“The solution has given us more flexibility—and it has improved our communications and processes. It’s easier to share data and work together as a team.” Cate Hulme, Operations and Finance Director, Tactical Solutions As a field-marketing agency in the fast-paced world of retail, Tactical Solutions needed to update its existing email system. It wanted a more flexible solution that would grow with its needs, while allowing staff anytime, anywhere access to communications tools. Business Productivity Online Suite from Microsoft Online Services provided the company with email and other communications tools at a predictable monthly cost. Business Needs Tactical Solutions provides on-site marketing support to retailers and manufacturers wanting to maximise sales at retail outlets. It’s an industry where things change constantly, so employees need to be able to think on their feet to meet the needs of customers. Excellent communication between the company’s head office in Cheshire, in the United Kingdom (U.K.), and its field staff is an important part of the company’s success, but also one of its greatest challenges. Cate Hulme, Operations and Finance Director at Tactical Solutions, says: “Our customer expectations are constantly changing—gone are the days when clients would give us a couple of weeks’ notice to plan upcoming projects with them. In a business environment that demands a fast response, we need the ability to notify team members about new projects or changes as soon as possible. The demands on our team mean that they may be at the head office one day a week, on the road three days a week, and working from home the other day. Wherever they are, effective communication—both internal and external—is essential. The company’s email system, based on Lotus Notes, served its needs for more than six years, but Tactical Solutions needed a more sustainable solution that was flexible enough to adapt to change quickly. “We wanted a better way of sharing information with employees, and getting it back quickly,” says Hulme. Solution Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Polymorph has provided strategic and day-to-day IT support to Tactical Solutions since 2002. It runs the company’s IT helpdesk and provides software development, migration, and strategic consultation on the IT infrastructure. Stephen Harris, Managing Director at Polymorph, says: “We focus on finding solutions to IT challenges. Tactical Solutions outsources its IT administration and maintenance to us, so we provide a complete solution, including day-to-day maintenance, guidance, and the resources needed to help develop the IT infrastructure.” Email is an important part of business operations at Tactical Solutions, so it was vital that a new system be deployed with minimal disruption. The company also needed a straightforward pricing structure to simplify budgeting. Polymorph recommended a cloud solution using Business Productivity Online Suite from Microsoft Online Services, a set of messaging and collaboration tools that Customer: Tactical Solutions Website: www.tactical-solutions.co.uk Number of Employees: 266 Country or Region: United Kingdom Industry: Retail Partner: Polymorph Customer Profile Tactical Solutions is a field sales and marketing company providing on-site consultancy across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Software and Services Microsoft Office − Microsoft Outlook 2010 Business Productivity Online Suite from Microsoft Online Services For more information about other Microsoft customer successes, please visit: www.microsoft.com/casestudies Microsoft Office System Customer Solution Case Study Consultancy Enhances Communications Solution to Meet Customer Expectations