LAN2LAN: COLLABORATION TECHNOLOGY FROM LAN2LAN HELPS SKILLSHARE INTERNATIONAL UNITE STAFF ACROSS 11 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA AND ASIA

Surrey-based systems integrator LAN2LAN has successfully deployed IBM-based collaboration technology at Skillshare International, enabling the UK headquartered charity to connect staff across 11 countries in Africa and Asia in a more unified and efficient way. LAN2LAN’s innovative approach has helped Skillshare International optimise its existing network, resulting in a new and improved communications infrastructure without the onerous commitment to huge capital costs. A reduction in communication costs has freed up funds to support front line work and allow the charity to focus on its real priorities - working to reduce poverty, injustice and inequality in the developing world. 

When Skillshare International first consulted LAN2LAN, the primary concern was the performance of the charity’s WAN infrastructure which was severely affected by different network speeds and capacities around the world. The result was frequent bottlenecks that posed a critical threat to vital network traffic and services. Skillshare International needed to bypass those under-performing networks and gain better value and productivity from its infrastructure. To make the best of the poor quality local connections, the LAN2LAN team recommended an IBM® Lotus® Domino® and Notes® deployment, allowing for compression of content and, crucially, replication between the UK servers and local devices.

According to Caroline Frankland, Facilities and Administration Manager for Skillshare International, this approach has been particularly successful: “In the UK, with broadband widely available, we take it for granted that we can keep connected all the time if we want to. In some of our more remote locations, it made more sense to connect only for the purposes of updating local and central systems, which may be once a day or even less frequently. Our teams work with replications of our main systems on their machines. Then, when they connect, the server and the local systems automatically update each other. This might require leaving the machines connected for a few hours, or even overnight, but it means that our people can get on with their work without being restricted by poor quality connections.”

Skillshare International’s Leicester-based server is replicated at LAN2LAN’s Point-Of-Presence (POP) in Woking. This has allowed the charity to take advantage of the optimised and high speed LAN2LAN infrastructure, avoiding the need for substantial additional investment in its own network. The architecture provides for an accelerated international connection, which further reduces the time workers in the field have to spend online. 

LAN2LAN has developed a series of practical services to support Skillshare International using Web-based technology. For example, it has created an intranet interface with Google maps, which optimises the service for low bandwidth networks. For workers in remote regions, the map function is a vital resource, but it could be frustratingly slow over some of the in-country connections. The LAN2LAN application turns Google maps into a genuinely practical and usable asset. 

LAN2LAN’s IBM Lotus Notes and Domino deployment has created efficiencies that provide tangible value to staff working in difficult and remote areas. Caroline Frankland added: “The idea of community is central to the work of Skillshare International. LAN2LAN’s work on our collaboration and communication infrastructure has allowed us to foster a stronger sense of community within our own organisation, even with volunteers working in some of the most isolated regions of the world.” 

The new LAN2LAN infrastructure has accelerated the placement of volunteers who work in a variety of different sectors, such as health, education or economic empowerment. A recruitment system has been integrated into the charity’s Management Information System (MIS). Incorporating an easily accessible database of people who want to work with Skillshare International on a voluntary basis, staff can search the database and match up skills to the specific needs of a particular region. Through the same system, Skillshare is able to manage the human resources aspects of the work, such as issuing visas, getting money to people and keeping medical records up to date.

Gary Duke, Director of LAN2LAN, concluded: “Many charities are restrained by the amount of money they can invest in communications. For Skillshare International, which operates in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities, technical issues add to the burden of running an efficient organisation. By deploying collaborative technology in an innovative way, we have created a resilient framework that gives staff access to new and essential online resources without the need for permanent Internet connections. By supporting and maintaining Skillshare’s network from end-to-end, we provide valuable services to the charity’s IT specialist and assist in liberating much needed resources for the vital work of the charity.”

Notes to editors:

About LAN2LAN

LAN2LAN was established in Woking in 1994 and employs around 50 people. It has established itself in the top 5% of its sector for financial stability (Source: Dun & Bradstreet) as a specialist consultancy in the area of systems integration, installation and management. Its UK-wide customer base covers diverse sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, travel, consultancy, law, recruitment and publishing.

For more information, please visit: www.LAN2LAN.com

About Skillshare International

Skillshare International is a UK-based charity that works to reduce poverty, injustice and inequality
in communities around the world. One of the ways it does this is by placing international volunteers in Africa and Asia to work with partner organisations and local communities in a wide range of roles, including health care, education, environment, economic empowerment and sport for development. 

For more information, please visit: www.skillshare.org

For press information, please contact:

Mary Phillips/Julie Aguilar
PR Artistry Ltd
Tel: 01491 639500
Email: mary@pra-ltd.co.uk or julie@pra-ltd.co.uk