29 Dec 2008

Hosted services 'could help save costs'

UK businesses have been alerted to the potential savings involved in revamping their IT structures.

Firms could make a number of cost reductions with the adoption of hosted exchange and managed IT services.

And according to Computer Weekly, Transport for London (TfL) is the latest company to take advantage of such measures as it plans a number of "efficiency savings" for the new year.

The firm highlighted improved technology as one of its main focal points in a ten-year business plan to help cut costs and expects to make savings of as much as £400 million.

Areas tackled by TfL will include desktop services, datacentre and hosting services and data network operations.

"The changes are focused on support and non-operational functions including, among many other areas, our IT activities," said a spokesperson for the company.

"Around IT, TfL will be consolidating its budgets and delivering £400 million in savings over the plan period," he added.

According to a report by IT-Director.com, more and more small and medium-sized businesses could turn to hosted services over the next 12 months in a bid to help cut costs and beat off the effects of the credit crunch.