Kcom, part of the KCOM Group, is helping Asda to make significant savings on its telephony.

The service is fully managed by Kcom and reduces call costs by connecting calls over a private IP based network rather than the public services telephone network (PSTN). Kcom is linking all Asda's key sites in Leeds, Leicester and Wakefield and, as there are dual connections from each site, there is built-in resilience to make sure the retailer's day to day business operations can be maintained in the event of a fault.

Using the new technology, Asda has also been able to progress with the centralisation of all its switchboards and expansion of its contact centre.

Richard Midgley, IT Systems Manager at Asda, said, 'We saw in Kcom a partner who shared our desire to pass cost savings on to customers. Kcom offered us a reliable solution combined with a competitive model, with a clear return on investment, which will be an important enabler to other key Asda initiatives. With resilience at the core of Kcom's design and the 24/7 managed service they provide, we now have more time and resources concentrated on business growth and customer satisfaction. This has allowed us to invest in a more effective central customer interface and focus on scaling up our online sales and non-food operations.'

Elizabeth Bramwell, Sales Director at Kcom, commented, 'We fully embrace Asda's customer-centric approach and are delighted that the solution will contribute to ensuring that its customers receive a better customer service as well as low prices.'

About Kcom

Kcom, part of the KCOM Group PLC, provides communication services for multi-site enterprise and public sector organisations across the UK, and has a well established reseller channel. As an independent provider of these services, supported by its BT Wholesale partnership, Kcom is able to offer advanced network capability and related added value services, coupled with a flexible approach to delivering a different class of service to its customers.

Its customers include GVA Grimley, British Airways, North Wales Police, Specsavers, City of London, Phones4u, Rosslyn Analytics, Hermes, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Windsor Telecom and Diva Telecoms.