Portsmouth City Council has cut costs and boosted efficiency thanks to a new telephone system powered by Virgin Media Business’ fibre optic network. The council was able to procure the system through HPSN2, an innovative framework agreement that provides IT services to local councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, saving time and money.
The Council has overhauled its entire telephony system across the civic office and three other call centres, including the city’s main help desk and the children’s social services help desk. With all contact information processed centrally, employees are able to process and resolve citizens’ queries more quickly, boosting frontline efficiency. On top of this, the enhanced reporting the new system delivers will help staff provide a tailored service to local citizens.
The new network underpins Cisco’s IP Telephony platform and the upgrade from analogue to digital telephone services has meant that Portsmouth is able to implement a ‘one number’ system for its 2000 strong workforce. Council staff can be easily reached, whether they are in the office or on the go.
In addition, the council will benefit from on-going savings as the new telephone system runs entirely on a data infrastructure. By eliminating the need for an additional voice infrastructure, the council halved costs and energy consumption.
Mel Burns, Head of ICT, Portsmouth City Council said: “The help desks and civic office form the central hub of Portsmouth City Council. Incoming calls need to be dealt with quickly in a way that’s good for the citizens and for the council. Virgin Media Business and Cisco were able to roll-out the system at speed and in a way that didn’t disrupt our day-to-day running. Through HPSN2 we’ve been given access to the best technologies that can really help us provide excellent services to people in the local area. Our staff are excited about the new system, they’ve said that it’s making their lives easier and helping them to provide even more efficient services to the public.”
Lee Hull, director of public sector, Virgin Media Business said: “Councils are under a lot of pressure to cut costs and improve public services; we’re pleased to be providing the infrastructure that can help them do that. By buying its network services through HPSN2, Portsmouth City Council is able to increase its buying power and shake off any price constraints that stand in the way of the best technology for its staff. The fact that this has helped attract top quality employees is fantastic news and we look forward to our continued work with Hampshire public sector services”.
-ENDS-
About Virgin Media Business
Virgin Media Business has the UK’s only nationwide fibre optic network, carrying 35 per cent of all business broadband traffic. Already able to reach 85 per cent of businesses in the UK, Virgin Media Business has the ability to connect to all organisations. The largest business-to-business brand in the Virgin group, it prides itself on delivering innovative, high quality solutions that breakdown the barriers facing UK businesses today.
Staff are located at 40 offices across the country, meaning that Virgin Media Business really is closer to its customers. Organisations working with Virgin Media Business include London City Airport, Nottingham Building Society, Arqiva, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership and South West Water.
To see analysis on the current issues surrounding business-to-business telecoms please visit our blog or get involved and http://twitter.com/vmbusiness
