It takes a smart telephone system to win the loyalty of a shrewd financial services company. Not only did Spratt Financial Services want the best technology around, they also wanted to find a provider with a proven track record of exceptional support.

 

Background

Since 1989 Spratt Financial Services has been providing expert financial advice and a full range of insurance, lending and investment solutions to a broad customer base. Based in Auckland, Spratt are independent advisors. This means they work with many financial providers, but are not aligned to any specific brands. Knowing how to accurately assess everything that is available in the market, then make the best call is one of Spratt's strengths. Craig Spratt, Managing Director of Spratt Financial Services, used this talent when it came time to select a new telecommunications partner. "We were looking for a telecommunications system that would provide our team of 15 with a stable, leading-edge technology platform", said Craig.  When evaluating the various options, Craig was careful to look behind the sales speak to ensure the technology offered was backed by strong support. "We wanted a telecommunications partner we could rely on - one with a strong user base.  We had experienced too many systems in the past which had caused us headaches.  Each one had overpromised and under delivered on both capabilities and service."

A business colleague advised Craig to look for a VOIP telephony system, because it was the way of the future. Keen to embrace innovation, Spratt's management team heeded this advice - even though the financial services sector is usually known for its conservatism. Several weeks and numerous proposals later, Spratt's decision makers recognised that the Trixbox Pro system proposed by Hitech Solutions stood out as the winner. To confirm their evaluation, Craig investigated Hitech Solution's user base and discovered that several forward-thinking companies were already successfully using the Trixbox Pro solution. In Craig's words: "Trixbox is more cost effective, and at the same time it allows us to grow using new technologies in IT.  It gives us a very good stable platform."

 

Implementation

Installation and deployment of Trixbox Pro at Spratt Financial Services went exactly as planned. "We expected it to be relatively painless, and it was", said Craig Spratt. While personnel at Spratt were a little hesitant about the new technology, Hitech Solutions' training quickly gave them the confidence they needed to use the system.

 

User Experience

Spratt Financial Services were expecting cost-efficiencies with the move to Trixbox Pro, and they got more than they bargained for. Reporting soon showed that the new system was exceeding predicted cost savings. Other performance measures have also lived up to expectations. Craig Spratt described Hitech Solution's support performance as "excellent", adding that any of Spratt's employees would say the same. When asked to rate the new system and the support that comes with it, key personnel unanimously agreed on 10 out of 10.

In conclusion, Craig said that other businesses he knows have had a nightmarish time when they moved to a new telephony system, but for Spratt Financial Services the move has been totally positive. Whenever asked, he happily refers others to Hitech Solutions and Trixbox.

 

Highlights:

• Significant reduction in communication costs. In addition to the call savings provided by VOIP, Hitech's all-inclusive per-extension flat charge supports better financial management.
• Easy moves/adds and changes. Requests are nearly always actioned within a day.
• Highly scalable. The system can double or triple in size for a minimal increase in cost.
• Functionality supports business efficiency. Features such as HUD (heads up display), voicemail-to-email and Findme make work days run more smoothly.
• Telecommuting made easy. Employees can keep their extension number when they're travelling or working from home. No configuration changes required.
• Updates are automatic and free of charge. Trixbox comes with lifetime licensing, so new features can be downloaded and implemented without any cost concerns. Spratt Financial Services will always have the benefit of the latest Trixbox enhancements and upgrades.