Three councils in east Kent have agreed to install shared mobile workspace technology.
It is deploying a virtual desktop solution designed by Citrix Gold solution adviser Thintech, which will use Citrix XenApp and Citrix NetScaler technology – claiming that the move will save £2.7m over four years.
Timo Bayford, ICT technical systems manager at East Kent Services, said: “It looks and feels exactly like a familiar desktop and once it was rolled out it would be ‘just there’, ready to use, with no surprises
“Project groups can come together and all camp down in the same spot. We’ve even provided wi-fi in the canteen so that people can use it throughout the day to work in the ways they wish.”
The council said that enabling remote and mobile access not only improves staff mobility but will also become an essential part of disaster recovery planning.
It will also allow councils to free up space and lease spare capacity to other public sector bodies.
“By embracing the benefits offered by mobile workspaces and more flexible working practices, East KentServices has visibly reduced the number of desks it maintains in Canterbury, Dover and Thanet District Councils,” according to Jason Tooley, UK country manager at Citrix.
“This not only means cost savings which can be passed onto taxpayers, but also a fantastic opportunity to achieve workplace transformation.”