Proximus connects 40 vaccination centers in 15 days

Fifteen days and not one more

Once the contract had been awarded on 1 March 2021, Proximus had exactly 15 days left to provide connectivity, Wi-Fi and IT equipment for the 40 or so vaccination centers in Wallonia. Behind the scenes of the ecosystem, many players are active, including Proximus SpearIT, one of the group's accelerators. Its objective? Prepare and install 719 laptops, 217 printers, 425 handheld scanners and 270 card readers.

"A final sprint from start to finish to create an uncompromising software image and to clone the equipment of the 40 vaccination centers. Today, our dedicated service desk is available 18 hours a day, 6 days a week," says Michel Van Oost, Key Accountmanager at Proximus SpearIT.

Just in time

You only have to visit a vaccination center to see what a marvel the project is in terms of people and logistics. This great puzzle is not only made up of computers. From posters to the medical profession, all the links in the chain were put under the same pressure. "The art was to set up not too early and not too late. At the same time, we have to take into account the almost worldwide shortage of IT equipment caused by the health crisis," says Gert Diels, Marketing Manager at Proximus SpearIT.

An ecosystem or nothing at all

According to Michel Van Oost, the notion of an ecosystem is used all the time, but the vaccination center project has shown that Proximus and its partners really know what that means. "In this kind of specification, the risks are taken jointly. The Proximus ecosystem played a crucial role. We have all moved mountains to achieve this common challenge. The excellent preparation beforehand proved to be the key element of the operation. The outstanding support from Dell and Canon was also crucial, the two main manufacturers on this project."

Anticipating the unexpected

From the initial 40 or so vaccination centers, after only a few weeks Gert Diels already has a list of some 60 centers. Add to that the national (or even international) stakes and you will understand that nothing is left to chance.

"As a Proximus accelerator, we retain our flexibility as an SME while benefiting from the resources of a large group. A key factor in our Speed to Market strategy. While we don't have any juicy anecdotes to tell, I can confirm that the project has been a success. We of course remain on our toes for what comes next."