Zenconnect: delivering agile network support with the Google ecosystem
About Zenconnect
Zenconnect is a cloud service provider specialising in network infrastructure, providing innovative and agile solutions to customers across the globe.
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Contact usGoogle Partner Zenconnect delivers innovative multi-cloud solutions to its customers using Google Cloud and improves its own response times by implementing innovative integrations across the Google ecosystem.
Google Cloud results
- Simplifies day-to-day tasks by integrating Google Cloud with Google Workspace and Salesforce
- Delivers innovative solutions to customer network problems with Google Cloud VPN
- Helps ensure any member of the team can solve internal website or client issues thanks to the intuitive Google Cloud interface
Excellent ROI by using Google Cloud with Google Workspace and Chromebooks
By providing agile cloud network solutions that are quick and simple to put into place, Zenconnect has won the contracts for major international clients over more established competitors. Founded in 2012, the Paris-based start-up has grown rapidly in the past three years and has recently expanded into the Spanish market, although its clients often have offices across the globe.
Most of its clients come from the retail sector and rely on Zenconnect to install and maintain their networks, from their Wi-Fi routers to their private networks. “Our key area of interest is network infrastructures, everything that is routers, switches, and Wi-Fi,” says Yohann Lecornet, CTO at Zenconnect. “We have also developed new solutions in terms of security and public Wi-Fi portals, but the core mission is that all our solutions are managed, agile, and scalable according to the needs of the clients.”
“We are ahead of our competitors because as we use cloud technology, we respond very quickly to the client’s needs without getting bogged down in complex architectures that require weeks of engineering. Our ultimate aim is when we arrive at the client’s premises, we just plug in the equipment and everything is ready to go.”
—Yohann Lecornet, CTO, ZenconnectZenconnect relies on its use of cloud technology to deliver its agile services. It needed a platform for its own system that would deliver efficiency and speed, as well as cloud-based tools for implementing private network and multi-cloud solutions for its clients. Google Cloud was the perfect fit.
“We are ahead of our competitors because as we use cloud technology, we respond very quickly to the client’s needs without getting bogged down in complex architectures that require weeks of engineering,” explains Yohann. “Our ultimate aim is when we arrive at the client’s premises, we just plug in the equipment and everything is ready to go.”
Delivering agile solutions
From a client’s perspective, network problems lead to lost revenue and customers increasingly expect services to operate around the clock. So when clients have a network issue, Zenconnect needs to be able to react as quickly as possible, wherever the client might be. In order to stay agile for its customers, Zenconnect looked for a way to build its own system to deliver efficiency and cost savings, and so it could be used by any member of its team.
To do that, Zenconnect moved its website over to Google Cloud. Now, its website runs on virtual machines using Google Compute Engine and the intuitive interface means it functions without a dedicated team of in-house developers. “The interface is very clear and simple. Everyone can understand it, there’s no need to spend days in training to use it,” says Yohann. Its marketing images are stored on Google Cloud Datastore and the transparent billing structure means Zenconnect can predict expenditure easily and accurately. Finally, Google’s community portals means it’s easy to find an answer if any issues arise. “There is a whole community, so you’re never by yourself with your problems and if you really can’t find an answer, Google support is always there,” says Yohann.
“As Google’s infrastructure is available anywhere on the planet and it has data centers on every continent, we can answer needs on a global level. I can work all over the world whilst being physically based in France and wherever I am, I only need an internet connection to fix my client’s problems.”
—Yohann Lecornet, CTO, ZenconnectSince using Google Cloud for its own system, Zenconnect has started working more and more with Google products for its clients in order to find simple solutions to complex multi-cloud issues . “Last year, we needed to connect our client Neotiss’s sites across the world with another cloud provider, using the hardware they had in place, which was incompatible,” says Yohann. Using Google Cloud VPN, it was up and running in less than an hour.” Most importantly, using Google Cloud, Zenconnect can easily provide support and maintenance for these solutions from anywhere in the world.
“As Google’s infrastructure is available anywhere on the planet and it has data centers on every continent, we can answer needs on a global level,” says Yohann. “I can work all over the world whilst being physically based in France and wherever I am, I only need an internet connection to fix my client’s problems.”
Integrating with Google Workspace
Zenconnect also uses Google Workspace alongside Google Cloud to make its day-to-day tasks easier and more efficient. “We can control users’ access rights very simply, and we also use Google Workspace Groups to share and collaborate,” explains Yohann. “There is such seamless integration between Google Workspace and Google Cloud that I can access all the information I need simply and quickly.”
Its Salesforce system is also integrated with Google Workspace, meaning Calendar events are automatically replicated across both platforms. Searches in Salesforce also search files in Google Drive, and Gmail emails are automatically brought into Salesforce. “We have a very powerful integration model that saves us a lot of time and it also means that we avoid any losses of information between the two platforms in the day-to-day operation of the business,” says Yohann.
“By using the whole Google ecosystem, we can save money on the day-to-day cost of working without losing out on performance and we can reinvest those savings into innovating. In terms of our future strategy, we definitely have plans for expansion because we know that we can scale all our operations with no problems.”
—Yohann Lecornet, CTO, ZenconnectReinvesting in innovation
Since switching to Google Cloud, Zenconnect has been able to save time and money in its day-to-day running costs, meaning it can deliver a better service to its clients. “We have had an excellent ROI in terms of reduced maintenance costs, and if we were using a traditional hosting solution, maintenance and troubleshooting would take at least four times as long.” Its services are also highly available, and it has not experienced any unexpected downtimes since switching.
“We migrated from a traditional system towards Chrome OS. The set-up is so simple, our IT team doesn’t need to waste time on user queries and malfunctioning software. Instead, our teams can focus on working productively,” says Yohann. “Moreover, we have made enormous savings since we don’t need to buy software licences and anti-virus software. Over a year, a Chromebook costs us 3.5 times less to purchase and maintain. By using the whole Google ecosystem, we can save money on the day-to-day cost of working without losing out on performance and we can reinvest those savings into innovating.”
Now, Zenconnect wants to automate its system even further, by using Google Cloud Vision API and Google Cloud IoT to deliver a superior customer experience. Using Cloud Vision API, it will be able to use a photograph to identify and analyse a client’s problems from any location, and with Cloud IoT, it will monitor its clients’ equipment on their premises at a distance. It will also use Cloud Vision API to automate its invoice reception procedure, so PDFs are processed automatically, saving time.
Zenconnect is also looking to expand its market base to Germany, and potentially the United States. “In terms of our future strategy, we definitely have plans for expansion because we know that we can scale all our operations with no problems,” says Yohann.
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About Zenconnect
Zenconnect is a cloud service provider specialising in network infrastructure, providing innovative and agile solutions to customers across the globe.