Smart councils are looking to technology to help break the deadlock of expanding their services in the face of shrinking local government budgets. It’s a real problem, but it can be resolved with IT and Telecommunications central to reshaping service delivery around people’s needs, although it's important to have a partner that you can trust and rely on.
As a leading provider of communications solutions under the Telecom Networks Framework Agreement, we’ve an excellent track record of helping Local Government to transform public services. We’re proud of our long established partnerships and a respected reputation with many local authorities, allowing us to have a clearer insight into Local Government than most. Maybe that's why we work with 209 out of the 240 local authorities that are located on our network.
We understand that Local Government is often required to deliver complex projects - for instance, joining up service delivery across multiple channels like the internet and contact centres, while still achieving the Best Value goals set by central government.
Here are some of the areas in which we can help you:
Shared networks: Stretching budgets further
Fast, high capacity, very secure and uniquely versatile networks enable the previously unthinkable to become routine, namely, to have multiple services. So, for instance, administration, schools, libraries, even the fire brigade can share a single telecoms platform. Each user sees only what they need to see, but the cost savings and the efficiencies of ‘joined-up purchasing’ are visible to all.
Ethernet Solutions or IPVPN enable departments and agencies to run secure virtual networks, completely segregated from others, over a single shared physical network. In addition, they can create shared virtual networks for inter-departmental collaboration, and even run an IP Voice system, on the common platform to make further financial and operational gains.
Collaborative education: Schools for the future
As collaboration between schools, departments and education authorities becomes the focus, smart networks enable different departments to operate securely over a single shared platform. Ethernet Solutions or IPVPN products deliver an independent yet shared network, providing both secure segregation and easy collaboration between Local Authorities and schools. Managed Internet Access and LAN Solutions offerings allow internet connectivity to be shared and also provide easy control of security policy across all schools.
Virtual call centres: Bringing people together
Now, being a parent or having a disability need not compromise any call centre employee from doing their job well, thanks to a more inclusive and flexible style of working - from home. Our virtual call centre solutions enable individuals to perform their jobs simply by logging in from where they live. Wherever they happen to be, routine use of video-conferencing unites colleagues very effectively.
Customer Contact Solutions can support highly flexible ways of working. While the physical provision, management and specialised hardware is outsourced, the contact centre can manage surges in call volumes in-house, using a simple software application to bring lines into and out of play. Low capital outlay, a high degree of control and the opening up of improved ways of working make this an appealing proposition that ticks all the boxes for budgetary and corporate responsibility agendas.
Disaster recovery: Distributing risk
From a disaster-planning perspective, highly centralised ICT models can pose unacceptable risks unless costly precautions are taken. With Telecoms 2.0, you can sidestep this risk, because access to the network is available from just about anywhere. In the event of flood or power failure, your people can temporarily relocate to unaffected offices - even their homes. With instant access to all data, it’s business and public services as usual.
With IP Voice and IP Multimedia, the rigid link between phone number and physical location is gone forever. Calls follow people to wherever they log in - great during a planned move, essential after a disaster. Ethernet Solutions and IPVPN bring secure, versatile connectivity between sites and phone systems.
Keeping in touch: Easy public access
It seemed impossible not too long ago, but now it’s more feasible to give your people the benefits of increased workplace flexibility and mobility while making them more accessible to the public. That’s because Telecoms 2.0 changes the rules. With this technology, every member of staff has an individual, fixed phone number which works transparently across mobile, WiFi and fixed-line networks. People gain improved access to public services, staff get unprecedented work flexibility and the council simply cuts costs.
IP Voice or IP Multimedia provide phone extensions that follow people to any desk, making council personnel seamlessly accessible to callers. Our LAN Solutions experts will design and install secure WiFi networks running over IPVPN or Ethernet Solutions.
Case studies
Would you like to learn more? Call us on 0800 953 0180 or schedule a time for us to call you back
