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IT Cost Control with uni-X Software's SiteInformer
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By Christian Bartsch
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IT Cost Control must be transparent
The product SiteInformer (from uni-X Software) is an IT Cost
Control tool that has been specifically tailored to suit medium-sized
companies. It enables the capturing of data about information
and telecommunications services used on a Local Area Network (LAN).
This data can be used for cost management to support planning, analysis,
optimisation, and internal accounting for services.
SiteInformer breaks down the total cost of IT and telecommunications
and apportions costs to the appropriate use, thereby enabling
efficient cost management. In addition, SiteInformer forms the technical
basis for automated Billing for internal services.
This means that the system can issue invoices or alternatively
transfer the Billing data to existing budgetary accounting systems.
SiteInformer is installed centrally in the company network and from
there captures usage data from all local voice and data networks.
This means that the system is ideally suited to handling the Billing
for an entire company site.
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fig: Functioning of SiteInformer
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SiteInformer has been designed as an IT Cost Control tool for a single
company site. The system can handle networks used by up to 10,000
staff at one site. At the same time, it is so flexible that it can
record and bill for all company-relevant services and resources on
a single platform.
The usage data which is gathered is provided in the form of reports
and can support IT managers and financial controllers in network analysis,
planning and optimisation. The services provided in the company can
also be evaluated using tariff models and automatically invoiced in
terms of the individual cost units.
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System Architecture
SiteInformer has been designed as an IT Cost Control for a single
company site. The diagram below shows a typical example of the architecture
of SiteInformer. |
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fig: System architecture of SiteInformer |
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SiteInformer can be divided into three functional areas:
Modules
At the lowest hierarchy level of SiteInformer, modules read the usage
data from the company’s various network components. As shown
in the above diagram, these may be telephone systems, firewalls
or any other network components. The modules send the usage data they
have gathered to the GAM.
GAM
The GAM is the central control unit of SiteInformer. The GAM collates
the usage data coming in from the modules, checks it for accuracy
and redundancy, and then converts it into a standard format.
The GAM uses tariff models to calculate the costs arising from the
usage data and apportions them to the appropriate cost units. The
cost and usage data is then stored in a database and is available
for further processing and evaluation. It is also possible to export
the data for example to accounting or planning systems.
Agent
The agent is freestanding software, which configures and controls
the entire SiteInformer product from a central point. The agent can
also analyse the data captured by SiteInformer and display it graphically.
The agent can operate at any position in the company network.
Without SiteInformer, the costs that a company incurs are like a black
box and can never be apportioned on a usage basis.
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fig: Without SiteInformer
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With SiteInformer, the costs incurred can be broken down in a usage
basis and apportioned to the individual cost centres.
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fig: With SiteInformer
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Monitoring success and optimisation with SiteInformer
SiteInformer specifically supports cost management in planning, analysis,
optimisation and control. As an analytical tool, the system not only
breaks down usage but also costs. That creates transparency about
costs and IT services for staff and management.
Transparency creates cost awareness
The cost overhead of indirect IT and telecoms costs are broken down
and can be included in profitability assessments. With decentralisation
of responsibility for costs comes increased cost awareness on the
part of individual employees. The company becomes more efficient because
market-oriented thinking is controlling the organisation.
Benefits
Capture of all company-relevant resources
All the resources used in a company can be incorporated in the IT
Cost Control system, e.g. business telephony, email traffic or memory
storage.
Comprehensive solution
SiteInformer has all the components necessary to implement a complete
IT Cost Control system, from data capture to analysis and the automated
export of data to existing accounting and planning systems.
Convergent Billing
SiteInformer records all the IT and telecoms resources and services
in a company in a standardised way, whether they are data/voice networks
or services for IT departments.
Reliable investment protection
Published API’s and standardised file formats guarantee that
SiteInformer ensures that the system can be extended, maintained and
modified at any time.
Expansion
If IT Cost Control needs to be extended to more than one company site,
then SiteInformer can be upgrade to OpenInformer for Corporates from
uni-X Software. This solution was designed for Billing in larger,
distributed networks and can handle data capture and Billing for up
to 250,000 users.
Seamless integration into the existing system environment
SiteInformer uses existing information systems. For example, employee
master data can be imported and Billing data exported.
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About the manufacturer:
uni-X Software is one of Europe’s leading producers of Mediation,
Billing & IT Cost Control solutions. The Mediation solution OpenMediator
offers Carriers a comprehensive tool for data collection and processing,
and the ability to interface to existing systems to ensure the billing
process runs smoothly.
IT Service Providers can use OpenInformer for Service Providers to
carry out usage based accounting for the services and applications
they offer. Large companies use OpenInformer for Corporates for IT
Cost Control. This software solution enables efficient cost management
and internal accounting of services. An alternative IT Cost Control
solution is SiteInformer, which is an entry-level solution for IT
Cost Control for medium-to-large sized companies.
For more details go to http://www.uni-x.co.uk.
(Images kindly provided by / are copyright of uni-x Software UK)
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By Christian Bartsch
MCT, MCSE, IT Project+
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Consulting Articles 
