Central Virginia Communications

Small to Mid-sized Businesses Reap the Benefits of Central Virginia Communications’ Customer Centric Programs

2009-03-18T14:05:00.001-04:00

Company Reports Strong Customer Satisfaction Levels By Bucking the Trend of Scaling Back in a Down Economy

LYNCHBURG & ROANOKE — March 18, 2009 — Central Virginia Communications, an industry leader in business communications, announced today that the area’s small to mid-sized businesses are reaping the benefits from customer centric programs that the company deployed over the years. A number of innovative programs were designed by Central Virginia Communications to continually enhance satisfaction levels, especially during recessionary periods. While most companies cut back services and technology solutions, Central Virginia Communications is expanding to help organizations increase profitability and employee productivity.
A few years ago Central Virginia Communications conducted a thorough needs analysis of their customer base and found that companies were interested in learning more about the latest developments in communications, find creative ways to reduce costs, and obtain a better understanding of how to efficiently utilize technology to grow their organizations. However, these same companies didn’t have the means, resources, or expertise to stay at the forefront of advancements in technology. As a result the Customer Advocate Department was born. Today, Central Virginia Communications’ Customer Advocates educate companies about technologies that they haven’t currently adopted that could greatly benefit their business. Some examples of these technologies include Voice over Internet (VoIP), SIP Trunking, call accounting, web and audio conferencing, and GPS tracking systems for vehicles.
Another Central Virginia Communications program where businesses are reaping the benefits is in managed IT services. Essentially, Central Virginia Communications’ customers outsource the management of their data network and infrastructure so they can focus all of their energy on their core competency. Running an efficient network is not easy, especially with the convergence of voice and data. Too often companies are caught up in day-to-day operations that mission-critical network maintenance and security management get overlooked. Unfortunately, most businesses do not have the resources to properly maintain, support, and keep their network up to date. Offloading this function to an expert like Central Virginia Communications helps companies concentrate on growing their business.
In today’s environment, budgets for most businesses are extremely tight. A program that has become vastly popular is Central Virginia Communications’ Current Technology Assurance Plan (C-TAP). C-TAP’s two most important objectives are to eliminate technology’s obsolescence through refresh, while providing a true cost of ownership. Rather than paying cash up front for a depreciating asset like technology, companies pay a fixed monthly cost that is recorded in an operating budget. This enhances the financial health from both tax and budgeting standpoints. The cost is a known entity and customers on C-TAP never receive another invoice. Included in C-TAP are all of the professional services that Central Virginia Communications offers.
“Our dedication to developing customer centric programs that drive satisfaction has enabled us to envision and prepare for market trends before they even occur,” said Thomas Vaughan, president of Central Virginia Communications. “Creating programs like customer advocacy, managed IT services, and C-TAP help companies change the way they do business, allow them to conserve cash, and give them affordable access to new technology. Historically, customer service for most companies dramatically declines during a recession. I’m proud to say that our customers experience the exact opposite.”

ABOUT CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS

Founded in 1975, Central Virginia Communications is committed to establishing and maintaining a dynamic partnership with every customer. Extensive technology and service experience allows the Central Virginia Communications team to develop an understanding of each customer's unique telecommunications requirements, and to respond to those requirements quickly and effectively.
Central Virginia Communications is proud to be among the top nationwide distributors of quality telecommunications and voice mail products. Our team of industry certified technicians is on call 24-hours a day with access to extensive on-site equipment inventories for fast and efficient response to customer requests. Even our customer service representatives are factory certified, ensuring the highest level of customer support available.
Central Virginia Communications understands the critical role a telephone and data system plays in the smooth operation, growth and success of every business. By working with each customer to establish a telecommunications and data strategy based on the highest quality product and service standards, Central Virginia Communications ensures optimum system performance and customer satisfaction for years to come.
For more information on Central Virginia Communications, please call (434)-237-4300 (Lynchburg) or (540)-777-3377 (Roanoke) or visit www.cvacm.com

Eight Reasons Why Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Need Managed IT Sevices

2009-02-18T14:10:00.001-05:00

Thomas Vaughan of Central Virginia Communications Describes Why This Solution Is in High Demand

