Shoe retailer Faith has improved communications and cut
call costs between its 220 stores by installing a Mitel
IP telephony system, which it says will pay
for itself in two years.
Faith, which has 2,500 employees nationwide, added a
Mitel 3300 IP Communications Platform (ICP) to
extend its existing telecoms system, and introduced ADSL-based
Mitel IP phones in its stores.
By using these handsets, which use a flat-rate broadband
connection, Faith significantly reduced the cost of in-store calls
by up to £10,000 per year, per store, said Luke Phillips, IT
director at Faith.
Phillips said, “It has been really challenging trying to manage
all our stores using an analogue system. Taking this step has been
such a huge move forward for us.
“Deploying IP communications has enabled inter-site
communications and control at our HQ, which previously had just not
been possible.”
He added that the new system will have paid for itself in two
years, because the number of lines has been reduced.
“Not only do we get all the benefits of interconnected sites and
more control over our system, we also have quantifiable ROI – you
can’t ask for more.”
Faith plans to replace its old system in time, and migrate fully
to IP. Phillips said he is also planning to bring the retailer’s
call centre in-house, using Mitel’s Contact Centre system.
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