Nandos rethinks its open source environment NANDOS HAS redesigned its IT infrastructure and restaurant connectivity by incorporating a new Linux-based solution and connectivity across its 230-strong restaurant network.

The company requested an audit by Synaq, which, according to Yossi Hasson, sales and marketing director at Synaq, had a number of reliability and data integrity issues when sending daily consolidated trade data to head office from all the branches` point-of sale-systems.

The system was originally designed by Obsidian Systems. The restaurant chain outsourced the project to Synaq, a provider of managed Linux services and Open Source software, as well as some business intelligence functionality to analyse trade data, identify trends and monitor stock levels across the country.

"We then set up a completely new server and initiated a three- to four-week re-design, development and testing process," says Hasson.

Antonio Silva, spokesperson for Nandos, said the solution more than met expectations and has proven to work in the given timeframe and within budget.

"Synaq has the project management skills which are sorely lacking in the industry. They are in touch with business and technology, and their standards-based approach ensures that one never feels locked in as is often the case with open source and custom development," comments Silva.