Member Article

DFS turn to Onyx Group for comfort over business continuity plans

National furniture retailer DFS is using the support from I.T. infrastructure providers Onyx Group for its business continuity procedures.

DFS’ head office will now have access to Onyx Group’s nearby workplace recovery facility in a move that strengthens their already robust business continuity strategy.

The support will enable DFS to maintain its office operations in the event of an emergency situation occurring at its existing facility. DFS employ 250 people at their head office to manage the company’s accounts, HR, IT, payroll and marketing departments.

Dean Darby, head of IT at DFS, said: “If a situation occurred where we couldn’t access our head office, key personnel would be automatically re-located to the nearby Onyx Group site. They will be able to use the desks there as if they were sat in their own office with full access to our existing software systems and telephones lines.

“This will allow them to continue their jobs as normal, but just in a new location. It’s extremely important to have the Onyx facility close-by as it will be just as easy for staff to get there as it is to our head office.”

Dean added: “It is important that a strong Head Office facility is up and running as quickly as possible in case of an emergency in order to support the store network around the country. The Onyx centre enables us to do this. We take great pride in our customer service levels and to have an effective contingency plan for our employees is vital to maintaining those high standards.”

With Onyx Group’s portfolio consisting of 6 Workplace Recovery Centres throughout the UK, including 2 in the North East of England, Onyx are in the unique position of being able to offer their customers the opportunity to select primary, secondary and tertiary sites for their recovery.

Neil Stephenson, CEO of Onyx Group said: “We are pleased to support such a national brand as DFS and work with them on their disaster recovery procedures.

“We have state-of-the-art facilities located throughout the UK to offer close-by assistance to businesses across the North East, Scotland and Yorkshire whenever they need us. We are well connected with transport infrastructure, as well as our facilities being accessible during bad weather and not in areas liable to flooding.

“These reassurances are vital and provide companies with the knowledge they can continue operating not matter what happens to their facilities. Also, Onyx has the means through its wholly-owned data centres to replicate customers’ existing IT infrastructure to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.”

DFS has more than 3,000 employees at its 100 stores around the country, including five factories.

Onyx Group employs more than 120 staff across the country from ten sites and offices, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stockton-On-Tees, Newcastle, Rotherham and London.

The company, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has seen turnover approach £20million in 2013, an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year.

For more information about Onyx visit www.onyx.net, call 0800 862 0009 or email info@onyx.net.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonathan Easton .