choosing the best phone system and maintenance package for...
TRANSCRIPT
Choosing the best phone system and
maintenance package for your business needs is not straightforward.
A number of key decisions need to be made and most
businesses don't have the in-house knowledge to help them
interpret the information from suppliers. Purchase Direct have
many years experience in managing our customers telecoms
and can walk you through this complex subject.
What technology to deploy?Before you choose a manufacturer or supplier you need to
consider how your calls will reach you and be distributed The
following options are now available to all sizes of business:
➔ Traditional connectivity through analogue, ISDN2 and
ISDN30 channels
➔ IP connectivity via SIP trunks through DSL, FTTC, EFM
and Leased Lines
➔ Site based technologies like IP and traditional phone
systems
➔ Hosted voice solutions where the technology sits off
site in resilient data centres
➔ Converged voice & data across your WAN and the
integration of your fi xed & mobile technologies.
Which technology you choose will depend on your attitude to
risk, cost and most importantly where and by whom you want
your calls answered.
What features do you select?Once you've picked your technology you need some support
in deciding what features you put on your system. Over
complicating your voice strategy can be costly both in terms
of purchase price and dissatisfi ed customers. Some of the
functionality available for review is:
➔ CTI – computer telephony integration, integrating your
heavily used IT applications
➔ IVR / Auto Attendant – deciding how best to answer
and distribute calls within your businesses
➔ Voice Recording & Call Logging – understanding
how and which calls you want recorded and monitored
➔ Twinning – being able to twin your mobile phone and
desk-phone together to improve communication
➔ DECT – also known as cordless handsets, understanding
the options and functionality delivered through these
➔ Conferencing – reviewing the options for utilising your
telephone system for video and audio conferencing
➔ Teleworking – where you can deliver more fl exibility in
resourcing your sales and support contact centres
➔ Web chat & contact centre applications – enabling
your telephone system to interact with your websites
➔ Reducing your fi xed line estate – minimising the
utilisation of Analogue, Digital and IP technologies
➔ DR (Disaster Recovery) – looking at Service Levels
and fail over plans in the event of an outage
➔ VoIP on your network – routing calls around your sites
enabling you to align staff resource more effectively.
Reviewing maintenance costsAs well as helping purchase new systems and technologies
we can also signifi cantly reduce the cost of the maintenance
of systems, without impeding their SLA's. We also review
what is supported, which in many cases highlights items
no longer in use, or not commercially sensible to have
maintenance support for.
Can we help you with your communications strategy?If you are interested in Purchase Direct helping you with either
the purchase of new communications infrastructure or looking
at how we can reduce your current cost please ask your
Account Manager to arrange for one of our telecom team to
come out to see you.
Interested? For more details contact your Account Manager or email [email protected] or call 01707 299 100