Customer case: UHASSELT
2024
When service and technical expertise make all the difference
UHasselt and QUANT ICT: the perfect ICT partnership
In business, finding a partner who not only understands your needs but also anticipates and exceeds them is rare. For the University of Hasselt (UHasselt), that partner is QUANT ICT. From a modest beginning in 2008 with a simple order for a few switches, this partnership has flourished, built on a robust foundation of technical expertise and exceptional service.
The ICT infrastructure at UHasselt is extensive, counting more than 600 wireless access points and 11,000 connection points, all managed by a small team of dedicated system managers and programmers. The key to their success? Their partnership with QUANT ICT
Exceptional service
“Before QUANT ICT, we worked with a large ICT service provider that worked for all the big names. However, we felt like we were just another number,” recalls Andres Henckens, Product Owner Infrastructure at UHasselt. “With QUANT ICT, all of that changed. From the very first order, the responsiveness was incredible. Today, as we enter our fourth four-year framework agreement, everything still runs smoothly – from tickets and orders to delivery, maintenance, and RMAs.”
The ALE connection
UHasselt’s journey with QUANT ICT began through their use of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) equipment. As a prominent ALE partner in Belgium, QUANT ICT quickly came onto the university’s radar. Now, virtually all of UHasselt’s central and decentralized ICT infrastructure, from data centers and servers to access points and switches, is sourced from ALE through QUANT ICT.
Flexible leasing solutions
Another area where QUANT ICT makes a difference for UHasselt is in providing flexible leasing options. “We have several ongoing renovations and lease multiple properties as temporary solutions,” Henckens explains. “These locations also require ICT infrastructure like switches, access points, and SD1 technology. Thanks to QUANT ICT, we can lease this infrastructure for the duration of our property leases, which means we don’t have to make significant investments in new ICT equipment that we won’t need later.”
Expertise you can trust on
Beyond their service-oriented approach, QUANT ICT’s technical expertise stands out. “They are all experts,” Henckens emphasizes. “If we call their service desk, they completely understand what we are talking about. We only have to explain our issue or situation once, and they are totally aligned. They start suggesting solutions immediately.”
Excellent project assistance
Because of this seamless collaboration and expertise, the UHasselt ICT team often involves QUANT ICT’s experts in both maintenance and implementation projects. “Previously, we managed all firmware updates ourselves. But being short-handed, we entrusted this to QUANT ICT,” Henckens shares.
One standout project was the implementation of ClearPass, a network access control system that links all access points across UHasselt’s campuses. “At the beginning of the project, we were absolute newbies, but the people at QUANT ICT guided us every step of the way,” Henckens remembers. “We could call them anytime with questions, and they always had immediate solutions. Throughout the project, they helped us transform almost 99% of our network into a dynamically controlled ICT environment, turning us into ClearPass experts in the process. Now, we even act as sparring partners with QUANT ICT on challenging ClearPass issues.”
Looking ahead, UHasselt is preparing for more ambitious projects, such as establishing a 100GB network link between their campuses in Hasselt and Diepenbeek. This project exemplifies the forward-thinking collaboration that UHasselt and QUANT ICT continue to cultivate.
A partnership built on trust
The partnership between UHasselt and QUANT ICT is a testament to what can be achieved when service, expertise, and a shared vision come together. “QUANT ICT is more than a service provider; they are a partner who understands our needs and helps us achieve our goals,” concludes Henckens. “We are grateful we made the transition to QUANT ICT in 2008, and we look forward to many more years of successful collaboration.”
This article was written in collaboration with Andres Henckens,
Product Owner Infrastructure at UHasselt,
3/9/2024.
