This post, Part III of my series on Verizon Enterprise’s Virtual Communications Express, I spoke with Brandon Mawhorter of Digital Edge Learning, Inc. of Redlands, California.
In business since 2007, Digital Edge Learning is a VAR for educational learning hardware for teachers and classrooms. They deal with schools, school districts, and of course, teachers. They also provide training tools for educators as well.
I asked Brandon questions centered on the following:
Rationale
Digital Edge Learning started looking at VOIP when a decision was made in 2013 to reengineer the company from a centralized single location business to a distributed operation. They were looking for a solution that had all that, with easy manageability and expandability thrown in.
Selection decision
DEL had used a PBX-type system from ShoreTel previously, but were ambivalent about it to the point where they didn’t want t deal with PBXs any longer, with memories of having to reboot the PBX box lingering.
Verizon VCE was selected because it had the desired features: was expandable, and allowed for remote configuration.
Orchestration
Brandon was the lead in the selection of Verizon VCE for Digital Edge Learning, and he after placing his order with Verizon Enterprise.
Phones were selected, and because of the nature of their business, an analog face-to-VOIP box was sent in to Digital Edge Learning as well.
It took a ‘short time’ to get the phones ported over, and Digital Edge Learning was in business, with Verizon VCE, I’m told.
Usage
For Digital Edge Learning, their use of Verizon VCE has been an eye-opener in the realm of versatility.
According to Brandon, VCE allows him and other Digital Edge Learning staffers to be ready for work wherever they may be.
He has set up ‘hunt groups’ that allow staffers to dynamically assist each other in retrieving calls, and helps DEL to extend their offices to any physical location staffers with their Polycom phones and a broadband connection are.
Summary
By all indications, Digital Edge Learning is pleased with this solution.
What sets VCE apart is the fact that everything about the service completely resides in the cloud: sales, hardware store, orchestration, implementation, management, pre- and post-sale configuration, and support. Apart from the vagaries possibly introduces into their environment by their broadband ISP, that is.
In fact, Brandon is able to be productive anywhere just by plugging his Polycom handset in.
That sort of versatility is rather unbeatable.
I asked a final question: “Would you recommend Verizon VCE to other businesses?”
“Without a doubt, whatsoever. It has been very good for us”, said Brandon Mawhorter, Digital Edge Learning Systems.
I want to thank Brandon for taking the time.
More information on Verizon Virtual Communications Express can be found here.
This blog post came out of conversations sponsored by Verizon.
John Obeto, this blog, or any entity owned controlled or affiliated with John Obeto has received any compensation of any kind for this series on Verizon VCE.
John Obeto is CEO of Blackfriars Capital
© 2002 – 2015, John Obeto for Blackground Media Unlimited
