Case study: ITT Communications deploys ShoreTel UC system to Brisbane real estate agency

The deployment has created an estimated 30 percent savings for Harcourts on its monthly telephony calls and maintenance, as well as moves, adds, and changes (MAC).

The ShoreTel leading-edge UC system was rolled out to 60 employees at its three-branch real estate and property management business and has created the scalability to support the company’s growth plans.

The deployed ShoreTel UC system comprises ShoreGear 40/8 and ShoreGear 90 BRI switches as well as 61 ShorePhone IP560 and IP212 telephones.

The solution enables Harcourt’s Blue Realty to increase productivity and provide improved mobility for its sales consultants, who typically work from different locations.

The single image ShoreTel UC system also allows the realtor to add-on additional users - up to 10,000 on a single system - at no cost, apart from the costs of telephones, and with minimal handling fees.

According to Hamish Haggitt, principal of telephony specialists, ITT Communications, the estimated 30 percent savings in call costs and maintenance made the ROI for the ShoreTel system a compelling business case.

“An additional bonus has been the productivity lift, free inter-branch call costs, and an easy-to-use, flexible telephony system that works for users,” said Haggitt.

“Harcourts has a significant resource that will promote its growth into the future.”Haggittt claims the ShoreTel UC system provided full information about incoming calls and call history. As a result, a person taking an incoming call can access a variety of details about the caller and their interests before a sales consultant takes the call.

It also enables users to type in a call recipient’s name and make the call using a simple click to dial process.

“We gained cost savings from the moment the ShoreTel system went in,” said Gerry Gorry, customer service manager Harcourts Blue Realty.

“The ShoreTel UC system has created an estimated 30 percent cost savings in our monthly telephony calls and maintenance costs as well as the costs of having to move, add, and change telephones.

“Importantly, all calls to and from our branches are now completely free. Cost savings like these make a real difference to the business’ bottom-line,” Gorry added.

“Our sales people have found the ShoreWare Call Manager feature a genuine resource that helps them make their business day more productive,” he added.

Tony Warhurst, ShoreTel managing director for SE Asia, said Harcourts Blue Realty is just one company out of a growing number that are realising a lower total cost of ownership and exceptional reliability with the ShoreTel UC system.

“The ShoreTel UC system offers a very attractive price for companies such as Harcourts Blue Realty,” he said.

“It meets the needs of small and midsize businesses and larger enterprises that are looking for a robust telephony solution that is simple to use and can be managed in-house.

“Most importantly, it provides money-saving opportunities, such as the ability to make calls between branches completely free of charge,” he added.
ShoreTel’s primary distributors in Australia are Aria Technologies and WhiteGold Distribution, and in New Zealand, Connector Systems.