LYNCHBURG & ROANOKE – February 18, 2009 – Managed IT services is rapidly becoming one of the hottest solutions in business today because it dramatically improves an organization’s profitability, frees up internal resources, and offers a unique competitive advantage. Simply put, managed IT services are designed to assist companies in maintaining and supporting their network and IT infrastructure with the assistance of an outsourced managed services provider (MSP). Types of services may include remote network monitoring, programming and reporting (24/7), firewall monitoring, intrusion detection, preventative tasks, disaster recovery, data backup and help desk support. There are eight critical reasons why small to midsized businesses (SMBs) need managed IT services now and throughout the life cycle of their business.
Dependence On IT
Almost all businesses have become more dependent on computer technologies in the past few years. And, it’s a rapidly changing environment. Every business has become dependent on its IT infrastructure to perform at a high level, while effectively delivering its products or services. As a result, it has become more difficult to maintain the expertise to properly deploy, manage, and monitor this new technology, especially as a business evolves.
Complexity
The fact that this new technology is new makes it more difficult for the average employee to understand and use effectively. The level of demand and sophistication from today’s businesses are driving up complexity. Distinct disciplines or specialties are emerging in a variety of technology related areas such as telephony, desktop, network, application and database support. The breadth and depth of technology an organization requires immediately places the resources at a small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) at a distinct disadvantage.
Insufficient Solutions
Traditional support options such as a one man IT consultant, or a one or two person in-house IT department cannot effectively handle the occasional network breakdowns that are bound to occur. This is especially true when compared to a team of external resources that proactively monitor the SMB’s installed technology at all times.
Lack of Process
An IDC study reinforces the notion of lack of process, showing that 78% of all IT downtime is caused by change. If you could simply eliminate change from the computing environment, you would substantially decrease the risk. Unfortunately, most SMBs lack the procedures, documentation standards, and scope of work, which often results in major disruption and downtime.
Increased Use of Technology
Increasing use of computers, new software and procedures, often leads to increased complaints and loss of productivity. Typically, when network or desktop problems arise and escalate inside a company, the response time of the one man shop or internal staff is quite slow. This dramatically increases employee complaints and lowers productivity. In many situations employees have to wait in line to receive help. As a result the downtime and morale will impact the organization’s bottom line as well as their ability to meet their customers’ needs. By implementing a managed IT services program, the demand on internal IT resources are lessened, and they can now be utilized for other purposes such as directly supporting strategic business objectives rather than becoming bogged down in frequent break/fix issues.
Controlling Costs
During these challenging times, the IT budget is frequently reduced. In a recent survey of nearly 950 IT managers at companies in North America and Europe; nearly half of the U.S. respondents said they have already cut their IT spending budgets. Unfortunately, a cut in IT spending doesn’t mean there is a cut in demand for services. This adds tremendous stress and pressure on internal departments to support the same amount of work with fewer resources.
Technology Erosion
Computer systems must be maintained just like any other systems used within the business. Vehicle fleets, manufacturing equipment, and the physical plant, have all moved to a preventative approach. If a company does not implement this preventative maintenance strategy for its technology components, disaster might be the unpleasant and unprofitable result.
Compliance
Finally, the technology utilized within an organization in most cases must meet specific compliance standards. For example, a company’s business processes supported by technology may need to comply with Sarbanes-Oxely, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and other requirements. Most companies don’t have the resources to fully understand and comply with all the detailed requirements of these regulations.
All of the above issues are driving the popularity of partnering with a managed IT services firm. Companies that have made the transition already answered this question. If deploying, managing and monitoring my IT infrastructure has absolutely nothing to do with the core competency of my business, why wouldn’t I outsource it to an expert? This is a fairly easy question to answer and these organizations have reaped the rewards of increased profitability and a competitive advantage.

ABOUT CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS
Founded in 1975, Central Virginia Communications is committed to establishing and maintaining a dynamic partnership with every customer. Extensive technology and service experience allows the Central Virginia Communications team to develop an understanding of each customer's unique telecommunications requirements, and to respond to those requirements quickly and effectively.
Central Virginia Communications is proud to be among the top nationwide distributors of quality telecommunications and voice mail products. Our team of industry certified technicians is on call 24-hours a day with access to extensive on-site equipment inventories for fast and efficient response to customer requests. Even our customer service representatives are factory certified, ensuring the highest level of customer support available.
Central Virginia Communications understands the critical role a telephone and data system plays in the smooth operation, growth and success of every business. By working with each customer to establish a telecommunications and data strategy based on the highest quality product and service standards, Central Virginia Communications ensures optimum system performance and customer satisfaction for years to come.
For more information on Central Virginia Communications, please call (434)-237-4300 (Lynchburg) or (540)-777-3377 (Roanoke) or visit www.cvacm.com

