April 2023

Technology Reseller Awards Recognise Evolve for Two Awards.

Managed network solutions leader Evolve has been shortlisted for Technology Reseller Awards, Service Desk Solution of the Year, and Enterprise Reseller/MSP of the Year. Lancashire, UK – 26 April 2023 Evolve is thrilled to announce that they have been shortlisted for two prestigious awards from Technology Reseller. The company has been recognised for their exceptional Service Desk Solution and Enterprise MSP Reseller services, and they are proud to be named among the best in the industry. The Service Desk Solution of the Year award recognises companies that provide outstanding support services to their customers. Evolve’s team of experienced professionals is dedicated to delivering the highest level of support, and they take pride in their ability to provide fast and efficient solutions to any issues that may arise. Their proactive approach has resulted in 90% of their calls to customers being outbound and just 10% being inbound. The company’s commitment to customer satisfaction has earned them recognition as a finalist for this award. The Enterprise MSP Reseller of the Year award recognises companies that provide exceptional managed services to their customers and partners. Evolve’s managed services offering is designed to help businesses operate efficiently, reduce downtime, and increase productivity. They work closely with their customers to understand their needs and provide customised solutions that meet their unique requirements. This dedication to providing exceptional service has also earned them recognition as a finalist for this award. Being shortlisted for these awards is a significant achievement for Evolve. The Technology Reseller Awards are widely recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the industry, and being selected as a finalist from a long list of entrants is a testament to the quality of their services and the dedication of their team. The company would like to thank their customers for their support and trust in their services, and they are committed to continuing to provide the highest level of service and delivering innovative solutions that meet their evolving needs. According to Rob Brown, the Operations Director at Evolve, “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for these awards, and looking ahead, we’re more determined than ever to continue delivering the highest levels of service and innovation to our customers.” “We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the service desk space, and we’re excited to see where this journey will take us.” Visit Evolve’s website to find out more. -ENDS- About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently-owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services, and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. @evolvebg Click Here

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Restoring Convenience to Ascona Group – Managed Network Solution

Download PDF Version Ascona Group & Evolve Evolve puts the pedal to the metal for forecourt operator Ascona Group. Fast-Growing Ascona Group was challenged by chaotic network infrastructure until it appointed Evolve. Here, it reveals the success it has enjoyed following the implementation of our pioneering 24/7 managed network solution. Roadside retail specialist Ascona Group, which has anetwork of 61 fuel forecourts across the UK, needed a dedicated partner capable of keeping up the pace when it underwent a period of rapid expansion. As Ascona Group Reached new heights, its network was letting it down. That’s when Evolve stepped in, a team with decades of experience in supporting multi-site operators and franchisees unleash their potential through networktechnologies. The Challenge. Ascona Group has grown rapidly in recent years following a simple formula: to identify ‘forecourt assets’ in the mid-market space. These are typically under independent or family ownership, and develop these forecourts into world class roadside retail destinations.  This growth meant Ascona Group acquired a mix of telephony systems, network providers and technologies across the estate. It also experienced difficulties in the management and maintenance , from both a billing point of view and in terms of troubleshooting downtime. Working swiftly, our team designed and installed a secure network that supports fuel and shop sales, and provides guest Wi-Fi and third party services. We linked the Ascona Group estate via secure Wi-Fi to a secure high-speed internet connection with cellular failover, which allows devices to switch between different wireless carriers for improved redundancy, while keeping costs under control. As part of the rapid setup, Ascona Group was then connected to Evolve’s in-house 24/7 manned helpdesk that takes the time to understand the setup of the estate and proactively monitor the network. Evolve’s team doesn’t wait for the problem to occur – it works to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. Results : A platform that supports growth. Steve Townley, ICT Manager at Ascona Group, said, “For example, guests at our Firehouse Restaurant experienced poor internet speeds and problems with payment process. We were losing revenue. We found that customer satisfaction was dwindling. We pride ourselves on our relentless focus on improving the experience for everyone that visits us, so we urgently needed a specialist partner.” In 2012, we began deploying the Mako Networks system, which has end-to-end PCI certification – and we are the sole Platinum Partner of Mako Networks. Then, in 2013, Directors Alan Stephenson-Brown and Ryan Stephenson-Brown, father, and son, joined the team. This propelled our evolution to new heights. With a great team at the helm and industry-leading solutions to offer, between 2013 and 2017 we turned our focus to developing our enhanced customer support offering. By taking a complex and disorderly network and streamlining it into a managed solution with customer service at its heart, Evolve has transformed Ascona Group’s greatest tech headache into an opportunity for solidifying and maximising its growth. “Any modern business absolutely requires an intense amount of connectivity and security. Evolve makes a complex solution simple. Its ease of use, exceptional service wrap and great people have allowed us to not only stay current but go above and beyond what our customers expect to see at our forecourts. It’s also allowed us to remain secure while taking payments and help give our customers a fantastic experience of visiting us via our free guest WI-FI.”  Ascona Spokesperson Thanks to Evolve’s world-leading network technologies and dedicated services, Ascona Group has enjoyed significant success. Customer service, the Evolve way It was vital for Ascona Group to benefit from our best-in-class customer service. Evolve has undergone a five-year period of transformation in our own business – ensuring we can provide exactly that. Today, we offer a 24x7x365 manned support desk. This means our customers can always speak to a human, no matter what the time or day, and never have to deal with the frustration of ‘chatting’ to a robot. Here at Evolve, we are eager to solve any challenges through our innovation network technologies. “Since the introduction of Evolve’s 24/7 managed network solution, we have been able to enjoy a standard network design across our estate – not only have our guests enjoyed 100% internet uptime, but Evolve’s knowledge of fuel brands and food-to-go has helped accelerate deployment. Many sites are cutover in just a day without distruption to fuel, shops or food sales. An additional benefit of moving services to the network is the cost reduction associated with the cancellation of many unused telephone lines.” Steve Townley ICT Manager at Ascona Group

