Data Steel gets Virtualized

New Horizon provides a complete virtualization solution to Data Steel Pipe Industries. The solution includes the virtualization of servers and desktops with VMware technology. To attain the complete version of virtualization solution, Data Steel procured HP Proliant DL 385 and HP Proliant DL 185 Servers, HP Storage Works 2000 G2, HP Compaq t5145 Thin Clients, HP Compaq Elite 8000 Desktops bundled with Microsoft Windows 7 as a part of hardware. Data Steel also procured licensed software for the hardware procured. The licensed software purchased is for VMware V Sphere 4, VMware View Enterprise Desktop, Microsoft Server 2008 Standard edition and Microsoft Windows 7.

In addition, New Horizon will also install and deploy the solution and will also provide support and training for the solution.

The virtualization to the desktop environment will deliver enterprise- class control and manageability while maintaining the familiar end-user environment. VDI virtualizes desktop images that can be deployed from centralized hosting server. This provides the reduction of operational cost and improved security while maintaining the current end-user experience. VDI technology provides companies with a true win-win with Enterprise Desktop Consolidation, Remote Developer Support, Desktops as a Secured Managed Service, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery and Remote or Branch Offices and Secure Remote Access.

Virtualizing the datacenter will enable consolidation of physical hardware to eradicate server sprawl and lower power and cooling costs while offering scalability, performance and high availability.

DATA Steel Pipe Industries is a market leader in the production, delivery and service of Steel line pipes in Pakistan and aims to provide the best products and services with maximum value for money.

NED acquires Mid-Range HP Servers

NED University acquires HP Mid-Range Servers from New Horizon. The servers include HP DL-385 and Tape Drives.

NED University needed to increase the number of servers in order to provide add-on services to the faculty members. The Communication Network Center, one of the departments at NED University is providing Internet services to the University. Quality of service will be improved by HP servers.

NED University of Engineering and technology is the oldest institution now in Pakistan for teaching and turning out Graduate Engineers.

New Horizon provides HP Servers to VectraCom

New Horizon provides HP DL-380 Generation 6 Servers to Vectra Com International.

To provide services at new locations, VectraCom needed to boost its backend technology support. New Horizon provided with a robust solution to VectraCom that will fulfill its requirement.

Established in 1999, VectraCom within a short time span has become one of the region's leading Wireless Information Providers. With a primary objective of timely delivery of valuable and sensitive information straight through its servers to any wireless devices using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and Short Messaging Services (SMS), it has established itself as primary choice of Value Added Service (VAS) provider for many Cellular Network Operators in the countries of its operations.

Uch Power signs Microsoft Open License Agreement with New Horizon

Uch Power chooses New Horizon to sign an agreement for Microsoft Open Licenses for three years.

Being the Gold Certified Partner, New Horizon is authorized to offer and manage Microsoft products and services in Pakistan.

With the Microsoft Open License Agreement, Uch Power will be saving cost beyond standard licensing pricing; their IT needs across the enterprise will be standardized; the license management will simplify; and they would get comprehensive Software Assurance benefits which would result in lowering operating expenses and improved productivity within the organization.

New Horizon virtualizes the technology infrastructure of Dalda Foods

New Horizon virtualizes the technology infrastructure of Dalda Foods by providing VMware vSphere 4 Licenses, HP Proliant DL 385 G6, HP Storage Works 2000 and VMware vCenter Server 4 Foundation for vSphere that will support up to 3 hosts.

New Horizon will also install and deploy the solution, provide Datacenter Administration Training, resident engineer for 60 days to administer the datacenter and accessories for the datacenter as a part of Value Added Services.

Dalda Foods was enhancing its datacenter by increasing the number of physical servers. New Horizon proposed an alternative solution of virtualized environment which was more cost effective, consolidated and scalable. By deploying the virtualized solution Dalda will enable consolidation of physical hardware to eradicate server sprawl and lower power and cooling costs while offering scalability, performance and high availability.

Mehran University acquires HP Technology Infrastructure products

Mehran University of Engineering &Technology acquires HP Technology Infrastructure products from New Horizon. The products include HP Desktops and Notebooks, HP Printers accessories, and HP Scanners.

Mehran University needed to revamp its outdated tech nology infrastructure deployed at various departments. For this, Mehran University chose New Horizon for its exclusive pre and post sales services. New Horizon will provide the University with an end-to-end solution; from procurement to installation.

Mehran University of Engineering & Technology is one of the leading universities in interior Sindh. The University is dedicated in providing its students with the best in-class engineering knowledge since inception.

