Michigan Company Setting a Course for Unified Communications with Syspine
"We believe that we have made an excellent capital investment in the Syspine system and are confident that based on ease of use and system reliability we will have a quick return on that investment."
------- Phil Hall, PowerQuest President & CEO
PROFILE
Located in Holland, Mich., PQ Marine Holdings is the manufacturer of PowerQuest brand boats. Since 1983, PowerQuest has produced family-oriented luxury sport boats and sport cruisers with 13 different models ranging in size from 22-38 feet and priced from $60,000 to $500,000. PowerQuest is dedicated to continuous improvement with the use of the latest high-tech materials and manufacturing processes. The product line continues to grow each year with new and evolving models. From proven stepped hulls to ergonomically configured helms, PowerQuest is constantly pursuing innovative ideas, designs and products. Where Excellence is the norm and "Good Enough" is not an acceptable term. They can be found online at www.powerquestboats.com.
WHY SYSPINE
For over 25 years, employees at PowerQuest have been instilled with several principles: do not compromise on quality, use the best raw materials available, build each boat as if it was for your family, and surround yourself with quality people who share your vision. Those beliefs are very much evident when seeing PowerQuest’s impressive fleet of high-performance sport boats out on the water, but it was a different story regarding one important component of the company inside the office.
That first guiding principle (do not compromise on quality) was overlooked for several years when employing an office phone system. Their last system, a Toshiba Strata DK424, grew difficult to use and became way too time consuming to deal with. In particular, reprogramming, maintaining and expanding the system were more difficult than it all should have been.
"That system was complicated, prone to failure and not very user friendly," said PowerQuest President & CEO Phil Hall. "Changing the outgoing message became a chore and any power glitch required a reboot of the system. It needed extensive modifications to be technically up-to-date."
Hall turned to his IT provider, TommyIT Services, which is a qualified Microsoft Certified Partner and Microsoft Small Business Specialist. During the past two years, TommyIT has repaired PowerQuest’s old computer system, replaced it with a new computer system and completely developed their current operating system.
"TommyIT recommended switching to the Syspine Digital Operator Phone System after one particularly difficult repair (to our old system)," recalled Hall. "Based on their successful recommendations in the past and our own research we felt it wise to follow their advice."
GOOD MATCH
Hall purchased the Syspine DOS-A50 base unit and 10 IP-310 phones from TommyIT, noting that the ordering process was seamless and efficient. Installation of this unified communications solution was simple too.
"TommyIT used our existing Cat 5 line and installation only took a few hours, including the full integration of the system to our existing broadcasting and paging system," commented Hall. "The set-up was flawless. It was so simple, I could have done it myself."
What Hall and his staff have done themselves is take advantage of the many cost-cutting and time-saving features that Syspine has to offer. In particular, Hall likes the way he can assign a phone to a particular person or department, the ability to link directly to Outlook contacts by name and the ease of phone call management.
"Syspine’s call management capabilities enable us to better serve our customers. Simply by utilizing the call storage feature on the system, I can promptly respond to incoming calls or ones that I may have recently made. It leaves the numbers that require some sort of action and I can modify messages to remind me of special instructions (i.e. when the caller will be available for a call back)."
Another "important tool" that Hall enjoys is utilizing the voicemail-to-email feature of the Syspine VoIP phone system. "Again, this is a feature that we have turned into a useful service tool by allowing voicemails left to be forwarded to our PDAs and Outlook accounts as an email." Additionally, he and the PowerQuest staff have all benefitted from the ease of retrieving, transferring and parking calls.
Hall also reports that the phones have been problem free and of excellent quality, and customers have commented on the clearer reception while on speaker phone.
Overall, Hall is more than satisfied with his first venture into unified communications that TommyIT turned into a management tool.
"I enjoy the versatility of the Syspine system and do not have the programming or monitoring problems experienced with our previous phone system. We believe that we have made an excellent capital investment in the Syspine system and are confident that based on ease of use and system reliability we will have a quick return on that investment."
Pennsylvania Reseller Navigating
Small Businesses to Syspine
"For over seven months, we’ve had 15 phones in busy
offices environments without a single failure,
wear-and-tear issue, or user complaint."