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Understanding Telecom Acronyms

Decoding Telecom Acronyms: Your Guide to Understanding Industry Jargon Acronym Meaning A/DSL Asymmetric / Digital Subscriber Line AP Access Point API Application Programming Interface CAPEX Capital Expediture CMS Central Management System CRM Customer Relationship Management DIA Direct Internet Access DNS Domain Name System DOA Dead on Arrival DP Distribution Point FTTC Fibre To The Cabinet FTTP Fibre To The Premise IoT Internet of Things IP Internet Protocol ISP Internet Service Provider LAN Local Area Network MPF Metalic Path Facility MPLS Multi Protocol Label Switching NAT Network Address Translation NGFW Next Genertaion Fire Wall NOC Network Operating Centre NPS Net Promotor Score NSO New Site Opening NTI New To Industry ONT Optical Network Termination OPEX Operational Expenditure PCI Payment Card Industry PoE Power over Ethernet POS Point Of Sale RCA Route Cause Analysis SD-WAN Software Defined – Wide Area Network SIP Session Initiation Protocol SLA Service Level Agreement SoGEA Single order Generic Ethernet Access SOC Security Operating Centre SSID Security Set Identifier UCaaS United Communication as a Service V/DSL Very high speed / Subscriber Line VOIP Voice Over Internet Protocol VPN Virtual Private Network WAN Wide Area Network WLR Wholesale Line Rental

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Preparing for the PSTN Big Switch Off

The traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is becoming obsolete, and countries around the world are phasing out this technology in favour of digital communication platforms. In the United Kingdom, the PSTN switch-off is expected to take place by 2025. Evolve, As a Managed Networks Solution Provider company offering Business Connectivity, Guest Wi-Fi, and SD-WAN solutions, it is essential that we help businesses prepare for this switch-off to ensure that your business operations are not disrupted. This whitepaper provides a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for the PSTN switch-off. Understanding the PSTN switch-off The PSTN switch-off is the process of discontinuing the use of traditional landline phone systems and transitioning to modern digital communication platforms such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Unified Communications (UC), and Cloud Communications. This transition is driven by several factors, including the cost-effectiveness of digital communication systems, their flexibility, and their ability to support new features and applications. Preparing for the PSTN switch-off Review your current phone system The first step in preparing for the PSTN switch-off is to review your current phone system. This involves assessing the number of phone lines, extensions, and features your business currently uses. This information will help you identify the features and functionality that are critical to your business operations. Determine your business’s needs After reviewing your current phone system, the next step is to determine your business’s needs. This involves identifying the communication channels that are critical to your business operations. For example, if your business relies heavily on voice communication, you may need a system that supports high-quality voice calls. Alternatively, if your business relies on video conferencing, you may need a system that supports high-quality video calls. This generally requires higher-quality business connectivity solutions, which we here at Evolve can offer. Research available digital communication platforms Once you have determined your business needs, the next step is to research available digital communication platforms. There are many digital communication platforms available, and each has its own unique features and functionalities. You should consider factors such as cost, scalability, reliability, and security when evaluating digital communication platforms. We are happy to help consult on this if needed and have sister companies that can provide further support. Choose the right digital communication platform After researching available digital communication platforms, the next step is to choose the right platform for your business. You should consider factors such as the platform’s compatibility with your existing systems, its scalability, its features, and its support options. You should also consider the platform’s migration process and ensure that it aligns with your business needs. Develop a migration plan Once you have chosen the right digital communication platform, the next step is to develop a migration plan. This involves identifying the necessary steps required to migrate from your current phone system to the new digital communication platform. You should consider factors such as the migration timeline, the cost of the migration, and the impact of the migration on your business operations. Train your employees The final step in preparing for the PSTN switch-off is to train your staff. This involves educating them on the new digital communication platform and its features and functionality. You should ensure that your employees are comfortable using the new system before the PSTN switch-off. The PSTN switch-off is an inevitable transition, and Evolve as a Managed Network Solutions provider offering Business Connectivity, Guest Wi-Fi, and SD-WAN solutions, understands it is essential to prepare everyone for this change. By reviewing your current phone system, determining your business needs, researching available digital communication platforms, choosing the right platform, developing a migration plan, and training your employees, you can ensure a smooth transition to the new digital communication platform.

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Evolve acquires IT firm GB3 from EG Group.

Managed network solutions leader Evolve buys GB3 to create an IT services powerhouse in Lancashire, and aims to create 40 new jobs in the area within three years Lancashire, UK – 16 November 2022 Wigan-based managed network services provider Evolve has acquired Preston-based IT firm GB3 from EG Group to create an IT services powerhouse in Lancashire. GB3, which has 45 employees and a 10-year track record in IT support, will become a sister brand to Evolve. Evolve has grown from 9 employees to 45 since 2018. Its customers include retail, hospitality, leisure, fuel and food-to-go firms such as Robinsons Brewery and Hydes Brewery, and EG Group-supported brands and franchises like KFC, Starbucks, ESSO, BP and Leon. The acquisition was backed by Barclays Corporate Bank and will help Evolve’s bid to grow its business amongst networks of restaurants, convenience stores, fuel forecourts and more over the next three years. Over the next three years, Evolve aims to grow its network management footprint from 7,500 locations to 15,000. And the Group estimates that its new combined offering could result in up to 40 new jobs being created in the group within the Lancashire area by 2025. Alan Stephenson-Brown, Director at Evolve Business Group, said: “We’ve been working closely with GB3 recently to fulfil mutual customer contracts, so we knew that acquiring GB3 would help us create a broader IT services business with a more expansive offering for our customers. “This acquisition helps us on our mission to become an indispensable technology partner to retail, hospitality, and petroleum franchises. The two companies provide truly complementary services and together create a centre of excellence for IT in Lancashire’s growing digital sector.” Barclays Corporate Bank provided acquisition finance for the deal. Shamir Patel, Relationship Director at Barclays Corporate Bank, said: “Evolve is a thriving business looking to expand and grow. The new funding we’ve provided will enable it to broaden its offer to its client base and grow its market share. “We’re also excited by the positive impact this will have on the Lancashire community. This deal can enhance the prospects of quality job creation in the innovative and thriving digital sector in the Lancashire region.” The acquisition will lead to GB3’s customers benefiting from access to network management and Evolve’s 24/7 helpdesk. And Evolve’s customers will begin to enjoy access to IT strategy, due diligence, cybersecurity, IT security audit and cloud computing solutions. -ENDS- About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently-owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Comprising of the Evolve and GB3 brands, it is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services, and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps the networks of retail, hospitality, fast food and petroleum franchises compliant, protected and connected. About GB3 GB3 is a technology solutions provider based in Preston in the North West of England, UK. The business was created in 2012, and has become a trusted partner for an international base throughout the UK and Europe. It has a team of over 45 talented professionals that work across the organisation.  @evolvebg Click Here

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