Age UK Lincolnshire
Complete IT Infrastructure Transformation
Age UK Lincolnshire is a leading independent charity providing services and support to older people across Lincolnshire. Previously reliant on an older IT provider who struggled to keep pace with the organisation's evolving technology needs, Age UK Lincolnshire recognised an opportunity to modernise their IT infrastructure, improve support responsiveness, and reduce unnecessary expenditure. Synergi Tech is engaged to undertake a comprehensive IT transformation.
"The transition from our legacy IT provider to Synergi Tech has been a notably positive experience, marked by a seamless handover and a clear commitment to maintaining high standards of service. From the outset, Synergi Tech demonstrated a strong understanding of our organisational needs, ensuring continuity whilst introducing a fresh, proactive approach to IT support. Their responsiveness, technical expertise, and user-focused communication have significantly enhanced the overall support experience. Issues are handled efficiently and with professionalism, giving confidence to staff and minimising disruption to day-to-day operations. This consistent delivery of high-quality support has made the transition not only smooth but genuinely beneficial."
Age UK Lincolnshire, one of Lincolnshire's most vital charities supporting thousands of older people across the county, found themselves increasingly constrained by an IT support arrangement that was no longer fit for purpose. Their legacy provider had become unable to keep pace with the organisation's evolving technology demands, resulting in unacceptably long response times that left staff unable to deliver the critical services their beneficiaries depend upon.
Support tickets that should have been resolved within hours were often left unaddressed for days, causing significant disruption to frontline services including day centres, home support coordination, and vital welfare check programmes. The charity's ageing network infrastructure was struggling to support modern working practices, with unreliable Wi-Fi hampering staff productivity and creating barriers to the digital transformation the organisation desperately needed.
Perhaps most frustratingly, Age UK Lincolnshire found themselves locked into expensive support contracts that bore little relation to their actual requirements. They were paying premium prices for services they didn't need whilst lacking the responsive, proactive support essential for a charity operating across multiple sites with a distributed workforce. The organisation recognised they needed a technology partner who truly understood the unique pressures facing the charity sector - one who could deliver enterprise-grade solutions whilst respecting the financial constraints of a not-for-profit organisation.
Synergi Tech designed and implemented a comprehensive IT transformation programme tailored specifically to Age UK Lincolnshire's unique operational requirements, delivering enterprise-grade technology whilst remaining sensitive to the financial realities of the charity sector.
Complete Network Infrastructure Overhaul with Ubiquiti UniFi: We deployed a full Ubiquiti UniFi enterprise networking solution across all Age UK Lincolnshire sites, replacing the unreliable legacy infrastructure with a modern, centrally-managed network designed for reliability and scalability. This included high-performance wireless access points strategically positioned to eliminate dead zones, managed switches providing robust wired connectivity for critical systems, and a unified management platform giving complete visibility across the entire network estate. The new infrastructure delivers consistent, high-speed connectivity that staff can rely on, whether they're in the main office, at a day centre, or working from one of the charity's community venues.
Massive Mobile Device Deployment with Microsoft Intune: We planned and executed the rollout of over 150 mobile devices across the organisation, each configured with full Microsoft Intune mobile device management. This wasn't simply handing out phones and tablets - we worked closely with Age UK Lincolnshire to understand how different teams would use their devices, configuring bespoke profiles for frontline care coordinators, administrative staff, and management. Every device is secured with enterprise-grade policies, can be remotely managed and updated, and provides staff with seamless access to the applications and data they need to support older people across Lincolnshire. The Intune deployment also ensures the charity maintains full compliance with data protection requirements, with the ability to remotely wipe devices if lost or stolen.
Transformational Managed IT Support: At the heart of our partnership is a completely reimagined approach to IT support. Gone are the days of tickets languishing in queues - our dedicated support team understands the urgency that comes with charity operations and responds accordingly. We've implemented proactive monitoring across the entire infrastructure, identifying and resolving potential issues before they impact services. When problems do arise, our dramatically reduced response and resolution times mean staff spend less time waiting for IT help and more time delivering the vital services Age UK Lincolnshire provides.
