Case Study:

Coordinated Global IT Deployments for Adam Smith International

Client Overview

Adam Smith International (ASI) is a globally recognised consultancy that delivers transformative development programmes in governance, economic reform, and social impact. With operations in diverse and often logistically complex regions, ASI required a reliable IT infrastructure to support its teams and ensure seamless collaboration across borders.

The Challenge

The global IT industry is built around centralised manufacturing and regional distribution, making cross-border deployments complex and costly. Challenges such as customs regulations, import duties, inconsistent product availability, and high shipping costs often make central procurement inefficient and slow.

ASI engaged Capella Computer Solutions to coordinate and oversee a number of independent IT deployment projects, each tailored to the specific needs of a different country office. These deployments took place in:

• Australia
• Fiji
• France
• India
• Kenya
• Netherlands
• Pakistan
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Thailand
• United States

Each location had unique operational requirements, infrastructure constraints, and logistical challenges. The goal was to deliver a consistent, secure, and professional IT environment aligned with ASI’s corporate IT standards.

Capella’s Approach

Capella Computer Solutions addressed this by coordinating deployments globally while working with certified local suppliers. This hybrid model ensured each location received equipment and services tailored to their needs, delivered efficiently, and installed to ASI’s corporate standards, reducing costs, delays, and operational risk.

1. Strategic Oversight with Local Execution

Capella served as the central project coordinator, responsible for:

• Ensuring adherence to ASI’s IT governance and security standards.
• Maintaining consistency in hardware specifications and deployment quality.
• Managing timelines, supplier performance, and stakeholder communication.

2. Local Supplier Identification and Vetting

For each deployment, Capella:

• Conducted a market scan to identify certified and reputable local IT suppliers.
• Assessed suppliers based on technical capability, compliance, and service reliability.
• Approved suppliers who could meet ASI’s standards and work collaboratively with both Capella and ASI’s local teams.

3. Customised Bill of Materials (BoM) Development

Capella worked closely with each supplier to:

• Develop a bespoke BoM and implementation Statement of Work (SoW) tailored to the specific needs of the local office.
• Ensure compatibility with ASI’s corporate IT environment.
• Include devices such as:
  • Laptops – Pre-enrolled in ASI’s global device management platforms.
  • Accessories – Monitors, docking stations, and other sundry items.
  • Room-based video conferencing systems – Standardised on a single manufacturer globally.
  • Office networking equipment – Delivering routers, switches and access points where required.

4. Direct Supplier-Customer Engagement

Once the BoM was approved:

• The local supplier engaged directly with the ASI country office to coordinate:
  • Delivery logistics to site coordinated locally
  • On-site installation, delivering against the SoW
  • Payment and invoicing in country, conducted in the local currency

This decentralised model allowed for faster response times, local in country currency transactions, and greater flexibility in scheduling.

5. Professional On-Site Installation

Local IT professionals provided:

• Hardware installation and testing
• Video conferencing setup and calibration
• Networking configuration (where applicable)
• Equipment familiarisation and basic awareness training

Capella maintained real-time oversight of each deployment, ensuring quality control and resolving any escalations.

Challenges Addressed

Delivering IT infrastructure across diverse locations came with a unique set of challenges. From navigating complex logistics to adapting to varying levels of local infrastructure, each deployment required careful planning and coordination. Capella’s flexible, locally driven model was key to overcoming the following obstacles:

• Geographical diversity: From urban centres like Paris and Sydney to remote locations like the Solomon Islands.
• Logistical complexity: Navigating customs, import regulations, and delivery timelines.
• Infrastructure variability: Adapting to different levels of local IT maturity and connectivity.
• Time zone coordination: Managing communications across multiple time zones and languages.

Results

Capella’s coordinated approach to global IT deployment delivered measurable success across all projects. By combining central oversight with local execution, each deployment met ASI’s operational needs while maintaining consistency and quality. The outcomes below highlight the effectiveness and impact of this delivery model:

• All deployments completed successfully, on time and within budget.
• Zero critical incidents reported during installation or post-deployment.
• Consistent IT experience across all offices, regardless of geography.
• Improved operational readiness for ASI teams, with minimal disruption to ongoing work.
• Positive feedback from both ASI’s central IT team and local office staff.

Client Feedback

“Partnering with Capella was refreshingly straightforward. They took the lead on the IT procurement process for our new office in Fiji including sourcing a reliable local supplier, defining the technical requirements, and managing everything from logistics to installation. Their communication was clear and timely. Overall, Capella was a pleasure to work with.”

Operations Lead, Adam Smith International

“Capella handled the global planning and logistics flawlessly. Despite the complexity of delivery to multiple countries and suppliers, everything arrived on time and fully compliant to our corporate standards. Their coordination gave us complete confidence throughout the different country projects”

Director of IT & Cyber Security, Adam Smith International

Conclusion

Capella Computer Solutions delivered a highly effective model for decentralised IT deployment, combining global coordination with local execution. By leveraging certified in-country suppliers and maintaining a strong oversight role, Capella ensured that ASI’s teams were equipped with the tools and infrastructure they needed to operate efficiently and securely, no matter where they were in the world.