------- Erik Gudmundson, CIO of Beacon Technologies
PROFILE
Beacon Technologies is a growing IT Services firm in Kennett Square, PA that specializes in providing "Worry-Free IT" for small and mid-size businesses in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Northern Delaware. Beacon is the IT department for many local companies that require dependable technology and expert service. Beacon is a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner and invests many resources into training its employees to provide top-notch service to its clients. The company can be found online at www.beaconnet.com.
WHY SYSPINE
Since 1996, Beacon has been servicing clients ranging from small offices to large multi-national corporations. Its list of services is extensive, but up until last year, selling phone systems was something the company had not ventured into.
Beacon CIO Erik Gudmundson first became of the Syspine VoIP phone system from Microsoft, which was promoting its Response Point software to Partners. An introduction event was held in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 8, 2007, and based on the performance of the demo systems, Beacon decided to partner with Syspine.
"Our technicians at the event in D.C. reported that the Syspine units were the most reliable of all the products they tested," said Gudmundson. "Other vendors' products could not work consistently in the demo lab, let alone in the field. We also decided to offer Syspine phone systems because they are easy to set up and service, which helps keep the price down to our clients."
In addition, Gudmundson liked knowing that Syspine was manufactured by Quanta Computer.
"To the non-geek, Quanta may sound like a no-name brand, however many people are pleasantly surprised to learn just how prolific this company's products are. As an OEM provider, they have been making reliable hardware for the big-name computer brands for 20 years. Particularly due to their experience in the notebook computer segment, I am confident that their products are designed to perform well and last a long time.
He also marveled at Syspine's intelligently designed firmware.
"Syspine's 'brain' is a small chassis that can go just about anywhere. Since the phones can have a computer plugged into them, and they run on either a PoE or AC adapter, they are very accommodating of last-minute changes that are common in the small business world."
The final piece of the puzzle was Syspine's powerful voice-recognition system that can be linked directly with a company's internal phone directory, as well as an individual's Microsoft Office Outlook address book, creating an ideal unified communications solution.
"I got an email from Microsoft last year because we have other Microsoft products, and that's when I first noticed Syspine. We waited for the release and once it was available, we called Syspine distributor and placed the order. The purchase process was very easy too - we paid by credit card and it came right away."
GOOD MATCH
Less than three weeks after attending the Response Point introduction event, Beacon had its first client go live with Syspine. Another soon followed.
Since both clients were in new office settings, getting them up and running quickly was important, yet simple to do.
"The Syspine hardware was very easy to install," recalled Gudmundson. "That is a big factor since small businesses tend to have very little time between the day they get funding and the day they want to open their doors. Every minute saved during the ordering and set-up process is precious."
Efficiency, functionality, productivity and professionalism are the words that jump out at you when hearing from Beacon's Syspine clients.
"The Syspine phone system has increased our efficiency given the high level of integration with Microsoft Outlook," said Stephen Beckman, President of Pharmaxis, Inc. "The responsive voice controls, easy-to-use design and functionality of the phone have enhanced our productivity."
"I have received comments from clients and vendors, some with over 100 employees, on the ease of use for a caller and the professional image (Syspine) portrays," added Matthew Clymer, a Partner at Key Development Group.
Overall, Syspine has received high grades from both Beacon and its clients.
"For over seven months, we've had 15 phones in busy offices environments without a single failure, wear-and-tear issue, or user complaint," bragged Gudmundson.
LOOKING AHEAD
Syspine is the only phone system with Response Point that Beacon Technologies offers, and Gudmundson doesn't see that changing any time soon.
"At this point we work exclusively with Syspine and have no plans to sell other hardware vendors because we are satisfied with the way Syspine helps us deliver excellent service to our clients. Whenever we have a technical or order question, we can always reach someone at Syspine who is able to help. Unified communications systems are critical to our clients' businesses, so we need to be 100 percent confident in our partners."
Following the recent Service Pack 1 update that made Syspine even more powerful and easier to use, Gudmundson is as confident as ever and anticipates more Syspines sales down the road.
"Beacon is excited to be one of the first Syspine partners in the Southeastern Pennsylvania and Northern Delaware areas. We look forward to helping more local organizations experience the power and value of this next-generation phone system."
