Don't just phone, communicate

Don't just think phones when looking for a new phone system.

Depending on the size of your business, the cost of a phone system works out about the same price as a high end PC for every 4 users, which works out about the price of a low end PC for every employee. The cost per head starts to drop significantly the more employees you have.

Not a bad investment considering that most of your customers or vendors contact your via the phone and, unlike PC's that are almost obsolete within 3-4 years, a new phone system will give you good service for 10 plus years.

With a phone system, unlike PC's, it has the ability to use new technologies with simple additions. Take VoIP, if there is a real cost benefit for you to use it, like saving on long distance charges, a simple bridge will connect yon to the service. You can even bridge you office phone system to your cell phone provider, enabling you to call the office or have calls transferred to you without using your call minutes. Call a customer through the cell bridge and the customer will see your office number, not your cell phone number.

The phone system will probably be the main entrance to your company. Adding third party products to your system can enhance your companies professional image and user efficiencies. Products like Music-on-Hold can promote your company, Call Analyst products can provide valuable information for marketing campaigns.

Deadlines

At any given time, we at ATS have to meet all kinds of hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and even annual deadlines.

High priority deadlines are mostly for service on failed systems. It's almost impossible to predict although here in Florida, we know that system failures will be higher in the summer, due to the weather. Thunderstorms can zap electronic equipment with ease. Even with power and CO protection, which we highly recommend, a close strike can kill a system instantly.

The scheduling and management of high priority deadlines is done with lots of experience and by providing the customer with options and plans. If the system is old, it may be time to install a new one rather than replace damaged parts.

The requested deadlines, upgrades, moves, new system etc, although normally with longer time spans, still need to follow project management guidelines.

There are three things that can help you avoid the little problems that lead to project delays.

• Create a plan and agree schedule.

• Define resources, product equipment and people

• limit and document changes

Take more time before a project begins to outline every aspect of the project. It will always be difficult to predict the unpredictable, however, by mindful of these three things, will help keep your project on track.