Central Virginia Communications Invited to Participate at the 9th Annual TAG Convention

2009-02-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

Thomas Vaughan, President of Central Virginia Communications, to Share His Expertise to Top Business Communications Providers in the U.S. and Canada

LYNCHBURG & ROANOKE — February 3, 2009 — Central Virginia Communications, an industry leader in business communications, announced today that Technology Assurance Group (TAG), an association of independently owned voice and data providers representing close to $400 million in annual sales, invited Thomas Vaughan, president of Central Virginia Communications, to participate in the discussions on the state of the industry at its 9th Annual TAG Convention. The audience will consist of the most reputable and successful providers located throughout the United States and Canada. TAG’s 2008 National Convention will be held on March 27th – 29th in San Diego, California.
The theme for the upcoming year’s convention is “The Future Is in Leading Our Industry”. The convergence of voice and data technology is forcing two separate industries to integrate and become one, offering a complete managed services solution. Traditional voice companies are adding data solutions to their repertoire of services, while traditional data VARs are offering voice solutions. Those organizations that are completely immersed in providing both resulting in a true managed services model will survive and become the leaders of this new industry.
“It is an honor to share our knowledge and experiences in managed services to our colleagues,” said Mr. Vaughan. “Managed services is going to greatly benefit small to medium sized businesses by helping to increase their profitability, improve productivity and give them a competitive advantage.”
“The TAG Convention provides a unique opportunity where our member companies interact and learn better business practices from leading organizations,” stated Dale Johnson, CEO of TAG. ”Mr. Vaughan is well respected among his peers and his company is one of our premier members.”

ABOUT CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS

Founded in 1975, Central Virginia Communications is committed to establishing and maintaining a dynamic partnership with every customer. Extensive technology and service experience allows the Central Virginia Communications team to develop an understanding of each customer's unique telecommunications requirements, and to respond to those requirements quickly and effectively.
Central Virginia Communications is proud to be among the top nationwide distributors of quality telecommunications and voice mail products. Our team of industry certified technicians is on call 24-hours a day with access to extensive on-site equipment inventories for fast and efficient response to customer requests. Even our customer service representatives are factory certified, ensuring the highest level of customer support available.
Central Virginia Communications understands the critical role a telephone and data system plays in the smooth operation, growth and success of every business. By working with each customer to establish a telecommunications and data strategy based on the highest quality product and service standards, Central Virginia Communications ensures optimum system performance and customer satisfaction for years to come.
For more information on Central Virginia Communications, please call (434)-237-4300 (Lynchburg) or (540)-777-3377 (Roanoke) or visit www.cvacm.com

ABOUT TECHNOLOGY ASSURANCE GROUP (TAG)

Technology Assurance Group, LLC (TAG) is an international organization of leading independently owned business communications companies. TAG provides its members with the competitive advantages necessary to achieve a dominant position in their marketplace. Members benefit from programs including strategic partnerships with communication solution providers, best business and management practices, and advanced sales training programs. TAG’s mission is to increase its Members' sales and profits through education and to ease their introduction of new technology to the marketplace by leveraging their combined intellect and purchasing power. For more information on TAG, please call 858-673-5800 or visit www.tagnational.com

Want the Secret to Increased Profitability and Employee Productivity?

2008-10-29T14:46:00.000-04:00

Thomas Vaughan, President of Central Virginia Communications, Explains How This Simple Concept is Changing the Way Organizations Conduct Business for the Better

LYNCHBURG & ROANOKE — October 29, 2008 — Increased profitability and employee productivity is what we all strive for as business owners on a daily basis. Simply put, this is what keeps us going, because if we stop there is a good chance our company we will not be around tomorrow. There are many ways organizations attempt to achieve these objectives. However; there is one in particular that’s gaining tremendous popularity among senior management teams of small to mid sized companies across the country. Essentially, it is the deployment of virtual offices through the utilization of a company’s existing technology. That’s right! You can actually tap into a current and fixed asset to expand your business, improve the bottom line, have more productive and happier employees, and achieve a work/life balance. This simple concept is rapidly changing the way organizations conduct business for the better.

