Centralis delivered a customised, locked down desktop, replacing the Windows shell with a secure, centrally managed interface. For the AA, this desktop configuration provides easy access to data and prevents the user from changing anything they shouldn’t be – even by mistake.
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Centralis Case StudyThe Automobile Association |
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Customised desktop build improves reliability for UK-wide
roadside patrols "Working with
Centralis has allowed the AA to maintain the build quality,
integrity and resilience of the patrol’s laptop PC, improving
reliability and availability".”
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| Features: Desktop Builds, Secure Remote Access, Flexible Working, Software Development, Centralis Consultancy | |
Summary
The AA has achieved ground-breaking levels of IT security and durability thanks to a new combination of tough hardware and software developed for its mobile workforce. The AA acquired 4,000 Panasonic Toughbook laptops combined with a secure desktop build from Midlands-based consultancy Centralis to ensure a winning combination of durability, security and low cost maintenance.
About the Customer
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“ Working with Centralis has allowed the AA to maintain the build quality, integrity and resilience of the patrol’s laptop PC, improving the reliability and availability of the systems for the patrol. This in turn has helped to maintain a low cost base for the general support of the laptops. " |
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Chris Bailey, Head of Business Systems – AA Road Operations |
The AA celebrated its centenary in 2005. With a portfolio that includes insurance, driving school, breakdown service, travel and motoring advice, the AA is the UK’s largest motoring organisation.
The Challenge
The AA combines experience and market-leading technical solutions to fix eight out of ten breakdowns by the roadside. To achieve this, every roadside patrol is issued with a laptop to provide them with advanced fault-finding technology, which helps them quickly and accurately diagnose electrical or mechanical problems.
The AA selected the Panasonic CF28 Toughbook portable to minimise hardware failures. The laptops are physically robust, featuring magnesium alloy cases and shock-mounted hard disks to withstand the worst that roadside conditions can throw at them. They are also very secure, remaining locked in a theft-proof metal vehicle cradle and communicating with its diagnostic probes via Bluetooth.
These rugged laptops feature call receipt and dispatch technology, plus global positioning satellite tracking, and full nationwide mapping to get the recovery vehicles to drivers as quickly as possible.
However, the new laptops have proved to be only part of the solution, with selection of some equally strong software.
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" Panasonic Toughbooks provide the AA with a strong total cost of ownership case. When the Centralis desktop build is added to this package this argument is strengthened further. " |
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Joe Pugh, Senior Program Manager, Panasonic |
The Centralis Solution
The Benefits to the Customer
Using this combination of hardware and software, the AA has been able to provide its mobile workforce with leading edge technology without having to take on the costs of major support and maintenance overheads.
Chris Bailey, Head of Business Systems – AA Road Operations, said: "Working with Centralis has allowed the AA to maintain the build quality, integrity and resilience of the patrol’s laptop PC, improving the reliability and availability of the systems for the patrol. This in turn has helped to maintain a low cost base for the general support of the laptops."
John Dickinson, Centralis Development Services Manager said: "The build adds an additional dimension to the Toughbook value proposition – providing an extra hard shell on the inside of the device. The laptops are pre-configured to a secure standard build before they are delivered to the roadside patrols. Our build locks that security in place and ensures that there is no unauthorised access, and no additional software can be installed or run."
Commenting on the benefits of the Toughbooks with the Centralis build, Joe Pugh, Panasonic’s Senior Program Manager said: "Panasonic Toughbooks provide the AA with a strong total cost of ownership case. When the Centralis configuration is added to this package this argument is strengthened further. As well as Toughbook robustness to minimise physical damage, the solution virtually eliminate software problems."