Dimension Data, the FTSE 100 listed global network integrator and I-Commerce solutions provider, has rolled out an IP telephony system for Stepek, one of Scotland`s leading independent electrical and furniture retailers.
Stepek employs over 230 people in the head office at Hamilton and across its 22 stores in west and central Scotland. Key to Stepek`s success over the years has been its excellent customer service and focus on delivering quality and value.
Today`s announcement asserts Dimension Data`s position as one of the leading experts in the industry capable of delivering tailored IP telephony solutions. From an initial meeting with Dimension Data`s Scottish Network Services division, Stepek selected the global network integrator to begin the migration of its existing PBX and TDM architecture to an IP telephony system, based on the latest technology from Cisco Systems.
Stepek were experiencing some performance, maintenance and scalability difficulties with its old PBX system and TDM architecture. The company had been investigating voice over IP for some time and with Dimension Data`s technical guidance, chose an IP telephony system to future-proof their communications architecture. In the following weeks Dimension Data`s IP telephony specialists carefully project managed the roll out to ensure everything went to plan.
Paul Stepek, Managing Director for Stepek comments: "Right from the start, Dimension Data were straight with us over what we could expect from the technology and how it could be deployed. We set them an aggressive six week time scale to introduce the IP telephony system and they had to work around our busy retail periods. Dimension Data`s knowledge of IP telephony is excellent; they took ownership of the project and delivered the complete solution on time."
Cisco`s IP voice compression has enabled Stepek to use bandwidth as low as 64kbps between the branch offices and head office. Regarding the voice quality achieved by the
IP Telephony system, Paul comments: "Our users have been impressed by the crystal clear voice quality - vital for a customer facing business like ours."
The new system has a number of operational advantages for Stepek, eg the IP Phones are plug and play without any reconfiguration or downtime, DDI and hunt groups are easily configured by Stepek for example to support specific marketing campaigns.
On the immediate business benefits for Stepek, Paul Stepek adds: "The new IP telephony system has brought us benefits already. Our IT department can now centrally manage and configure all of our comms requirements from a web browser anywhere in the network. Also, given the amount of inter-branch calls we used to run over the TDM system, there are considerable cost implications. Using IP telephony to route calls over the network, we predict that our new system will have paid for itself in just three years, making this an excellent strategic investment for Stepek and one that can grow in step with our business."
Simon Boyle, Marketing Manager for Dimension Data, states: "Stepek`s adoption of IP telephony illustrates that this technology is a real asset for businesses - whatever their size. In Stepek`s case, we have demonstrated IP telephony`s benefits from cost savings, through to enhanced maintenance and scalability advantages - adding real value to the company`s IT strategy. We look forward to completing the final stage of the migration by moving Stepek`s remaining PBX functionality on to the IP system and jointly exploring a number of new and exciting opportunities, such as the deploying XML based applications to the handsets."
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Dimension Data
Dimension Data is a leading global network services and i-Commerce solutions provider, focused on enabling enterprises, telecommunication service providers and new economy companies to communicate and transact effectively in an e-enabled environment.
Dimension Data listed on the London Stock Exchange in July 2000 and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. The Group has over 11,000 employees and operates in over 30 countries on six continents. It has achieved a compound annual growth rate in US dollars of 57 per cent in revenue and 36 per cent in earnings per share over the past two years.