What is a virtual office?
Basically, a virtual office fulfills all of the roles of the traditional, centralized office although the employees, also known as telecommuters, work at home offices either in a part or full-time capacity and collaborate for the most part electronically with other employees. Virtual offices are a matter of degree since even in conventional offices many business relationships are maintained across distributed environments. For instance, customers and suppliers are located at different sites, and project co-workers are often located in different divisions. In both traditional and virtual office's the organization mission remains the same, but some business procedures change in the latter to accommodate collaboration at a distance.

What technology is needed to set up a virtual office?
In order to conduct business in this fashion, all that needs to be done is the integration of phone, computer, email, and fax. Again, this is current technology that is already being utilized in-house. The other items that a company may need to deploy to truly allow owners and employees to occasionally work offsite is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The VPN enables employees to connect to a network remotely so they can access files on the LAN, while operating in a secure environment. Furthermore, most cities have excellent wireless broadband coverage so individuals can connect to the Internet anytime, anywhere.
In regards to the telecommunications component, the recent advancements in VoIP are sweeping the globe because it enables people to speak through the Internet. Unlike regular phone service, VoIP conversations are transformed into digital information and sent over a broadband data network. For example, VoIP calls connect to a server where voice information is truncated into packets and sent across the Internet bypassing the long distance carrier altogether. This essentially means that VoIP callers do not use traditional phone lines and can avoid expensive long-distance charges, dramatically impacting a company’s bottom line.

What are the benefits?
There are a number of extraordinary benefits that businesses can obtain by giving the owner, the management team, and other employees the ability to work virtually. For example, dispersed sales teams are not so disconnected anymore. They can tap into the network and communicate via email or by using a remote IP phone from any location. A salesperson can connect through the VPN from their hotel room and they’ve instantly become their own virtual office. In addition, servicing customers means being available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. VoIP gives customer service representatives the advantage of answering calls at the office or at home. This is critical because the world has become a significantly smaller place. A customer with a big order in Korea will not find an answering machine as a sufficient means of service. They want to speak to someone in real-time. Finally, with VoIP, employees have one phone number with one extension and it doesn’t matter where they are geographically. More importantly, the person on the other end has no idea of one’s location as long as they are receiving the services they desire. Combining these technologies gives businesses the flexibility to provide an even higher level of customer service – all while reducing costs. As a result, consulting company, Gartner Group, estimates that employees who work offsite are as much as 40% more efficient than their colleagues in the office.

What’s in it for the owner?
Business owners can personally reap the benefits for themselves as well. For instance, owners of small to mid sized companies have the unique option to work from home too by utilizing their existing technology. This enables them to avoid distractions to spend quality time working on their business and not in it. These valuable individuals are charged with guiding their company’s strategic direction, enhancing the vision, and ensuring its mission. What a better place to do that than in the comforts of a home office. Plus, the virtual office allows business owners in the retiring baby boomer generation a way to stay connected to their companies, continue to offer consultative advice and their years of experience and knowledge, while not being tied down to an 8 hour day.

What’s the first step to get started?
By tapping into existing technology and adding a few minor features, organizations of all sizes can take advantage of increased profitability and employee productivity that comes along with virtual offices. This concept has created a win-win-win for owners, employees, and customers. Individuals now have the ability to conduct business where and when they want, while meeting the demands of customers and at the same time increasing their quality of life. The first step towards implementing a successful virtual office is to select a telecommunications provider that understands your business needs. After that you can relax knowing you’ve just done a simple act that will positively impact your bottom line.

ABOUT CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS
Founded in 1975, Central Virginia Communications is committed to establishing and maintaining a dynamic partnership with every customer. Extensive technology and service experience allows the Central Virginia Communications team to develop an understanding of each customer's unique telecommunications requirements, and to respond to those requirements quickly and effectively.
Central Virginia Communications is proud to be among the top nationwide distributors of quality telecommunications and voice mail products. Our team of industry certified technicians is on call 24-hours a day with access to extensive on-site equipment inventories for fast and efficient response to customer requests. Even our customer service representatives are factory certified, ensuring the highest level of customer support available.
Central Virginia Communications understands the critical role a telephone and data system plays in the smooth operation, growth and success of every business. By working with each customer to establish a telecommunications and data strategy based on the highest quality product and service standards, Central Virginia Communications ensures optimum system performance and customer satisfaction for years to come.
For more information on Central Virginia Communications, please call (434)-237-4300 (Lynchburg) or (540)-777-3377 (Roanoke) or visit www.cvacm.com

