Overview
Clico Boutique Hotel, a five star luxury hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg, partnered with Rand Data Systems to resolve ongoing IT challenges and improve system stability. The collaboration evolved over time, starting with essential fixes and growing into a trusted partnership for full Managed IT support services. From stabilising connectivity and improving power resilience to enabling remote collaboration through cloud migration, Rand Data Systems transformed Clico’s IT infrastructure and ongoing operations, enhancing guest satisfaction and business continuity.
The problem
Clico Boutique Hotel is a five star boutique hotel tucked away in the upmarket suburb of Rosebank, Johannesburg. Known for its calming ambiance, fine-dining offerings, outdoor pool and the revamped Sec Restaurant, Clico caters to both luxury leisure guests and business travellers seeking a premium, personal experience.
Before working with Rand Data Systems, Clico faced a string of frustrating IT problems. System integration was inconsistent. Their IT support lacked responsiveness and reliability. Worst of all, during the early days of load shedding around 2012, the hotel struggled to maintain operations during power cuts. Jeanette, the owner of the hotel, had to purchase a generator to stay open, but with no working UPS or automated backup system in place, critical data was repeatedly lost.
“It was a very, very stressful time for us because we didn’t have the information and the history we needed to work with,” Jeanette recalls. At one point, the entire kitchen stock had to be re-captured from scratch. Even simple functions like emails, phone calls and guest bookings were being compromised due to unstable internet and a lack of structured IT Support.
Clico’s goal was clear: they needed their technology to function without constant oversight of panic. Stable, fast Wi-Fi was a priority, not just for guest convenience, but to keep their hotel management software (HMS) running. They wanted a solution that ensured smooth transitions during load shedding, protected their data, enabled remote collaboration, and provided dependable support when things went wrong. Most importantly, they needed to partner with someone who understood hospitality and could grow with them.
The solution
The partnership with Rand Data Systems began by addressing Clico Hotel’s most pressing issues through responsive managed IT support services. This included Wi-Fi coverage and load shedding resilience. Access points were installed throughout the property to ensure uninterrupted internet across all rooms and spaces, creating a better experience for guests and a more productive environment for the staff.
Next, we introduced a proper UPS and backup power solution. This protected both data and operations during the shift between Eskom power and the generator, a crucial move for preventing future data loss and downtime.
As Clico’s needs evolved, we migrated their operations over to Google Workspace, allowing Jeanette and her team to access shared files securely across multiple devices, even offsite. Over time, we enhanced their cybersecurity posture with custom IT security services designed for hospitality. Throughout the journey, Rand Data Systems remained hands on and available 24/7.
Jeanette shares, “Without a stable and well supported Wi-Fi network, we really are compromising significantly, so we rely heavily on Rand Data. What’s fantastic for me is knowing that I can call or message at any time of the day and they will answer.
The outcome
Today Clico Boutique runs on a solid, secure IT foundation. The once fragile systems are now stable and reliable. Internet connectivity is seamless, even during load shedding. Staff can collaborate in real time using cloud tools, and their data is backed up and protected. When COVID-19 hit, Wilhelm, CEO of Rand Data Systems, offered Jeanette reduced retainer rates while continuing to provide managed IT support services.
“Wilhelm was absolutely during COVID. He went above and beyond to reduce the retainer to almost nothing but still be available to us if we need help, which we did. It speaks to his integrity, his willingness to meet me as his customer and to understand what I needed” she says.
A heartfelt thank you to Jeanette and the Clico team for sharing their story and making our Customer Success Series a reality. Here’s to more digital transformation, one hotel at a time!
Solutions implemented
- Network infrastructure upgrade (Wi-Fi solutions for Hotels)
- Backup power and UPS Installation (Business continuity for load shedding)
- Google Workspace migration (Cloud computing for hospitality)
- Advanced cybersecurity security solution(Cybersecurity solutions Johannesburg)
- Ongoing Managed IT Support Services (Reliable IT)
- Data protection and IT compliance (Data security for hotels)
- Training and support (Empowering the Clico team)
