Joe D’Addio (MOQ)
Construction giant Laing O’Rourke has tapped MOQdigital to provide and implement Nutanix’s enterprise cloud operating system (OS) software in Australia.
The publicly-listed IT services provider will deploy Nutanix’s cloud environment using two of NextDC’s colocation centres in Sydney and Brisbane.
Laing O’Rourke previously had a traditional infrastructure, but will now operate an underlying hardware platform using a Dell EMC XC Core with Nutanix Acropolis hyper-converged infrastructure (AHV) acting as a built-in hyper-visor.
The technology will be used to power Laing O’Rourke’s core applications as the company begins using artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to help run its operation.
According to James Fields, Laing O’Rourke’s head of IT infrastructure and operations, the company had considered moving to a public cloud, but decided on-premises was cheaper and easier to forecast in terms of costs over five years.
“We believe in the benefits of building twice, once digitally and once in the real world, and Nutanix helps us to achieve this,” he added.
Headquartered in the UK, Laing O’Rourke first arrived in Australia in 2004 and two years later increased its local footprint after buying the 50-year-old infrastructure business Barclay Mowlem.
The construction firm, which claims to have a $6-billion international operation, is now turning to new technology ranging from an AI camera to detect if workers are wearing protective clothing in hazardous areas and big data to test the hardening of newly-laid road surfaces.
According to Laing O’Rourke, Nutanix’s solution will enable the business to further develop similar technologies.
This is not the first time MOQdigital and Laing O'Rourke worked together, back in 2014 the IT services provider did a proof of concept for a safe hat concept for Laing O'Rourke.
"They created a proof of concept sensor which had sensors built in and had a wireless connector, a light weight low power network people use for IoT devices, Nick Browne, former MOQ national practice manager told ARN at the time. "They built the helmet and we built the software that collected the information and streamed it back."
The deal follows a strong growth period for MOQ as its revenue rose by 20 per cent to $37.7 million for the half year ending 31 December 2018. Net profit after tax also rose by 98 per cent year-on-year, from $400,000 to $900,000.
In the company’s earnings announcement at the time, MOQ CEO Joe D’Addio said the decision to increase investment in its managed services capabilities had resulted in strong recurring revenue growth.
