<p> Ain’t Nothing Gonna Break My Stride</p><p>Perfume bottle supplier increases productivity and competitiveness with Windows XP</p><p>Stride Group is a design-oriented supplier of glass and plastic bottles for perfumes, toiletries and skincare. Since installing pre-release Microsoft Windows XP across half of the organisation, Stride has increased efficiency and reliability across all areas, and is communicating more quickly and easily with their customers around the world.</p><p>The company uses its IT systems for accounting and stock control, word processing, and to keep in contact with international customers. The most immediately noticeable advantage with Windows XP was that all activities were much faster and easier to carry out. </p><p>“All transactions take much less time and the systems never fail,” said Dilys Hammerton, Accounts Manager, “For a small business like us, being more time and cost-efficient are ongoing goals. Windows XP is helping us achieve them.”</p><p>The performance, reliability and security of Windows XP has also delivered measurable results to Stride. “We do a lot of business over the Internet”, said Dilys, “so having the most secure systems possible is crucial”. With Windows XP, users can encrypt data to provide security and privacy and to safeguard documents. Internet Connection Firewall automatically shields the computers in the network from viruses and unauthorized access from the Internet.</p><p>For a small business like Stride, value-add services in Windows XP, such as Windows Update - which enables users to easily install new features, like service packs, device driver updates, and system security updates - are invaluable. Employees can easily share resources and devices, and customer support is easier and faster with Remote Assistance, which enables an expert to access a user desktop remotely, and identify and resolve the problem quickly. </p><p>Stride has customers across the UK, as well as other countries, including Algeria, Bulgaria, Malta, Columbia, Mexico, the United States and Australia. Communicating effectively and quickly over the Internet is critical to the sales and marketing arm of the company. With Windows XP, Stride can use Windows Messenger and enhanced online conferencing to communicate and collaborate directly with clients and customers using text, voice, or video chat – including considerable cost savings on international phone calls. </p><p>“Using Windows XP has given us that extra reach – in terms of customer communication, performance speed and strength, and platform reliability,” said Dilys, “Stride is increasing its effectiveness and competitiveness, and our plans for expansion and growth are supported and guaranteed by the Windows XP platform.” </p><p>For further information on Windows XP please visit www.bCentral.co.uk/windowsxp/ or call 0870 60 60 600</p>