Communications consultants Sweet Lemon support thirty interactive web projects with Hostbasket solutions.

The Ghent communications consultants Sweet Lemon specialises in interactive communication, cross-media and brand development in interactive media. To carry out on-line projects successfully, Sweet Lemon needed a long-term partner to host its websites.

Wanted: a reliable, customer-oriented hosting partner

Previously, Sweet Lemon hosted client web sites itself. After some time, it was decided to outsource this task, leaving the consultancy free to focus on strategic and creative aspects of their web projects. Franky Redant, partner and Operations & IT Manager on the conditions that the hosting provider had to meet: "The ideal profile for us was a supplier who could offer us reliable solutions for a whole range of diverse and complex web projects, but we also needed an efficient service. After an in-depth evaluation of the many bids we received, Sweet Lemon opted for Hostbasket."

Extensive range of services, attractive prices

"Several factors have influenced our choice for Hostbasket", says Franky Redant. "Hostbasket offered us much more than most competitors, and at a very attractive price. We already thought very highly of Hostbasket. We had previously had very good experiences with the company, for instance when we asked them to migrate some DNS (domain name servers) quickly. Despite our tight deadline, Hostbasket carried out the transfer very fast, and in an exceptionally professional manner. We wanted our clients to enjoy the same service."

Hostbasket as long-term hosting partner

Franky Redant: "Hostbasket is our long-term partner for the hosting of more than thirty web projects. Depending on the needs of our end-clients, we opted for either shared hosting (multiple accounts sharing a single server) or dedicated hosting (servers reserved for a single customer). In the case of shared hosting, Hostbasket provides a full management package for the servers. In the case of dedicated hosting, Hostbasket provides standard maintenance, plus hardware and operating system updates. Otherwise, we manage the servers ourselves."

"Sweet Lemon's clients enter into contracts directly with Hostbasket, but we support the client in the initial contacts for the contract. Hostbasket then takes care of changes in hosting formulas or server configurations and upgrades, and resolves any possible problems."

Successful three-way partnership with Nonillion

For programming, back-end integration and technical advice, Sweet Lemon turns to its sister company and IT partner Nonillion. Together with Hostbasket, Sweet Lemon and Nonillion form a three-way partnership in which they can all focus on their own speciality: concept (Sweet Lemon), integration and development (Nonillion) and hosting (Hostbasket).

End-clients happy with interactive web sites

"Hostbasket has become our long-term hosting partner, so that we can offer our end-clients a high-quality total package for hosting interactive, complex web sites. Our collaboration with Hostbasket works very well. The quality of the services they provide us is high, and the support can resolve any problems fast and effectively. I get very few reactions from clients regarding Hostbasket's hosting - and this lack of feedback is an indicator of quality. Hostbasket also delivers flexible solutions, which can always meet our clients' changing requirements. "We are convinced that choosing Hostbasket as partners for all our hosting requirements is the right move", says Franky Redant.

Expansion to Office Mail

Sweet Lemon is very happy with its partnership with Hostbasket, and in addition to its own web site www.sweetlemon.be recently decided to transfer the management of its office mail to the company. With Hostbasket's Office Mail, Sweet Lemon has access to e-mail applications which were previously reserved for companies with a large IT department. In the communications sector, a few minutes without e-mail can mean missed orders or losing client information. With Hostbasket's Office Mail solutions, Sweet Lemon can now operate at the same professional standard as a big company.