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Equant Wins Award as Best new Workplace Solution in 2006
McLean, VA, May 24, 2006
The MidAtlantic Chapter of CoreNet (The Corporate Real Estate Network) has awarded Equant (as of June 1, 2006, Orange Business Services), a division of France Telecom, a Global Award of Excellence for Equant’s implementation of FlexPlace.
Equant was nominated by AgilQuest, the provider of the OnBoard software used for reserving FlexPlace desks. The Nomination Committee is made up of nationally known Corporate Real Estate Executives from such companies as Booz Allen Hamilton, Oracle, United Technologies and Citibank.
The award recognizes corporate workplace strategy implemented within the last two years that demonstrates: a) innovative application of space layout, design and applicability to purpose, and/or b) functional utilization of technology that significantly enhanced the company`s ability to meet its core business goals.
According to General Services Vice President Russell Jay, the task at Equant was “to optimize office space and save significant amounts of money while minimizing the impact on employee productivity. The FlexPlace project has achieved more than its goals and been a definite money-saving success for Equant.We set some pretty aggressive targets for ourselves that were approaching $30 million dollars over an approximate two-year period. We are the ones pioneering this alternative workforce/workplace strategy in the France Telecom group. With that goal in mind we are on track to deliver substantially to our financial objectives.”
FlexPlace, developed by Equant and facilitated by AgilQuest’s software, is a brand of reservable desking that allows employees to reserve desks ahead of time in smaller office facilities rather than leaving their own personal desks vacant when business takes them away from the office. As Amy Teklinsky, General Services Project Manager, said, “We were able to close our Dulles Corner offices and have FlexPlace available here in Oak Hill, Virginia, so that we could effectively fit all of the employees into this one location using our reservable FlexPlace desks. Also, in our Atlanta location we were able to close three floors of space and consolidate our staff on the two remaining floors where we can accommodate both fixed and mobile professionals.”
The AgilQuest system of desk reservations not only saves the company money in rent on office space, but it allows costs to be cut in the areas of heating, lighting, and the cleaning of offices since Equant knows they will not actually be in use at a given time.
The FlexPlace key components are the web based reservation software "Onboard" by AgilQuest and the critical service feature of Internet Protocol Telephony (IPT), which was deployed by Equant to allow qualified users to have their office phone anywhere in the world. Employee phone extension mobility was enabled with the use of both IPT hard phones on the FlexPlace desk and IPT Soft phones loaded in the users laptop computers. When the users log into the IPT application their profile is download to that virtual or hard phone; this allows the user`s phone configuration and number to follow them from office to office or any travel location.. FlexPlace employees are equipped for all work environments with key support technologies such as IPT, mobile phones and we are beginning to implement wireless computer connections ( WiFi) as we progress to the cordless office.
FlexPlace was first implemented in June 2005 and is now available globally in 24 locations. Russell Jay said, “This is a win for all of us, especially for our employees who embraced the program demonstrating their flexibility to try a new way of working, while helping the company significantly reduce costs.”
Equant received a trophy that reads, "Equant`s Flexible Workplace Program - "FlexPlace BEST NEW WORKPLACE SOLUTION 2006" which is proudly on display in the Oak Hill, Virginia office lobby.
About Orange Business Services (formerly Equant)
Orange Business Services (formerly Equant) is the recognized leader in global, integrated and customized communication infrastructure solutions that enable key business processes of its customers. Orange Business Services combines its network expertise with unmatched seamless network reach and local support provided by its 9,300 employees in 164 countries to manage more than 152,000 user connections across the world.
Orange Business Services has the industry`s most extensive portfolio of communications services and network solutions, including the market-leading IP VPN used by more than 1,300 multinationals. Orange Business Services, a member of the France Telecom Group, consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
About AgilQuest Corporation
AgilQuest Corporation is dedicated to making an organization’s workplace as agile as its workforce. Founded in 1994 AgilQuest delivers mission critical, enterprise software and consulting expertise that gives corporate management the power to make real estate and facility decisions that can result in millions of dollars in cost savings.
For Further Information:
Robert P. Trenck
Director of Marketing
AgilQuest Corporation
Tel. 203-845-8869
Email: rob.trenck@agilquest.com
Amy Young Teklinsky
General Services
Orange Business Services
Tel: 703-471-2558
Email: amy.teklinsky@orange-ft.com
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