By Insight UK / 2 Jun 2023 / Topics: Microsoft 365 Unified communications
The ISDN switch off is a significant moment for organisations across the UK. Many businesses have relied upon the ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), with Private Branch Exchange (PBX) telephony using this network as their core communication tool since the 1980s.
More recently, with the introduction of Microsoft Teams, we have seen many organisations starting to change the way that they communicate and collaborate. But most businesses have only really made the first step. For example, many of the organisations myself and my team speak with have started their journey with Microsoft Teams, so are using the Instant Message capabilities and file sharing, but beyond that not much else.
These organisations were still using their PBX telephony for conversations. Basically, Microsoft Teams has been bolted on top of their current infrastructure. This isn’t only far more complicated for IT managers, having to operate both technologies in parallel – but a double up of costs– with ISDN lines still being paid for.
With the impending switch off and the fact that many have made a partial move to Teams, there are some considerations for organisations – how can they make this transition successful?
1. How do you use PBX telephony today?
Each industry, and business will have very different needs when it comes to their telephony. For example, a doctors surgery will need a phone system which supports it to answer patient calls effectively, yet a marketing agency may need a phone system which allows it to hold regular conference calls with each of its accounts. Clearly very different needs. Also consider how each of your employees use telephony today. For example, your C-suite will more than likely have very different needs to your customer services representative.
2. Does your organisation currently use Microsoft Teams, if so, how?
In a similar way to the consideration above, it’s important to understand how Microsoft Teams is being used today – and to what extent. How do your stakeholder groups use teams? Which features, functions and tasks do they use Teams for?
3. How would a change of telephony system affect your business’ day to day operations?
Does your telephony currently support key tasks or enable processes? Are there operational parts of your business, such as your ability for customers to contact you with enquiries, that would ‘fall down’ in your business if your telephony technology wasn’t right.
4. Will your workforce need support to move to the new technology
As with any technology change, it’s really important to consider how users of the technology will adopt it. When this isn’t considered at the beginning of an implementation, ultimately ROI suffers. Upfront planning is key to successfully managing any resistance to change, and ensuring your workforce truly adopts the change.
It’s clear that the migration from PBX, based on ISDN is a move that needs careful consideration. To make this change successful, organisations must not leave starting their plans to migrate to next year. Working with a trusted technology partner such as Insight can enable you to make your transition a success.
To learn more about how to make your move from ISDN successful, register for our upcoming webinar: Is Your Business Ready for the ISDN Switch Off?
Senior Manager Unified Communications Consulting Services, Insight
Iain is a Microsoft Unified Communications platform specialist for Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams. Iain specialise's in PreSales, Planning, Architecture Designs, and is a dab hand with the solution implementations as well. Iain’s home base is Leeds where he serves the majority of the Northern territory of the UK. Iain has an industry record for driving success on enterprise deployments across the Microsoft Stack.
