JSE-listed ICT company, Spescom Limited, has upgraded a mission-critical PBX installation for JP Morgan Chase Johannesburg.
Although Spescom frequently deals with customers who are upgrading and expanding their telecommunications, it is not often that this involves moving two companies into a single premises, replacing an existing system and achieving the implementation in a single long weekend despite supply problems.
Head of Spescom's Customer Contact Solutions, Paul Fick, explains how this unusual project came about.
"In December 2000, JP Morgan merged with Chase Bank who, through previous acquisitions, had acquired the local operations of Flemings. A consequence of the international merger saw JP Morgan co-locate to the newly established Flemings premises.
"As Spescom's partner Avaya is the preferred supplier to JP Morgan, it was decided to move the Avaya PBX to the new offices and upgrade it."
The equipment incorporates an Avaya Definity 3-stack SI PBX system that integrates with a Spescom DataVoice Trunkside recording solution (as well as an existing alternate recorder solution). About 250 devices are connected to a switchboard that has a PC-based console as well as the normal hard-wired version. Version 8 Avaya software runs on the PBX, which is IP capable although this ability is not being used as yet.
"JP Morgan Chase Johannesburg is in constant contact with overseas associates and obviously requires a stable platform that will ensure minimal downtime - which the Avaya solution ultimately ensures," Fick notes.
Spescom is familiar with deploying Avaya solutions, but projects seldom have such a small window for going live.
"The process started in June 2001 and by 29 October the order to relocate the Avaya switch was placed. At this point in time, Siltek Telecoms, who were the distribution channel, had just gone into liquidation, disrupting supply. The main problem, however, was that we needed to implement the solution on the long weekend of 17 December, as it was the only time JP Morgan could accommodate the move. Being a finance and securities institution it was imperative to get the necessary equipment running quickly and ensure there was no downtime," says Fick.
Needless to say, the deployment was a complete success.
Neels Wilcocks, technology manager at JP Morgan Chase, explains the planning behind the system.
"In moving into a single premises, there were obvious synergies," says Wilcocks.
"In the choice of system, this was driven by strategic concerns - JP Morgan Chase is a worldwide user of Avaya technology.
"This allowed a better support structure with added global experience on top of the existing relationship between our company and Spescom. We have dealt with Spescom for over four years and we are familiar with the quality of service and technology they offer.
"The familiarity of our staff with Avaya interfaces was also an important factor. Although, on the surface, this appears to be a typical PBX deployment, there are a number of specialised functionalities essential in our industry.
"These include the critical links to overseas systems and links to unusual trader voice system, features that are essential for the trading and financial services JP Morgan Chase offers," Wilcocks concludes.
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Spescom Limited is an information and communications technology company listed on the JSE Securities Exchange SA, with operations in the US, UK and SA.
The group is active in two main areas of the world IT market, namely offering product and solutions to connect to the networked economy, and the provision of software solutions to manage information and knowledge.
The strategic focus is on the convergence of knowledge, document, configuration and voice transaction management technologies.
Spescom DataVoice is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spescom Limited and is dedicated to the development and global marketing of its DataVoice products in the area of capture, management, and recreation of live data.
Spescom holds the controlling interest in US-based Spescom Software Inc (formerly Altris Software Inc), a Nasdaq-, OTCBB-listed company, and developer of the award-winning eB software.
In SA, Spescom, in alliance with world-leading companies such as Cisco and Avaya, provides a range of customer contact and intelligent network solutions to its blue-chip customer base.
The company is a leading supplier of communications solutions and products to network operators and service providers on the African continent.
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