Precision VOIP Architects

ShoreTel | Blog

ShoreTel defines UC: brilliant simplicity

Authored by: Kevin Gavin, VP Marketing

Any conversation about the future of communications has to include a discussion about unified communications (UC). Surprisingly, although a growing number of companies are now experiencing the productivity and connectivity gains achievable from UC deployments, the industry itself still seems to be conflicted as to what UC actually means.

Undoubtedly, UC today features many different forms of communications—including voice, video, instant messaging—and powerful applications that extend beyond the telephone to break down communication barriers and help people connect and access the information they need as quickly and as easily as possible.

And therein lies ShoreTel’s definition of UC: brilliantly simple solutions designed to help people communicate anywhere, any time and in any way they choose.

For a UC solution to follow through on its promises of productivity gains, reduced costs and improved collaboration, it has to be simple to deploy, simple to maintain and simple to use. Introducing complexity into the network only requires more sleepness nights from overstretched IT folks, puts additional strain on already tight budgets, and increases the risk of unplanned downtime.

Complexity and clunkiness also increase the likelihood that end users won’t take advantage of the feature-rich collaboration tools, mobility features and workflow applications that hold the keys to a rapid ROI, improved customer service and productivity boosts.

At the same time, these applications and tools must be easily customized to the individual business environment—rather than the other way around. Businesses need the flexibility to respond to market shifts and challenges quickly and cost-effectively. We witnessed this recently as the economic downturn led to a huge reduction in business travel, and an increase in online conferencing.

As a result, today’s UC solutions must offer business agility through ease of interoperability and integration, and eliminate the traditional risks of locking in on proprietary systems with roadmaps to obsolescence.

Since ShoreTel was designed from the ground up for IP networks, we’ve been able to focus on an approach that optimizes the potential of IP, including newer technologies such as session initiation protocol (SIP), and delivers UC solutions that anyone can use. Not only do our simply brilliant solutions take communications to a whole new level of ubiquity, but they give businesses the freedom to innovate in which ever direction they choose.

And for the majority of cash-strapped, competitive businesses today, any other definition of UC is completely irrelevant.
ShoreTel’s Brilliant Simplicity Rocks Colorado

Authored by: Robert Clarke, Area Manager, Rockies

One of the biggest challenges government faces today is how to expand information-sharing and services for constituents within a system that is built on transparency, public participation, and collaboration.

Opening lines of communication continues to be a priority for cities, states and agencies throughout the country. However, government offices and agencies also face the same challenge as businesses: how to do more with less.

For the City of Lakewood in Colorado, this meant replacing a 22-year-old phone system that was increasingly dropping calls, causing costly, time-consuming and embarrassing fire drills, and that at the end of the day offered limited features to the two dozen or so offices across the city. And this needed to be completed within budget, on schedule and under close taxpayer scrutiny.

After a comprehensive and meticulous evaluation process, and a pilot system that took less than a day to set up and learn, the City of Lakewood team chose ShoreTel.

With more than 1,000 ShorePhone IP Telephones across the city, lines of communication have never been more open—from recreation centers, public works and other departments that can handle more calls faster to hotlines that give out advice to citizens during snowstorms and other emergency events.

In fact, the City of Lakewood IT team is so impressed with the capabilities and ease of management of the ShoreTel UC system that representatives recently spoke at a seminar offered by ShoreTel partner OCx.

At the seminar, staff from school districts, city governments and public health departments from up to 300 miles away gathered to hear how the reliability, brilliant simplicity and low total cost of ownership of the ShoreTel system is helping the City of Lakewood leap mountains.

Read the full City of Lakewood success story to find out more.

We specialize in the installation, deployment and applications of the ShoreTel IP Phone System. As certified ShoreTel engineers, our primary goal and mission is to make your transition to your new system as easy as possible. Your choice of ShoreTel was a good choice and with that comes some daunting tasks!

Tasks like: Installation, Quality of Service, Applications such as Work Groups, Hunt groups and Auto Attendants.

We can help. With years of experience we can apply and offer you far superior support and implementation of the day to day administration on your ShoreTel System.

We offer many levels of support starting with installation and deployment including application and implementation of your ShoreTel Enterprise IP System or Conference Bridge. Even if it is simply adding a new site, new phones or consulting with you on a new design, we will not stop until you are satisfied. Our mission statement is very simple, Your Success is our Business.

These are some questions you might ask yourself...why would you consider Precision VOIP Architects?

I have a ShoreTel Enterprise contract, why should I get additional support from Precision VOIP Architects?
Great question with a simple answer. Your Enterprise contract is a must have. We do not take away from that but add to it. What you do not know is this, You're not entitled to Adds, Moves and Changes, Application Development, Installation or Upgrades including pre planning or reconfiguration of deployed sites and updates, including consultation services. There are also requirements, with regards to who can call and who cannot call under an Enterprise contract. These non enterprise "other" services outside of the Enterprise agreement, are chargeable at a substantial rate. We offer to you more then a "Weekend Installation Team" we offer a completed, running system with a Guarantee at a very affordable price.

Why would I need Precision VOIP Architects as a Administrator?
Many times, especially in the smaller class customers, the person who gets the admin duties of the ShoreTel is the office manager. More often then that this just adds more to the day to day job duties. Sadly the training for the ShoreTel system is not as it should be, and in many cases just a one day overview. Combine this, with an office manager who already runs the company, along with a new technology such as a new phone system, it can be overwhelming. This is why we can offer you a better level of administration, eliminate the burden on your employees, as well as the frustration that comes with learning a new system, by better meeting the needs of everyone who is trying to learn a new Phone System. The cost savings alone to you is accomplished by having a Certified ShoreTel Trained Senior Level Engineer at your finger tips.

Why is Precision VOIP Architects a ShoreTel only shop?
ShoreTel simply is the best in the business, affordable, easy to use and is the best solution in the VOIP industry. Precision VOIP Architects is also ShoreTel certified, with a former ShoreTel Sr Level TAC engineer at your service.