2iQ

From its headquarters in Watford, England, 2iQ works with the world’s leading office furniture manufacturers, architects, designers and facilities management specialists, as well as the technology industry. Its monitor and computer supports, cable management, and power and data solutions are in use at a range of organizations, helping to save space and enhance standards of health, safety, and comfort for computer, audio-visual, and office users.

“We modify and enhance working environments to match the needs of those working in them, linking people and technology. We will also tailor and design to particular specifications.”
- Stewart Colbourne, Managing Director, 2iQ.

2iQ’s unique status in its market and growing demand for the its products has led to a rapid expansion of the business. With sales booming, and more employees being recruited, 2iQ found itself short of space and decided to move to bigger premises. The firm wanted to explore ways to improve on its phone system, as well as its PC connectivity and Internet access. One of the requirements was to run an internal WiFi network to which all 2iQ laptops would be connected.

“We had a very basic PBX-style set up, and were interested in something that offered a bit more. We also wanted to look at alternatives to the leased lines we were using for Internet access, and at running our laptops off a wireless network.”
- Stewart Colbourne, Managing Director, 2iQ.

A conversation with local technology supplier MCom convinced 2iQ that it was possible to have these and other benefits in one integrated solution. The ShoreTel deployment consisted of a ShoreTel 40 Voice Switch, well-suited to the needs of a small but fast-growing business like 2iQ. The SIP-enabled phone system connects through an IP radio on the roof of the 2iQ building to a network of IP radios in the Watford area, which in turn links to a main hub in London’s Docklands. Calls inside the network are free, but even calls made outside of it cost less now, with only one termination fee to pay, plus no line rental. Other benefits include:

• Significant time and cost savings achieved as IT staff can maintain the system with the Web-based interface of ShoreTel Director.
• Increased productivity with ShoreTel Call Manager, which integrates communications tasks previously performed with separate tools.
• ShoreTel Core Software includes a powerful voice messaging system, including user-configurable call handling options and find-me routing. The voice messaging system can be accessed visually from ShoreTel Call Manager or the user’s Microsoft^® Outlook^® inbox.
• The system’s conference call capabilities enable team members to collaborate on the fly without having to rely on pricey third-party services.

“We knew we could save money on what we were paying before. The way it’s worked out with the new phone system, we reckon we’ll pay for it in two years.”
- Stewart Colbourne, Managing Director, 2iQ.