Oadby Plastics
How Node4 helped Oadby Plastics modernise communications, optimise cloud and prepare for AI
The Customer
Oadby Plastics is one of the UK’s leading independent plastics suppliers and machinists.
The family-run group operates nine UK sites, employs 280 people and supplies materials, components and machining services to customers in sectors ranging from engineering and manufacturing to food, packaging and signage.
Our on-premises Cisco Call Manager had been in place for around eight years and was approaching end of life.
The Challenge
“System management tasks were difficult, with the team required to work with ageing on-premises hardware. Plus, we were not getting the levels of service we expected from our incumbent supplier. We would only hear from our account manager or contact them, when something went wrong," explains Dan.
From the outset, our Node4 account team proved themselves to be responsive and professional with deep technical knowledge and an obvious desire to help our business succeed.
The Solution
Dan and his team got in touch with Node4 about two years ago to talk about upgrading Cisco Call Manager. This followed a recommendation to speak with Node4 from a nearby customer.
“We’d only ever worked with one supplier, a household name,” he recalls. “So, the endorsement was important. It made the move to Node4 feel less like a risk and more like a good business decision."
Phase 1 – Modernising communications
Node4 arrived at the initial meeting intending to demonstrate Microsoft Teams Calling. As the conversation progressed, however, Webex Calling emerged as better suited to Oadby Plastics’ business, and the team adapted the demonstration on the spot, giving Dan and his team a clear overview of both options.
Node4 subsequently migrated Oadby Plastics’ telephony estate from its on-premises Cisco platform to Webex Calling. The new service is supported by Node4’s tailored Silver Collaboration Support package, which provides system support from 8 am to 6 pm. This transferred day-to-day platform support to Node4 while giving Oadby Plastics a consistent group of collaboration specialists to contact.
“I’m no longer directly managing the phone system,” Dan comments. “The wider team can administer it without needing me to get involved on a day-to-day basis. It’s great for me and a sign of how well the new system runs.”
Phase 2 – Simplifying Microsoft cloud management
That increased confidence led Dan and his team to partner once more with Node4, this time appointing Node4 as the company’s Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) for Microsoft 365 and Azure.
“Cost was a big part of the decision, but so was Node4’s focus on cloud innovation,” Dan explains. “Rather than looking at how we were consuming cloud at that moment in time, Node4 brought trained specialists into the conversation and offered advice on how we could improve our usage and what services we might wish to add further down the line. That's when the skill and understanding behind Node4's Azure Expert MSP status really became apparent."
“We also got access to Nexus,” Dan adds. “It’s Node4’s online self-service portal for managing Microsoft licences, together with complimentary licensing and Azure optimisation reviews. It simplifies the process of adding or removing licences.”
Phase 3 – Exploring opportunities with AI
Looking to the future, Oadby Plastics and Node4 are in early-stage discussions about how AI and emerging technologies could potentially support the business.
“We’re interested in understanding where AI could genuinely add value to the business,” Dan comments. “There are potentially a number of areas where it could help us improve efficiency, support our employees and enable people to spend more time on higher-value work.”
Discussions are still at an early stage and no specific solution or project has been agreed. Oadby Plastics is taking a considered approach to AI, focusing on identifying appropriate use cases and understanding how the technology could complement its existing systems, processes and people.
“We see a lot of potential in AI, but it’s important that we identify the right opportunities and make sure anything we pursue delivers genuine value,” Dan adds. “We have support within the business to explore the possibilities, and we’re looking forward to seeing where those conversations with Node4 take us.”
Our Webex reporting indicates a call-performance figure of approximately 99%. I can’t remember the last time we experienced any downtime or dropped calls.
The Results
Reliable communications that support customer service
Since moving to Webex Calling, Oadby Plastics has gained a far more reliable communications platform. The IT team now has access to detailed reporting, while support tickets generally relate to questions and requests rather than outages or technical failures.
“The reliability has been excellent,” he adds. “These days, support tickets are mainly questions and queries rather than issues or systems going down.”
Webex Calling also gives Oadby Plastics greater flexibility than its previous platform. “Voicemails can be configured quickly,” Dan notes. “We’re also looking into new features, such as call listening, which will support sales training.”
Measurable cloud savings and faster management
Moving Oadby Plastics’ Microsoft 365 and Azure services to Node4 is delivering measurable financial returns. “We’re probably saving around £7,000 each year in licensing costs,” Dan explains. “Node4’s cloud optimisation reviews have also identified other potential Azure savings, with ongoing work expected to deliver a further monthly saving.”
The move has also given Dan and his team greater control over day-to-day licensing. “Previously, licence changes had to be requested by email through an intermediary and could be delayed when the relevant contact was unavailable,” he observes.
Nexus self-serve puts control back in our hands. Recently, I needed to add five Exchange Online licences. I simply logged in, selected the licences and had everything completed within minutes. We can now add or remove licences whenever we need to. It's far easier and far less frustrating than dealing with third parties.
The Node Difference
For Dan, the difference between Node4 and other IT suppliers extends far beyond the technology. “I’d have to say it comes down to our fantastic account manager,” he says. “Rather than waiting until there is a problem, they, and the wider Node4 team, maintain regular contact through monthly calls, workshops and emails. Those conversations have helped us identify future opportunities across cloud optimisation, AI and security."
“And,” he adds, “when we do raise a ticket, we seem to get the same person each time, so there’s real continuity within the business. That connection is important and has helped to build a solid, long-term relationship on both sides. Having Webex and Azure managed by one company is so much easier for the team and me, and the transparency of a single bill is great, too. It fits with the company’s aim of working with a core group of trusted suppliers.”
“Our Node4 team is always looking ahead,” Dan continues. "I’ve already mentioned AI, but we’re also in early-stage talks about strengthening our IT security. That's likely to be a mix of automated penetration testing and a managed 24/7 Security Operations Centre. If adopted, that 24/7 protection will help us further protect against cyberattacks, which must be any IT manager’s greatest fear.”
“Starting with Webex allowed us to test everything from support and account management to billing, migration and networks,” Dan concludes.
Once we saw how Node4 performed across all those areas, we knew they were the partner we wanted to work with across our Microsoft environments, explore potential AI opportunities together and revisit our cybersecurity strategy.