Selecting a Telecom Solutions Provider
Contact:
Peter Engle, President
Joy Communications
(772) 283-2000
pengle@joycomm.com
HOW TO SELECT A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS PROVIDER
By Peter Engle, President, Joy Communications
Stuart, FL – March, 10, 2005 — Today's business environment has
never been more competitive. Companies in virtually every industry are working overtime
to increase profits and outperform the competition. To aid them in their efforts,
they are looking at a variety of ways to enable their employees to increase customer
service. One such way is to take advantage of the quantum leaps in technology being
offered by today's telecommunications systems.
Ignoring your company's rapidly becoming obsolete telecommunications system can
mean lost revenue and wasted time for your staff and employers. It is imperative
that your company make every effort to control costs and increase productivity.
And a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, over the long-term, can pay for
itself.
One thing to remember — a telecommunications system is a major investment that should
be able to grow with the company. Furthermore, your system should be purchased from
a reputable provider who will consult with you to select the right system for your
company, install the system, provide training and long-term assistance with any
problems and install future system upgrades.
The following is a list of considerations to take to heart when selecting a telecommunications
systems provider:
Manufacturer Authorized or Accredited.
Is the telecommunications provider authorized or accredited by the system's manufacturer?
Beware of providers that say they are authorized by the manufacturer, and are not.
The firm may be able to install the system, but will not be able to provide the
ongoing support, including upgrades to the system and correcting any software problems.
Because the provider does not have access to the manufacturer for the resolution
of these problems, it places you, the customer, at a high risk. To determine if
the provider is authorized or accredited, start by asking for a comfort letter from
the manufacturer or call to the manufacturer's regional office for a provider reference.
It is also a good idea to visit the vendor's office to take a look at the inventory,
facility and day-to-day business operations.
Voice and Data Experience.
In today's rapidly evolving telecommunications marketplace, you will need to select
a provider that has a significant amount of both voice and data experience. This
is critically important, because the convergence of voice and data has happened.
Your company needs to work with a provider that has the technical expertise in computer
telephony integration (CTI).
Full-Service Telecom Provider.
The company should provide a single point of contact for consultation, design, installation,
implementation, training and maintenance of voice, data and video communications
cabling and equipment. A wide range of top-quality, reasonably priced products and
services should also be available to you. Is the provider simply going to sell you
a piece of equipment, or provide your company with a solution with an application
orientation to it?
Provider Reputation.
The provider's reputation is as significant as the product you buy. In addition
to checking with other business associates about the companies and systems they
selected, check with the Better Business Bureau for references. You should ask the
provider for a least five customer referrals. Then call each one of those referrals.
Ask how long have you had the system? How is the providers' ongoing support? Has
the company demonstrated an ability to resolve any problems as they arose?
Understanding Of Your Business.
Does the company have an understanding of your business? Are they able to translate
that understanding into adapting the technology to most benefit your company? For
example, a mortgage banking firm is going to have a different system application
from a manufacturing company. You need to select a provider that has a full-scope
of business knowledge and understanding.
Entrepreneurial Approach.
In today's business environment you need to select a provider that brings an entrepreneurial
approach to conducting business. The most significant aspect of a telecommunications
system purchase decision is that a dynamic partnership will be formed between your
company and the provider. Therefore, it is vital that the two understand each other
and that the provider be responsive, flexible and competent to effectively handle
your needs. Many large telecom providers have not adapted quickly to technology
changes in the marketplace, and have limited local support if you have a problem
with the your system. In addition, entrepreneurial providers empower their customers
with new systems and features needed today, ahead of expectations, then show them
how these can be applied in their business.
Purchase Options.
Does the provider offer you options of leasing, financing or buying the new system?
Even with the demise of the investment tax credit, there are still plenty of good
reasons to lease equipment. The financial records related to your current system
can be used as a reference point. You will need to factor in the initial cost of
the system, potential enhancements and repair costs.
System Warranty.
What type of warranty does the company offer? It is critical that you understand
your warranty options and determine whether they cover parts and labor which provides
large and small businesses with a combination of security, comfort, value, dependability
and peace of mind.
Remote System Access.
Make sure you are given the option for remote system access. Remote access enables
your provider to make adds, moves or changes to your telecom system from off-site.
This feature can reduce costs over the long-term.
Local Support and Service.
Does the telecom system provider have a local technical assistance center staffed
by highly-trained, certified technicians? Will the company come back to your business
after time has passed, assess what has changed, and make recommendations to improve
your system? Your previous telecom provider may have recommended a technology that
was great for your business five years ago, but the environment has changed, there
are better solutions today, and there will be tomorrow.
Customer Employee Certification.
To some providers the less the customer knows, the better. Reality is the more you
know about your system, the better off you will be over the long-term. Will your
telecom provider send your designated employees to a certification school for training
on the system? Once they have been trained, they can have access to your system
switch to do add, moves and changes. This will enable you to control service costs
and enhance flexibility. In addition, a trained employee will be able to "talk the
talk" with a certified technician if a problem ever arises.
Remember that you are shopping for a solution, not a product. Many companies make
the mistake of simply buying the equipment rather than solving their telecom problems.
It is important that the provider you select performs an audit of your existing
system and either design a totally new system or integrate more efficient equipment
into the current system.
The technology must, first of all, increase your profitability and, secondly, give
your company a competitive advantage. The bottom line is to save money with cost-effective
ways to improve the communications capabilities of your company.
About Joy Communications
Joy Communications, founded in 1982, with offices in Stuart, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale,
and Miami, is a multi-million dollar private company with over 10,000 customers
throughout Florida. Joy Communications sells and services telecom equipment including
Mitel, Samsung, Shoretel and Nortel, and provides data equipment and services. Joy's
service area extends throughout South and Central Florida and the Tampa/St. Pete
area. For more information on Joy Communications, please call 1-800-432-3638 or
visit www.joycomm.com.