Internal telephone System

[bsilcox]

Does anyone have a good internal communication system. We are a dealer group that cannot have paging and must use other means. We currently use Nextel but are looking for a different solution. Please advise. Thanks!

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Robert "Bob" L. Silcox

[fburrows]

Bob:
Phone systems are really tough and probably next to your computer system the most complex system in the dealership. Two of our customers have recently installed Cisco voice over IP phone systems. These systems let them utilize the internet for outside calls as opposed to the telephone company wiring so there is a considerable savings in the local and long distance service. The same system provides their computer network. In other words, you plug your desktop computer into the back of the telephone.

In both cases, the parts managers told me that they were very pleased with their new system, which is surprising for a new phone system. All the managers have wireless pocket phones that they use when they are away from their desks. They also install wireless access points throughout the dealership to accommodate the wireless phones. Everyone still has a wired desk phone.

I dont have any connection with Cisco although I did loose money on their stock a couple of years ago. The savings in local and long distance will be reduced when the government realizes that they are loosing the tax income that they currently get on your existing phone bill. I would assume that the skill of the local company that configures and installs these systems is very important. You might want to check out this option with a local dealer.


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Frank Burrows ABS
fburrows@absdata.com

[Matt Parsons]

Phones are certainly an area that have drastically changed over the last few years. When sourcing a phone system, one item you may wish to consider is integration to your in-house DMS. This integration can go way beyond simple screen pops and call routing, as voice can be in essence digitized and treated as an actual application. What this means is that key touch points in your DMS can solicit calls to be made such as special order parts arriving, RO's being cashed out, work that needs additional authorization, etc.

If you have interest in this type of solution, I suggest you contact your DMS provider to determine if they offer this type of solution. Not all do, but several of the larger ones have this fuly developed and installed nationwide.