When major change occurs, it’s always smart to have multiple choices. Do you respond slowly; taking your time to adjust? Do you relish newness and stride boldly into the future? Or, perhaps more sensibly, do you scope your options and carefully pick the best path for you?
The ISDN switch-off in less than two years’ time is the biggest and most important modernisation of the public phone network ever. For all of us – but, especially for businesses – it’s change on a scale that requires a strategic approach. Those crucial choices must be researched and assessed; due diligence must be carried out; and expert help must be sourced to ensure a smooth transition.
For businesses and their technology providers, picking a partner with the modern telephony smarts needed to plot a successful route through it all is key. Get that consultative collaboration right and what at first appeared to be a potentially-disruptive event can be turned into a positive force for good.
Yes, it’s about the competitively-priced provision of the back-end, cloud-powered technology, but it’s also about the pre-sale engagement; a shared vision for a pain-free transformation; and the capacity, culture and commitment to both deliver it all and, ultimately, support it all going forward.
The clock has begun ticking rather more loudly recently but organisations should not panic. There is still ample time to engage with an expert provider and to begin a switch-off journey that is much smoother than may be currently feared.
For small-to-medium-sized businesses in particular, the thought of the traditional telephony upon which they rely being suddenly switched off can be daunting. However, they will soon realise that its replacement provides exciting opportunities for them to communicate better and more efficiently.
For those businesses’ managed service providers, the switch-off also presents opportunities to drive new growth of their own whilst simultaneously strengthening their customer relationships. For us, that feels like a win, win, win.
Providing choice
In the case of Sangoma, we present four options, all suitable for businesses ranging in size from as few as three employees to many thousands.
Option 1 is for organisations to adapt what they already have: extending the life of their current phone system by connecting it to the internet via a VoIP Gateway and SIP Trunk using an existing internet connection. It’s easy, affordable, and users notice no difference. There are no new cables, no new handsets, no new training.
Option 2 is to upgrade an existing on-premise system with the latest feature-rich, digital unified communications (UC) platform. This can be installed either as hardware or software. All telephony is now via the internet, but is also seamlessly aligned with email, messaging, and chat applications via an easy-to-use, easily accessible user interface. Plus, it can all be replicated on employees’ desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices for super-convenience.
Option 3 is to follow the millions of organisations worldwide by replacing the on-premise system with a powerful, cloud-powered UC solution. All calls, email, chat, and messaging now via the internet; zero line rental; limitless ability to add the latest new features at will; and pay monthly, only for the services that are consumed.
Finally, option 4 is to blend options 1, 2, and 3 to suit individual needs. For example, an on-premise system at head office, and a cloud-based system serving remote sites. Or connect a cloud-based UC platform to an on-premise VoIP Gateway or SIP Trunk-powered system. Whatever the mix, enjoy the same seamless user experience.
Transformative change
Change is coming, and we believe choice is super important. There is no ‘one size fits all’ because every business is different, with different budgets. However, the important thing is that, for end user businesses, there is an option which will address the immediate and practical implications of the switch-off whilst at the same time providing powerful and truly transformational new functionality.
For our managed service and reseller partners, the message is clear. We not only have the technological options, but we also offer a consultative partnership approach which partners are able to take into existing or new customer relationships. Those relationships will always be theirs, not ours. Together, we can make the switch-off work for us all.
Fit To Switch is an all-industry, supplier-agnostic campaign from Comms Business. Find out more here.
This article was included in our October 2023 print issue. You can read the magazine in full here.