The Top 7 Dos and Don ts of Choosing a Telephone System Upgrade. Or Why you may or may not wish to use your DMS provider

Transcription

1 The Top 7 Dos and Don ts of Choosing a Telephone System Upgrade Or Why you may or may not wish to use your DMS provider

2 Speaker Background Active in Telecom Industry since 1971 Founder of four Telecom firms Published author of various articles Created Telecom Advisors Group, Inc. in 1996 to advise dealerships in matters relating to telecom technology and services.

3 So much confusion

4 and to make matters worse

5 Let s see how it got so crazy

6 Telecom Confusion Data Network Accessories Basic Communications Bandwidth Twisted Pair Fiber Co Axial Cat V/VI Business Communications Requirements

7 The telecom solution that works for one dealership may be totally wrong for another.the solution should adapt to the store, not the other way around

8 Once you announce that you re looking for a new telecom system, you ll be busy Every telecom salesperson s solution will be perfect for your dealership

9 Don t listen to the vendors that tell you that VoIP is the only way to go..it s not

10 New Telecom System Pricing $1, $1, $ $ $ stations 100 stations 200 stations $ $ Average price per station or endpoint

11 System Upgrade Pricing $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ stations 100 stations 200 stations Average price per station or endpoint

12 Traditional TDM PBX vs. Voice over IP (VoIP) PBX Extensions/ Routing Tables Switching functions Call Controller Gatekeeper Gateway Benefits of VoIP include the elimination of duplicate cabling and the possibility of reduced monthly costs

13 Traditional connectivity for dealerships with multiple locations Store #1 Body Shop Store #2 Remote locations are connected via mileage-based point-to-point T-1 circuits

14 VoIP configuration for dealerships with multiple locations Store #1 Body Shop Carrier s Network Store #2 Eliminate LD Charges and provide intercom dialing between locations.

15 ADP Network Phone & R&R Integrated Telephone System configuration for dealerships with multiple locations Store #1 PRI or SIP Trunks from Carrier Body Shop Store #2 Network DMS

16 Mistake #7 Expecting that Voice over IP (VoIP) Call Quality will be as good as your old land line call quality

17 Call Quality vs. VoIP/SIP It s all about Bandwidth Land Line POTS Land Line POTS Land Line POTS VoIP/SIP VoIP/SIP VoIP/SIP

18 Mistake #6 Not holding on to at least a small number of Analog Trunks just in case

19 When upgrading to VoIP, keep a few analog lines VoIP/SIP NO Land Line (POTS) Network VoIP/SIP Network Land Line (POTS)

20 Mistake #5 Assuming that the existing network cable infrastructure will work with the new VoIP system

21 Before you start a search for a new system, verify with your IT department that your network cabling is CAT 5e or better VoIP/SIP CAT 3 Cable VoIP/SIP CAT 5e Cable VoIP/SIP CAT 6 Cable

22 Mistake #4 Buying new technology too late

23 Make sure any products or services you re evaluating aren t obsolete at time of purchase = = =

24 Mistake #3 Buying new technology too early

25 Make sure any products you re evaluating have been on the market long enough to ensure trouble free operation + = The Piggly Wiggly grocery chain with over fifty locations throughout Texas was the first to install the Cisco Call Manager in a multi-location environment. The result was catastrophic.

26 Mistake #2 Not performing a Billing Audit prior to the installation of the new system

27 Before you begin your search for a new system, perform a billing audit to eliminate unwanted lines and to decrease cost Existing Yearly Expense Proposed Yearly Expense Proposed Yearly Savings $140, $120, $122, $100, $80, $74, $60, $48, $40, $20, $0.00 Riverview Mercedes-Benz

28 Mistake #1 Not developing a specific list of system requirements and specifications with which all bidding vendors MUST comply

29 Develop a list of system specifications, requirements and minimum terms for each bidding vendor to receive = This is an absolute MUST to ensure all vendors are bidding to the same size and configuration

30 Some other, less critical mistakes Not having a back-up Internet connection Buying a VoIP system without SIP interface Not allowing for growth of stations or trunking Not buying a system that s compatible with your other technologies Not coordinating the dealership dialing plan with the new system install Signing a long term maintenance agreement when buying the system

31 Pros and Cons of the DMS provided phone system PROS Tight integration with DMS modules Single point of contact Installation coordination CONS Less control of costs Non competitive acquisition Possible upgrade costs Long term commitment to single vendor Dependant on DMS supplier s relationship with telephone supplier Standard for VoIP Telephone System are just that..standards

32 Tips when buying VoIP Systems Know going into the process WHY you are looking at VoIP. Know going in if your internal IT staff will be making programming changes on the new system and therefore require some training. Don t necessarily buy the least expensive system. Explore all the options and concentrate on the longevity of the equipment vendor. Use trusted brands.don t buy systems that are generic in nature and built on White Box server design. Don t commit to a new voice system from your DMS provider without shopping the competition who can offer similar and compatible products. DON T BUY USED!

33 How to start the process Gather and copy all telecom related billing Survey all managers for input of needed features Identify the vendors that will receive bid document Interview vendors and check references Conduct staff and manager meetings Make vendor selection

34 Questions?