Service Provider Requires Accelerated Data Center Expansion

Situation - Lack of Capacity Threatens Growth

A leading outsourcing provider found itself seriously under capacity in terms of data center infrastructure in multiple geographies to meet it's capacity requirements over a 2 – 24 month planning horizon.  As a result of data center oversupply in the industry during the 2001 – 2005 period, there had not been a need for new data center capacity.  Over that period, the company not maintained the required skills or a defined business process to lead the expansion effort.

In order to maintain its revenue growth and maintain its competitive advantage the service provider needed bring online 10 data centers worldwide within 2 years. 

Data center deployments demand a myriad of specialized management skills in order to make the range of decisions from site selection, design, construction and commissioning.  Typical data center construction projects take 24 -36 months elapsed time from a “go” decision to the facility going live and cost between $50M - $100M.  Typically 6 – 12 months of that time is tied up in the real estate process, site selection, due diligence, contract negotiation and permitting. 

Solution - Accelerated Process Cuts Deployment In Half

Members of Capto worked with the service provider to determine if data center design and build skills were "core" to it's business going forward or if the expansion should be handled using outside resources.  Given the challenge represented by the rapid expansion, and the costs involved Capto recommend a blended approach.  A small core team of internal resources was assembled to closely manage the effort and outside expertise was retained to augment the leadership and provide specialized skills.

Capto’s team members brought in specialized firms to rapidly accelerate the real estate process as well as design and build.  Common design elements were developed over the next 90 days, which were then used to provide uniform planning, and construction across facilities and provide for consistent operations post construction.

Leveraging an accelerated decision and governance process of the small internal team, the outside expertise specialized firms and the upfront design work, the company was able to dramatically reduce the site selection and contracting process and successfully manage and deploy 10 data centers in just over 2 years.  The common design resulted in the average period from site selection to data center availability was between 7 – 9 months roughly one half the industry average.  The expansion was completed on time and within budget.