QuoStar, the IT consultancy and outsourcing provider, has today announced a new strategic partnership with BT Plc. This makes QuoStar one of only 20 authorised BT Indirect Sales Partners

As a result, QuoStar will now be able to provide clients with a seamless combination of IT and voice services.

QuoStar will take responsibility for all the telephony services provided to its clients by working directly with BT. The partnership also enables QuoStar to appoint resellers. This will enable smaller providers and strategic partners to sell BT products and services with the knowledge that QuoStar’s account management, consulting and engineering teams are on hand to offer support at any time.

Robert Rutherford, CEO of QuoStar, explains: “We engaged in a strategic partnership with BT due to the company’s proven capabilities, reach and range of quality services. In the past, QuoStar has simply referred work to a mix of telephony partners. However, this new partnership means we can take direct responsibility for telephony services for our clients. Along with telephony, QuoStar will also be adding BT’s vast array of network services to its own network service portfolio, to deliver both resilience and performance enhancement to clients. As a result, our clients will get the quality they expect, the tried-and-tested relationship with QuoStar that they value and – of course – the cost-savings they need.”

QuoStar Solutions, the IT consultancy and outsourcing provider, has today announced that it has been awarded ISO 20000 certification. The international standard recognises the highest level of service quality for clients and facilitates continual improvement; both of which align with QuoStar’s business strategy and ethos.

Based on ITIL (IT Service Information Library), ISO 20000 was given a major upgrade in 2011 and is now recognised as the “best practice” Service Quality Management Control System for IT Service globally. As such, many now widely consider ISO 20000:2011 as the “ISO 9001” for IT service companies and departments specifically. Due to the fact that ISO 9001 only sets out generic requirements for quality standards that are applicable to all organisations, regardless of type, size and product provided.

Along with its new ISO 20000:2011 certification, QuoStar is also certified to ISO 270001. It’s the only international information security standard against which organisations can seek independent certification of their Information Security Management Systems.

Robert Rutherford, CEO of QuoStar, says: “A limited number of IT service organisations in the world that hold both of these certifications. With this new certification, we are making a clear statement to our clients by demonstrating our commitment to delivering world-class security and service on a continually improving basis.

Certifications like these have become an important differentiator for us. They provide our clients with an independent assessment of our service quality and security. Even though ISO 20000:2011 is a difficult certification to achieve and maintain, we commit to meeting all of these important standards so we can continue to provide a consistent, high-value service that our clients can trust.”

For the third year running, Bournemouth and London based IT Services provider QuoStar has achieved a full flush of Green Lights in a recent Microsoft Gold Partner Customer Satisfaction Index survey.

Microsoft Gold Partners are judged on a number of criteria in five key performance areas that measure customer satisfaction. TNS, one of the world’s largest market research companies, administers the survey independently, on behalf of Microsoft.

TNS talked to QuoStar’s clients to determine the level of satisfaction. The survey generates a score in each area, which is compared to the average for all Gold Partners. A higher than average score results in a green light on the Microsoft ‘Dashboard’. QuoStar achieved all five green lights.

Currently, participation in the Microsoft customer survey is voluntary. However, QuoStar has been happy to engage since becoming a Gold Partner. “We had no hesitation in signing up for it from our very first year after securing Gold accreditation back in 2006. It’s right that they talk to our clients; now we know it was our customers who decided we’d made the grade again,” says a delighted Rob Rutherford, CEO of QuoStar.

Its importance is not lost on the QuoStar team. “For a start, it helps us understand and act on customer satisfaction and loyalty information, and to remain competitive by benchmarking our industry performance,” Rutherford explains. “Had the survey picked up any weaknesses or areas of customer dissatisfaction, we’d be able to put things right immediately. As it didn’t, it shows us that we’re delivering what our clients want, which hopefully makes it important to them as well.”

Microsoft states that Gold Certified Partners “…represent the highest level of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies and have the closest working relationship with Microsoft.”. Rutherford and his team see participation by customers as an advantage that ensures QuoStar maintains this ‘highest level of competence’.

Microsoft’s five key performance areas are NSAT (Net Satisfaction Rating ), customer segmentation, revenue impact, customer loyalty and overall performance. They have now decided to mandate the survey for Gold Partners every year, something that Rutherford looks forward to. “I’m keen to see how some of our so-called competitors measure up,” he added wryly.

Leading IT consultancy and support provider, QuoStar has achieved ISO 27001 accreditation for its secure data and information systems.

ISO 27001 is the global standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). By obtaining this accreditation, QuoStar clients can be assured that the company has structured its ISMS to the highest standards.

QuoStar already breaks the mould in the IT sector and has gained a reputation for focusing on its clients’ strategic business needs rather than just tactical IT requirements. The ISO 27001 accreditation delivers an extra level of client confidence.

Robert Rutherford, CEO of QuoStar, explains: “A part of the strategic outsourcing model we offer our clients, and through our QuoStar Hosted Desktop Software-as-a-Service initiative, we are responsible for large volumes of proprietary, sensitive and often irreplaceable client data held on our systems.

“The ISO 27001 is a stringent accreditation and acquiring it has you jumping through hoops. However, trust is vital in business relationships – none more so than in our sector. So it makes sound commercial sense for us to document our security and organisational policies and gain accreditation. It provides further client assurance and gives us another competitive edge in this market.”