HOW TO SELECT A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS PROVIDER

2008-06-26T08:07:00.001-04:00

LYNCHBURG & ROANOKE — June 26, 2008 — Today's business environment has never been more competitive. Companies in virtually every industry are working overtime to increase profits and outperform the competition. To aid them in their efforts, they are looking at a variety of ways to enable their employees to increase customer service. One such way is to take advantage of the quantum leaps in technology being offered by today's telecommunications systems.
Ignoring your company's rapidly becoming obsolete telecommunications system can mean lost revenue and wasted time for your staff and employers. It is imperative that your company make every effort to control costs and increase productivity. And a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, over the long-term, can pay for itself.
One thing to remember — a telecommunications system is a major investment that should be able to grow with the company. Furthermore, your system should be purchased from a reputable provider who will consult with you to select the right system for your company, install the system, provide training and long-term assistance with any problems and install future system upgrades.

The following is a list of considerations to take to heart when selecting a telecommunications systems provider:

• Manufacturer Authorized or Accredited. Is the telecommunications provider authorized or accredited by the system's manufacturer? Beware of providers that say they are authorized by the manufacturer, and are not. The firm may be able to install the system, but will not be able to provide the ongoing support, including upgrades to the system and correcting any software problems. Because the provider does not have access to the manufacturer for the resolution of these problems, it places you, the customer, at a high risk. To determine if the provider is authorized or accredited, start by asking for a comfort letter from the manufacturer or call to the manufacturer's regional office for a provider reference. It is also a good idea to visit the vendor's office to take a look at the inventory, facility and day-to-day business operations.

• Voice and Data Experience. In today's rapidly evolving telecommunications marketplace, you will need to select a provider that has a significant amount of both voice and data experience. This is critically important, because the convergence of voice and data has happened. Your company needs to work with a provider that has the technical expertise in computer telephony integration (CTI).

• Full-Service Telecom Provider. The company should provide a single point of contact for consultation, design, installation, implementation, training and maintenance of voice, data and video communications cabling and equipment. A wide range of top-quality, reasonably priced products and services should also be available to you. Is the provider simply going to sell you a piece of equipment, or provide your company with a solution with an application orientation to it?

• Provider Reputation. The provider's reputation is as significant as the product you buy. In addition to checking with other business associates about the companies and systems they selected, check with the Better Business Bureau for references. You should ask the provider for a least five customer referrals. Then call each one of those referrals. Ask how long have you had the system? How is the providers' ongoing support? Has the company demonstrated an ability to resolve any problems as they arose?

• Understanding Of Your Business. Does the company have an understanding of your business? Are they able to translate that understanding into adapting the technology to most benefit your company? For example, a mortgage banking firm is going to have a different system application from a manufacturing company. You need to select a provider that has a full-scope of business knowledge and understanding.

• Entrepreneurial Approach. In today's business environment you need to select a provider that brings an entrepreneurial approach to conducting business. The most significant aspect of a telecommunications system purchase decision is that a dynamic partnership will be formed between your company and the provider.
Therefore, it is vital that the two understand each other and that the provider be responsive, flexible and competent to effectively handle your needs. Many large telecom providers have not adapted quickly to technology changes in the marketplace, and have limited local support if you have a problem with the your system. In addition, entrepreneurial providers empower their customers with new systems and features needed today, ahead of expectations, then show them how these can be applied in their business.

• Purchase Options. Does the provider offer you options of leasing, financing or buying the new system? Even with the demise of the investment tax credit, there are still plenty of good reasons to lease equipment. The financial records related to your current system can be used as a reference point. You will need to factor in the initial cost of the system, potential enhancements and repair costs.

• System Warranty. What type of warranty does the company offer? It is critical that you understand your warranty options and determine whether they cover parts and labor which provides large and small businesses with a combination of security, comfort, value, dependability and peace of mind.

• Remote System Access. Make sure you are given the option for remote system access. Remote access enables your provider to make adds, moves or changes to your telecom system from off-site. This feature can reduce costs over the long-term.

• Local Support and Service. Does the telecom system provider have a local technical assistance center staffed by highly-trained, certified technicians? Will the company come back to your business after time has passed, assess what has changed, and make recommendations to improve your system? Your previous telecom provider may have recommended a technology that was great for your business five years ago, but the environment has changed, there are better solutions today, and there will be tomorrow.

