The Challenge
Kensington Swan had an aging and unsupported telephone PABX system and was looking to replace it with a unified communications and collaboration solution for its people.
This had to provide a more flexible and mobile workplace, allowing people to work more efficiently and able to deliver on one of the four company values: “Collaboration – Working together to achieve the best outcome for you”.
They wanted Datacom to help them understand the benefits of Skype for Business, including enterprise voice to replace the existing PABX, and then help plan, manage the implementation and staff migration, while also providing ongoing support for the new solution.
The solution also allowed Kensington Swan to update telecommunication services to new, more efficient technology, reducing costs.
The Solution
Datacom’s team planned, designed and implemented a Skype for Business solution including enterprise voice to providing a state of the art messaging, conferencing, audio/video communications platform for Kensington Swan’s staff in across its Auckland and Wellington locations.
We integrated with Kordia SIP for voice services and migrated existing phone numbers to the new solution allowing them to decommission the existing PABX phone system and associated applications.
This project was managed alongside an office move and allowed Kensington Swan to move into a modern workplace digital environment as part of the change in physical environment.
On-premises Skype for Business servers were implemented with a simple design which maximised features and performance while cutting back on complexity. Datacom also provides ongoing support after the implementation.
The Datacom Difference
One unusual feature of the solutions is that Datacom delivered a fully virtual solution with no media converter needed – reducing cost. Generally, voice gateways are required to connect to a PSTN however a Kordia direct SIP was used (Session Initiation Protocol) which supports Skype for Business connectivity with the PSTN.
Datacom delivered a communication solution that provided a flexible and mobile workplace to Kensington Swan’s staff introducing Instant Messaging & Presences, desktop sharing, along with simple and easy voice and video calling and conferencing.
The Skype for Business solution improves staff working environment with flexibility, makes them more efficient and it turn helps communications both internally and with clients.
“The whole roll out of Skype for Business was a great success. We were able to immediately use a sophisticated tool for communicating and collaborating once we moved into new premises. The switchover from a legacy PABX to a state of the art system went off without a hitch, improving efficiency and information sharing.”
Nigel Stevenson, CIO Kensington Swan