Florida Small Business Scores a Goal with Syspine
"Finally getting a real phone system has been great. When customers are calling in, I think their perception is they’re not dealing with a mom and pop shop. Syspine helps our image and has helped us grow our business."
------- Bo Lamon, President of Lacrossewear, Inc
Lacrossewear, Inc. – a home-grown company based in Coconut Creek, FL and founded in 2001 – specializes in state-of-the-art custom manufacturing of high-end team uniforms and sports apparel for the modern athlete. Through cutting-edge digital sublimation or traditional cut & sew configurations, they combine creative design, high-quality technical fabrics and exceptional product decoration/attribution to deliver the most functional, attractive and comfortable sports apparel in the lacrosse industry. Their group of graphic artists, product developers, service associates and professional sales staff operate as a team dedicated to one goal - to develop your team's unique identity from conception to competition. Lacrossewear - Sportswear with Style! They can be found online at www.lacrossewear.com.
WHY SYSPINE
For the past seven years, Lacrossewear has been ahead of the times in responding to the functional, aesthetic, technical and economic needs of the sports apparel and accessory market. But when it came to their own such needs for an office phone system, the company remained in the 20th century. They had an antiquated system in place that was causing too many problems and costing too much money to maintain.
"We had a four-line Panasonic phone system," recalled Lacrossewear President Bo Lamon. "We liked the fact that it was cordless, but it was really unreliable and had no voicemail capability for auto attendant or anything like that. Plus we were constantly buying new handsets because the old ones would always break or the battery power would die or the buttons wouldn't work. We didn't have a good experience with it."
Feeling dissatisfied and fed up with the old phone system, Lamon took notice of an email he received one day last fall. It was an introduction to the Syspine Digital Operator Phone System, which was about to be launched by Quanta Computer. Lamon was intrigued by this new VoIP offering that catered to small businesses, seemed so easy to use and install, and looked like a perfect unified communications tool.
"I got an email from Microsoft last year because we have other Microsoft products, and that's when I first noticed Syspine. We waited for the release and once it was available, we called (Syspine distributor) Call Management Products. Jerry (Moore) from CMP was very helpful and answered all my initial questions. The purchase process was very easy too – he just sent me a proposal, we paid by credit card and it came right away."
GOOD MATCH
Lamon ordered the DOS-A50 base unit with an eight-port ATA and 10 IP-310 phones for the Lacrossewear office in mid-January. Having heard about how easy Syspine was to set up, Lamon and his staff decided to try it for themselves.
"The Syspine phone system came with a nice, easy chart about how to plug each part in. If you just follow their step-by-step instructions, you can get the system hooked up pretty easily. It was more or less plug-and-play. It took us less than an hour to get Syspine up and running and then I just spent the better part of the afternoon setting up the internal features."
Now up and running, Lacrossewear got to enjoy Syspine's powerful voice-recognition system that can be linked directly with a company's internal phone directory, as well as an individual's Microsoft Office Outlook address book, creating an ideal unified communications solution. Money was also saved by not having to employ someone just to answer phone calls.
"I like the auto attendant and the ease of adding new phones and new personnel is great too," commented Lamon. "We've had employees leave and we just go into the Response Point administrator and we can switch things out really quickly. We just had a new employee start and we set him right up."
Saving time seems to be the theme with other features that are popular in the Lacrossewear office.
"We really appreciate the ability to communicate with each other in different parts of the building. We're able to simply call each other, which saves us from having to walk back and forth to different departments to ask questions. Our old phone system didn't allow us to do that.
"Another feature that is nice is when telemarketers call in, they have a harder time reaching me to sell me something that I'm not interested in. Syspine is a good gatekeeper for us."
Lamon and his staff have also been impressed with Syspine's hardware.
"The sound quality has been very clear. We use it for conference calls with other offices that we have and it works out really well."
Syspine as a whole is working out really well for Lamon and he is just glad he paid attention to the email last year that allowed Syspine to improve his company's business ways.
"Finally getting a real phone system has been great. We were a small company that didn't have one and the price is better than anything else we saw. When customers are calling in, I think their perception is they're not dealing with a mom and pop shop. Syspine helps our image and has helped us grow our business. It's been a good addition to our company."
