BAA spends £26m on browser-based IT

Airport operator British Airports Authority (BAA) is to spend £26m on a server and web browser-based IT platform over the next three years in an effort to cut costs and improve flexibility.

BAA's 9,000 airport workers and consultants will access desktop applications through a web browser and a portal-based document storage systems will also be introduced. A platform of enhanced servers will support the new infrastructure.

BAA claims the move will result in improved security, lower maintenance costs – as PCs won't need to be individually serviced – as well as facilitating the trend towards flexible working. Of course, cost savings are a major factor and BAA said efficiencies will be gained through software rationalisation and upgrades at lower costs.

The audit and rationalisation of software, as well as upgrades and changes to IT server farms, has already begun. The programme is also being introduced to desktops and laptops, with 300 Heathrow-based staff currently taking part in a trial of the system.

BAA IT director Richard Rundle said in a statement: "This is an important initiative for BAA. We are a knowledge-based organisation and this move to a server-based platform will not only enable staff to share information more easily, it will also allow BAA to manage its IT asset base more efficiently and facilitate flexible working."