Strategic Cost Optimisation: We conducted a comprehensive review of Age UK Lincolnshire's existing IT contracts and subscriptions, identifying significant areas of wasteful spending. By renegotiating contracts and eliminating unnecessary services, we've delivered substantial ongoing cost savings whilst actually improving the level of service the charity receives. These savings can now be redirected to the charity's core mission of supporting older people.
Implementation & Development
How we brought the solution to life
The transformation was meticulously planned and executed to ensure zero disruption to Age UK Lincolnshire's critical charity services. We understood that any downtime could directly impact vulnerable older people relying on the charity's support, so we developed a phased implementation approach that kept all services running throughout the transition.
The project began with a comprehensive discovery phase where our team spent time understanding the charity's operations, meeting with staff across different departments, and mapping the existing infrastructure. This groundwork was essential - it allowed us to identify potential challenges before they became problems and ensure our solution was genuinely tailored to how Age UK Lincolnshire actually works, not how we assumed they might.
Network infrastructure upgrades were scheduled during quiet periods, with contingency plans in place for every stage. The mobile device rollout was carefully sequenced, with dedicated training sessions for each team to ensure staff felt confident with their new technology from day one. We didn't just hand over devices and walk away - we provided hands-on support during the initial weeks, answering questions and fine-tuning configurations based on real-world feedback.
The transition from the legacy IT provider to Synergi Tech's managed support service was handled with particular care. We worked collaboratively during the handover period, ensuring complete knowledge transfer and maintaining continuity of service throughout. Staff noticed the difference immediately - suddenly, their IT issues were being resolved quickly and professionally, with clear communication throughout the process.
Results & Impact
Measurable outcomes that drive business success
Support ticket response times reduced from days to hours, with critical issues now resolved same-day
150+ mobile devices successfully deployed across all teams with zero service disruption
Enterprise-grade Ubiquiti UniFi network infrastructure delivering reliable connectivity across all sites
Significant annual cost savings through contract renegotiation and elimination of unnecessary services
Staff productivity dramatically improved with reliable technology and responsive support
Complete visibility and control over all devices through centralised Intune management
Enhanced data security and GDPR compliance through modern device management policies
Future-proof infrastructure ready to scale as the charity grows and evolves
Business Impact
Long-term value and transformation
The transformation has fundamentally changed how Age UK Lincolnshire operates, allowing staff to focus on what really matters - supporting older people across the county. Where technology was once a source of daily frustration, it's now an enabler that helps the charity deliver its vital services more effectively than ever before.
The financial impact has been equally significant. The cost savings achieved through our contract review and optimisation work have freed up resources that can now be directed towards the charity's core mission. Age UK Lincolnshire is no longer paying for services they don't need or being locked into inflexible contracts that don't serve their interests.
Perhaps most importantly, the charity now has complete confidence in their technology infrastructure and the team supporting it. They know that when issues arise, they'll be dealt with quickly and professionally. They know their data is secure and their systems are being proactively monitored. And they know that Synergi Tech is committed to their long-term success, not just looking for the next contract renewal. This peace of mind is invaluable for a charity that needs to focus its energy on the communities it serves.
Ongoing Partnership
Continued collaboration and support
Our partnership with Age UK Lincolnshire extends far beyond the initial transformation project. Synergi Tech provides comprehensive ongoing managed IT support, acting as a true extension of the charity's team rather than a distant helpdesk.
We conduct regular strategic reviews with Age UK Lincolnshire's leadership, ensuring their technology continues to evolve alongside the organisation's needs. As the charity grows, takes on new services, or faces new challenges, we're there to provide guidance and implement solutions. Our proactive monitoring means we often identify and resolve issues before anyone at Age UK Lincolnshire even knows there's a problem.
This isn't a transactional relationship - it's a genuine partnership built on mutual respect and shared values. We understand the pressures facing the charity sector and we're committed to helping Age UK Lincolnshire maximise the impact of every pound they invest in technology. The transformation we've delivered together is just the beginning of what we can achieve.
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