Kathmandu picks Dimension Data to go global

Dimension Data, the ICT solutions and services provider, has been selected to deliver the next stage of Kathmandu's cloud infrastructure to support its global growth with up-to-date business information.

Under the agreement, Dimension Data will augment the current Compute-as-a-Service (CaaS) solution with a managed hosting offering to allow for high transaction volumes in the business's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

This will enable Kathmandu to monitor and take action on key metrics such as global stock levels in real time, Dimension Data says.

Grant Taylor, Kathmandu chief information officer, says Dimension Data was an 'obvious choice'.

He says he is confident Dimension Data will deliver the managed hosting solution with the same high-quality support they demonstrated with the CaaS solution.

"Dimension Data recognise that the overall platform is delivering business-critical solutions. The depth of our relationship means that we work closely at a support, architectural and commercial levels to provide the right solutions for our business.

"Dimension Data's model also delivers end-to-end services from field support to deep technical Cloud platform resource – all from one organisation. They're a true business partner," Taylor says.

The Dimension Data Managed Cloud Platform is built specifically for corporate and enterprise businesses.

It differs from the CaaS solution because it contains dedicated customisable infrastructure, shaped for Kathmandu's specific requirements. This then connects to the public platform via high speed links to provide an overall hybrid cloud approach.

Taylor says, "We are able to craft custom solutions for specific parts of our business, which is extremely valuable. This means we can scale rapidly to meet the demands of our business, especially during our major sales, to place the right products in the right locations at the right times.

James Walls, Dimension Data New Zealand's chief technology manager says Dimension Data's 13 managed cloud platforms around the world means Kathmandu has locally-hosted data and a local team along with the ability to expand to more locations as its business expands globally.

"Our clients are at the centre of everything we do. For Kathmandu, this means providing the IT infrastructure and support models that give their customers the freedom to explore – regardless of destination," Walls says.