Customers Visit New Horizon's Head Office

New Horizon believes in keeping the customers well informed about its portfolio, current activities, and future plans at entire times.

Recently New Horizon invited key customers from North Region to Karachi for attending Information Sessions for the products offered by New Horizon. The invited customers were entertained at one of the top hotels of Karachi.

Speakers briefed the guests about the history of New Horizon and the different technologies offered by the Alliances of New Horizon.

The guests were also brought to the head office where they were shown the internal infrastructure of New Horizon and its technology infrastructure where many solutions and servers are already deployed. It was an informative and interactive expedition to serve the customers with latest technology news and updates about New Horizon.

An initiative of achieving ISO 9001:2008 Certification

Yet another step taken towards improvement: New Horizon is taken an initiative of achieving ISO 9001:2008 Certification. As an end-to-end technology infrastructure provider is focused on organizational development and process improvement.

With Quality Management System in place, New Horizon will be more focused towards quality goals. The Management of New Horizon will be able to evaluate the system continually and make appropriate improvements where needed.

Being an ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certified, New Horizon will be able to define and document procedures to improve the consistency of output whereas quality is constantly measured. These documented procedures will ensure corrective actions are taken whenever defects occur. By this defect rates also will decrease and if occurred, they are caught earlier and are corrected at a lower cost. The defined procedures will also identify current practices that are obsolete or inefficient. The documented procedures will be easier for new employees inducted to the organization to follow.

New Horizon will be retaining and increasing market share, increasing sales and revenues by gaining recognition in the national and international markets through the achievement of ISO Certification.

HR Issues in Pakistan

In this fast growing and competitive world it is become very difficult for the companies to become differentiated from others. Each company can have the same infrastructure, technology, policies, SOP's, raw material and processes. It is the human resource, which can only give competitive edge to one company over the other. This competitive edge enables the company to sustain and increase their market share. Organizations have realized strategic role of Human Resource and the dire need of establishing a well-developed Human Resource Department that can contribute towards organization's productivity.

Unfortunately, not much heed has been paid to Human Resource Management in Pakistan. We are still in the process of renaming our Personnel Departments as "Human Resources", whereas the developed markets are raising questions: "Is HR a career in crisis?" The fact is, the role of HR is evolving constantly and we need to move away from the traditionally administrative function and consider it as a major contributor in organizations successes by aligning the HR goals with the Organizational Goals. Our situation is different to that of the developed markets because HR here is mainly practiced by multinational companies. A few enlightened Pakistani firms also have HR functions but and not so well defined. There is an increasing trend of outsourcing the HR functions like recruitment and selection, training and development. In many organizations various HR models are applied as such ignoring the cultural & infrastructural difference and size of organization. However, the criticisms about HR seems to be the same around the world and this is at the heart of the issue.

HR is progressing very fast. More and more companies are now looking for HR Managers to manage their human assets and their issues. Institutes have also emerged teaching HR courses realizing the market demand. Different organizations have different perceptions about Human Resource. In some organizations HR personnel face resistance from old employees and from the top management too. Resistance from top management as they do not understand the true nature of HR. At one place the top management used to forward every problem to HR whether it had a link with HR or not. Production is not up to the mark or the Security cameras are not working the problem is forwarded to HR. It was difficult to convince the people at the top that these problems were out of the scope of HR. At one place employees used to disregard HR. In the absence of HR department, its responsibilities are shared by other departments. When HR is created people feel that HR is trying to reduce their authorities and as a result conflicts start arising. What they don't know is that HR will actually benefit them by streamlining the activities and creating a transparent, fair equitable system that could provide equal employment opportunities, justified promotions, tenure track and providing solution to the queries related to insurance, medical e.t.c. They would get an organized organizational structure with proper grading, proper pay structures, promotion plans and employee compensation and benefits plans etc.

In most of the organizations in Pakistan the top management suddenly discovered that the solution to all their problems is in establishing an HR department. HR Manager is hired. First of all he/she has double pressure on him/herself. He/she has to develop an HR department and for that he/she needs to design all the required formats and flowcharts of processes that fit to that organization. He/she also looks into problems that are urgent and need his attention and then comes the operational side of HR; recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, compensation and increments etc. All the key people start pushing him/her from all sides. Top management pressurizes him/her to show quick results. And the HR Person is left with confusion with what to do and what not to.

The ongoing market trend therefore asks the institutes to develop a corporate academia linkage so as to discover that what HR related courses must be taught to the HR students. Just teaching the courses are not enough for preparing them to deal with the professional life issues that may arise.

Rahim B. Qasmani
Director,
DMK HR Consultancy