• Customer Employee Certification. To some providers the less the customer knows, the better. Reality is the more you know about your system, the better off you will be over the long-term. Will your telecom provider send your designated employees to a certification school for training on the system? Once they have been trained, they can have access to your system switch to do add, moves and changes. This will enable you to control service costs and enhance flexibility. In addition, a trained employee will be able to "talk the talk" with a certified technician if a problem ever arises.

Remember that you are shopping for a solution, not a product. Many companies make the mistake of simply buying the equipment rather than solving their telecom problems. It is important that the provider you select performs an audit of your existing system and either design a totally new system or integrate more efficient equipment into the current system.
The technology must, first of all, increase your profitability and, secondly, give your company a competitive advantage. The bottom line is to save money with cost-effective ways to improve the communications capabilities of your company.

ABOUT CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS
Founded in 1975, Central Virginia Communications is committed to establishing and maintaining a dynamic partnership with every customer. Extensive technology and service experience allows the Central Virginia Communications team to develop an understanding of each customer's unique telecommunications requirements, and to respond to those requirements quickly and effectively.
Central Virginia Communications is proud to be among the top nationwide distributors of quality telecommunications and voice mail products. Our team of industry certified technicians is on call 24-hours a day with access to extensive on-site equipment inventories for fast and efficient response to customer requests. Even our customer service representatives are factory certified, ensuring the highest level of customer support available.
Central Virginia Communications understands the critical role a telephone and data system plays in the smooth operation, growth and success of every business. By working with each customer to establish a telecommunications and data strategy based on the highest quality product and service standards, Central Virginia Communications ensures optimum system performance and customer satisfaction for years to come.
For more information on Central Virginia Communications, please call (434)-237-4300 (Lynchburg) or (540)-777-3377 (Roanoke) or visit http://www.cvacm.com/

By Thomas Vaughan, President, Central Virginia Communications

Central Virginia Communications Launches Current Technology Assurance Plan (C-TAP)

2008-05-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

Small to Mid-Sized Companies to Benefit from Telecommunication Industry’s Most Innovative Program to Ensure Implementation of Latest Technology

LYNCHBURG & ROANOKE — May 15, 2008 — Central Virginia Communications, an industry leader in telecommunications, announced today that the company launched its new Current Technology Assurance Plan (C-TAP). C-TAP has emerged as the telecommunication industry’s most innovative program. The program ensures that the telecom and information systems of small to mid-sized companies remain current and incorporate the latest in value-added solutions. Technology Assurance Group (TAG), a national organization of independently owned telecommunication companies, spearheaded the development of C-TAP in strategic partnership with Great America Leasing Company (GALC), a privately held lease financing firm.
As a premier member of TAG, Central Virginia Communications will be the only telecommunications provider in the region to offer businesses the TAG/GALC supported C-TAP program.

"C-TAP is revolutionizing the manner in which telecom equipment, convergent applications such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and connectivity infrastructure is deployed in the marketplace," said Thomas Vaughan, president of Central Virginia Communications. "As a result of C-TAP, Central Virginia Communications can now proactively manage customer telecom and information system needs in partnership with those customers. When companies participate in C-TAP it assures them that they will always be at the forefront of new innovations in technology."

C-TAP gives companies the unique ability to refresh or renew their phone equipment any time after 24 months with no change in payment. New equipment and applications are installed without labor charges. Technology can be added as required within a fixed cost that can be absorbed by an organization’s operating budget. Essentially, C-TAP allows the continued implementation of new technology within a set budget.

"Let’s take Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) to illustrate how C-TAP works," stated Mr. Vaughan. "ACD allows companies to route incoming calls to the appropriate representative, which increases both internal efficiency and customer satisfaction. The price of ACD technology has dropped over the years and under C-TAP, companies that could not afford it before can now add it with no change in their monthly commitment. This is just one example where the adoption of new technology will increase an organization’s competitive advantage and increase their profitibility."

Central Virginia Communications customers on the C-TAP program will receive numerous benefits. These benefits include 5 hours of national teleconferencing annually, call accounting analysis which detects employee misuse of phone calls, storage system and backup, remote database backup, records and training updates for the equipment administrator, and an annual audit of connectivity charges. C-TAP also provides businesses with special customer service provisions including priority queuing for adds, moves, changes, and dispatch of service calls, a guarantee of inventory on hand, preferred maintenance, periodic replacement of handset and station cords, and annual preventitive maintenance visits.
"We’re thrilled about C-TAP and announcing it to our valuable customers," added Mr. Vaughan. "Adopting this program illustrates our continued commitment to our customers. Their organizations can both grow and adapt in the changing information marketplace within a budget fixed at the inception of the C-TAP program."

