business operations.
Through expert planning and execution, Odyssey re-architected the network, seamlessly introducing a scalable telephony system, high-speed connectivity, and cloud solutions. These upgrades transformed the infrastructure into a secure and futureproof system, empowering Thomas Armstrong to confidently drive their business forward.
By addressing these challenges head- on, Odyssey not only delivered a comprehensive technology solution but also gave Thomas Armstrong the tools required to grow their business with a modern, reliable IT infrastructure.
Want to know more?
If you’d like to chat to through how Odyssey can help technology work for your business, we are here to help, contact our team today.
