SWCS CONSULTING LOWERS COSTS, IMPROVES RELIABILITY WITH UPGRADED TELEPHONY AND INTERNET PLATFORMS

COMPANY
SWCS Consulting offers a range of technology and Internet consulting solutions.

CHALLENGE
SWCS needed to replace an aging telephony system to support its growth.

SOLUTION
In addition to upgrading to a T1 Internet connection, SWCS adopted an IP Telephony platform that supports remote connectivity by relying on Allstream Shield, a unique financing program.

OUTCOMES

• Avoided a $15,000 up front investment, and $1,000 in monthly fees, by turning to Allstream to deploy its T1 connection
• Enhanced employee productivity by consolidating voice and data traffic
• Virtually eliminated toll and long distance fees between remote offices
• Gained the ability to upgrade its technology as required, with no additional costs or penalties

As a growing consulting company, SWCS Consulting recognizes the need to adopt up-to-date technology solutions. So when the company's analog-based phone system was approaching end of life, SWCS knew it was time to modernize.

At the same time, the company needed more than a new phone system. Stefan Scott, President of SWCS Consulting, explains. "We're totally dependent on the Internet because we support our customers remotely. However, when we spoke to our incumbent provider about switching our Internet connection from ADSL to T1, we were told it would cost us $15,000 up front to pull fibre, plus an additional $1,500 per month."

Unwilling to make that investment, SWCS began looking for alternatives. That's when one of its own customers recommended Allstream.

SOLUTION

After reviewing SWCS's needs, Allstream's Strategic Account Manager, Mike Schoenberger, explained how a transition to IP Telephony could help the company meet its needs. By relying on IP Telephony, SWCS could eliminate the toll and long distance costs required to have its two remote workers appear as members of its central office. It could also vastly improve productivity by enabling its mobile and remote employees to receive their voice mail messages on their handheld devices.

To keep capital costs down, Allstream recommended that SWCS rely on an innovative financing program called Allstream Shield. This program allows SWCS to pay for its new technology platform in monthly installments. Unlike a lease, however, the company also has the option to upgrade its technology whenever its needs change, with no additional costs or penalties.

As an added advantage, Allstream also devised a solution that allowed SWCS to upgrade to a T1 Internet connection without pulling new fibre - a solution that would ultimately strengthen the company's Internet backbone at one-third of the monthly fee quoted by its previous supplier, and without any up front costs.

BUSINESS OUTCOMES

Since upgrading its telephony and Internet technology, SWCS:

• Avoided a $15,000 up front investment, and $1,000 in monthly fees, by turning to Allstream to deploy its T1 connection
• Enhanced employee productivity by consolidating voice and data traffic
• Virtually eliminated toll and long distance fees between its remote offices
• Gained the ability to upgrade its technology as required, with no additional costs or penalties