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Higher mobility and increasing demand for collaborative resources in the workplace are highlighting the deficiencies of traditional phone systems. Old telephony is expensive to retain or buy, operate and maintain. The cost impacts are particularly critical in a market like Brisbane where business communications have to be flexible, and low cost. As a result, businesses are transitioning to IP-based unified communications.

Work today is more about where and when rather than why and how. Greater mobility is a competitive advantage for all sized businesses. Having take-anywhere-business-resources is particularly important in highly competitive markets where margins are tight.

Telephony has a critical role in delivering business mobility

Yes it is one of the most overlooked areas of cost savings. Too often businesses will retain old telephone systems that offer little more than workplace call and receive services. The net result is largely avoidable waste. The business case for retaining old telephony compared to the purchase of a pure unified communications (UC) telephony system is weak. A pure UC system can provide businesses with tangible savings on call costs, line charges and maintenance including moves, adds and changes – up to 30% savings on annual telephony. These costs are direct and easily quantified.

What is not so readily measurable

The hidden cost savings available to a business with separate branches and multiple touch points between co-workers and employees and customers. UC technology extends the workspace beyond the traditional desktop so that employees can use PC’s, landlines, mobiles, conferencing, video and audio to communicate with colleagues and customers whenever and wherever they want at little or no cost. Staff can dial-out with just a few clicks from their PC, instead of dialling manually. They also gain full information about incoming calls and call history before accepting a call as well as details on who is available and where, when and how – voice, text or message – the receiver wants to take the call. A ShoreTel UC System unlocks costs trapped in communications between offices, co-workers, and customers.

A myriad of additional overheads tied up in telephony

Particularly in older PABX systems combining disparate services and high call cost regimes. A pure UC solution can provide businesses with great efficiencies. It enables them to integrate all communications – voice, data, messaging – with business processes. It can also provide ‘presence’, the ability to find the best person available for live contact as well as centralised messages for review and response no matter if the communications is by voice, text or message.

A more accurate assessment of the costs of telephony can be made through a Total Cost of Ownership evaluation. This review can include the costs of retaining an existing telephone system compared to the costs or purchasing a pure UC solution. Also included should be the costs of UC system capital and replacement, network upgrade, operational start-up, as well as ongoing support and charges.

It will also identify opportunities for increased business efficiency, which may contribute to reduced operational expenses.

The outcome in that retaining your old telephone system could be the most expensive purchase imaginable.