technologyreseller.co.uk continued... RESELLER NEWS 07 Abzorb’s Essex IoT network a ‘blueprint’ for public sector Network solutions provider Abzorb has created ‘a blueprint for how IoT infrastructure should be delivered across the public sector’ by designing a resilient LoRaWAN network for the councils of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock and Essex County – and delivering it £40,000 under budget. With comprehensive coverage across 98% of the region, the network gives the six councils and county a shared, regional platform for deploying Internet of Things (IoT) services quickly and cost‑effectively. The councils recognised the potential of IoT technologies to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and provide better visibility across public assets and services, but realised that deploying IoT projects in isolation was hard to justify financially because each new initiative would require its own dedicated network infrastructure. By working with Abzorb to build a unified LoRaWAN network leveraging their existing dark fibre investment, the councils have created a long-term digital foundation that lowers the barrier to innovation. Designed as an open platform, the network allows councils to procure and deploy sensors from any supplier, further reducing costs and preventing vendor lock-in. The solution includes a second LoRaWAN network that can be made available to businesses, public sector partners and other organisations across the region, creating a potential new revenue stream for the councils from the same infrastructure investment. The network is already enabling councils to deploy multiple smart services, including footfall counters in libraries and public spaces, occupancy and damp monitoring in buildings, flood and temperature sensors, bin monitoring, carbon monoxide detection, Legionella compliance monitoring, and vehicle and people counting. Dr. Dean Al-Sened, Head of Public Sector and Enterprise at Abzorb, said: “This project is a blueprint for how IoT infrastructure should be delivered across the public sector. We believe this model works and we want every council in the UK to benefit from it. Our focus is on delivering digital transformation through shared infrastructure, intelligent design and a genuine commitment to the customer’s long-term goals.” https://www.abzorb.co.uk/ …IIP Platinum success for Apex Computing Services Manchester-based IT solutions partner Apex Computing Services has been awarded the highest level of Investors in People accreditation, reflecting its commitment to employee development and growth. Building on a Silver accreditation three years ago, it has now reached Investors in People Platinum after strengthening its leadership structure, developing a clearer long-term strategy and creating a more focused, accountable and measurable organisation. Chris Gorman, CEO of the IT support, cyber security, cloud, Microsoft Modern Workplace, AI and automation solutions provider, said: “Achieving Platinum shows that putting people first isn’t just something we talk about – it’s how we operate every day. By investing in development, wellbeing and opportunities to progress, we are investing in better outcomes for our clients and a stronger future for Apex.” Since 2023, the business has created 29 development opportunities through internal progression, apprenticeships and secondments. It has also protected time for self-development, invested in accreditations, improved wellbeing support and introduced a more structured approach to personal development. In the IIP assessment, 92% of Apex team members said they are proud to work for the company and 93% said they would recommend Apex as a great place to work. …Integrity360 and Venari Security prepare clients for the quantum era Integrity360 is partnering with Venari Security to help organisations take practical steps to assess and manage cryptographic risk today and prepare for the challenges posed by Post-quantum Cryptography (PQC) tomorrow. Encryption underpins everything, from Amazon Business launches new AI-powered tools for Prime Business members Amazon Business is bringing purchasing insights and AI-powered automation to Prime Business members with the launch of new AI-powered features and enhanced spend management tools. These include an AI assistant, available to Prime Business members at a 20% discount, new look Spend Visibility dashboards and enhancements to the company’s Spend Anomaly Monitoring feature. The Amazon Quick AI assistant connects to thousands of apps and data sources, including local files, Slack and Microsoft Outlook, enabling it to automate manual tasks, conduct deep research in minutes and produce finished deliverables such as spreadsheets and presentations. Prime Business members looking to pressure-test a pricing strategy can leverage Quick to research competitors, pull in relevant cost data and highlight risks that may not have been considered. For those seeking a second opinion on a vendor proposal Quick will analyse terms against historical agreements and flag areas for negotiation. Céline Vuillequez, VP of Amazon Business Europe, said: “The organisations getting ahead in procurement aren’t just buying more efficiently, they’re buying more intelligently. They’re using data to anticipate demand, AI to eliminate repetitive tasks and analytics to drive smarter spending. That’s the standard we’re building to, giving Prime Business members, regardless of size, the tools to focus less on process and more on the decisions that move their organisation forward.” Prime Business members can also look forward to expanded user access to Amazon Business’s Spend Visibility analytics tool which, through ready-to-use dashboards, helps users to visualise purchasing patterns, track savings, evaluate spend with small and local suppliers and compare purchases against company policy, and to its Spend Anomaly Monitoring tool, which analyses an account’s purchasing patterns and alerts administrators to unusual purchases, split purchases, abnormal repurchases, non-standard shipping addresses and excessive daily spend. Céline Vuillequez
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