Siltek`s telecommunications arm has announced its expansion into the Eastern Cape region with the appointment of Bay Telecoms as its regional reseller for Port Elizabeth. Under the agreement, Bay Telecoms will sell Lucent`s range of EuroGeneris and Definity ISDN telecommunication products, for which Siltek is the local distributor.
Siltek Telecoms MD, Michael Aitken, says that Siltek sees the Eastern Province region as a major growth area. Bay Telecoms supplies corporate telecommunications systems in the form of CTI, ISDN PABX solutions as well as call centre technology.
"The appointment will enable Bay Telecoms to target small and medium sized businesses and prospective call centres with Lucent`s sophisticated cost effective offerings," says Aitken. "By establishing a presence in the region, Siltek is better positioned to service its regional customers in terms of close accessibility to products and services and with regard to providing better service levels."
Commenting on the appointment, Bay Telecoms director, Kerry Weeks says that Siltek has a good reputation as one of SA`s leading distributors and can supply superior support services. "This, combined with the fact that it is in a position to offer world class products through distribution agreements with multinationals like Lucent, makes Siltek one of SA`s leading telecommunications suppliers."
Weeks points out that there are many industries based in the region including the motor trade, shipping firms as well as clearing and forwarding agents. He sees Port Elizabeth as a springboard which will service the entire Eastern Cape region.
"There are many small businesses in the region looking for cost effective telecommunications and call centre solutions," says Weeks. "The Eurogeneris call centre system which is targeted at small businesses is priced competitively and can be purchased from as little as a one off payment of R25,000 or in installments of about R650 a month." Eurogeneris works with a Local Area Network (LAN) linked to a switchboard or an ISDN data line or it will work with both simultaneously, explains Weeks. It can be set up so that using the freely available and affordable basic rate ISDN line, the caller can phone directly to a specific extension or to the next most qualified person to handle the call if the extension is busy. Alternatively, it can be set up so that calls are routed to the person who has been available the longest.
For every Basic Rate ISDN card there are two speech channels and up to 20 individual telephone numbers. The system also has an automated reassurance feature that will tell a caller to press 1 to leave a message, 0 for the operator and so on.
Siltek`s Aitken points out that the product also helps the small businesses cut down on costs of an extra headcount, or alternatively, enables one person to be more adaptable.
The Definity Business Communications System (BCS), targeted at small to medium sized businesses, allows an organisation to link branch offices and satellite locations to a central office and creates networks to tie in the company`s locations to customers and suppliers at all times.
"Definity BCS allows employees, clients and suppliers to communicate and share important data, using visual, networking, messaging and conference applications," says Aitken. "This communications investment is built to grow cost-effectively as the organisation expands, to as many as 1000 stations and 120 trunks."
Aitken goes on to say that Definity BCS has powerful, built-in capabilities that enhance customer service, ensuring more productive sales and faster collections. "There are a number of convenient calling features such as multiple appearances per line for more efficient call coverage and six-person conferences that allow productive meetings and savings on both travel and time," he concludes.
Share
Editorial contacts