ABOUT CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS
Founded in 1975, Central Virginia Communications is committed to establishing and maintaining a dynamic partnership with every customer. Extensive technology and service experience allows the Central Virginia Communications team to develop an understanding of each customer's unique telecommunications requirements, and to respond to those requirements quickly and effectively.
Central Virginia Communications is proud to be among the top nationwide distributors of quality telecommunications and voice mail products. Our team of industry certified technicians is on call 24-hours a day with access to extensive on-site equipment inventories for fast and efficient response to customer requests. Even our customer service representatives are factory certified, ensuring the highest level of customer support available.
Central Virginia Communications understands the critical role a telephone and data system plays in the smooth operation, growth and success of every business. By working with each customer to establish a telecommunications and data strategy based on the highest quality product and service standards, Central Virginia Communications ensures optimum system performance and customer satisfaction for years to come.
For more information on Central Virginia Communications, please call (434)-237-4300 (Lynchburg) or (540)-777-3377 (Roanoke) or visit www.cvacm.com

ABOUT GREATAMERICA LEASING CORPORATION
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, GreatAmerica continues to grow and adapt in an ever changing market. As an independent institution with over $850 million in assets, it has the flexibility to provide customized financial solutions and selected business services for its customers who are distributors in the office equipment, telecommunications, healthcare, and retail markets. With superior industry knowledge and experience, they develop solutions that help their customers be more successful. Visit GreatAmerica at www.greatamerica.com.

So Your Company Wants to Adopt VoIP…

2008-04-15T08:03:00.001-04:00

So Your Company Wants to Adopt VoIP…
How Do You Know If Your Network Is Ready to Make the Transition?

Thomas Vaughan of Central Virginia Communications Discusses the Importance of Conducting a Network Assessment

LYNCHBURG & ROANOKE — April 15, 2008 — While the cost savings and new applications of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are rapidly attracting many small to mid sized companies to this popular communication solution, it may come with a significant price to your network. Not only must your network carry more traffic, but VoIP traffic demands very high performance and is more sensitive to normal network problems like delays and choppy communication. Even modest levels of impairment, unnoticed by users of most data applications, will cause significant caller frustration and will not sit well with your customers, business partners, or even your own employees.

Before investing in a large-scale VoIP deployment or even in a small trial, you need to know how well your network infrastructure will handle the additional, quality-sensitive voice traffic. Many seemingly well-planned trials encounter delay after delay, exceed cost estimates, and are eventually cancelled when the network proves unable to meet the unique requirements VoIP places on it. However, these business issues can easily be avoided if your telecommunications provider properly assesses your network ahead of time to truly understand the scope and type of work required to ensure a successful transition to VoIP.
Gartner, an independent information and technology research and advisory firm, reports that 85% of networks are not ready for VoIP. What’s even more shocking is that 75% of companies that do not perform a pre-implementation analysis of their network infrastructure will not realize a successful implementation. These are astonishing statistics because without conducting a network assessment with a quality assessment tool the potential for wasting time and money is extremely high. In order to increase the likelihood of a successful VoIP implementation, an evaluation of the network must be properly executed and should include the following four steps.

1. Pre-Deployment Assessment
The pre-deployment assessment step analyzes the current capabilities of the network, evaluates its ability to support VoIP, identifies potential problems, and determines the requirements needed to handle expected call traffic. It is strongly recommended that the pre-deployment test is conducted prior to the purchase or installation of any VoIP equipment. The analysis should include such items as bandwidth, utilization, jitter, throughput and latency.

2. Post-Deployment Assessment
The purpose of the post-deployment assessment is to gain a complete understanding of VoIP quality and network efficiencies prior to turning it on. This step determines the level of success and prevents issues with call quality or dropped calls. Whenever new equipment is introduced to a network the chance for unexpected issues rises; therefore, it is critical that post-deployment assessment is not overlooked. This assessment should be immediately performed so any changes can be made in a timely manner.

3. Regular Maintenance Assessment
As you’re probably aware, your network is dynamic and constantly evolves. New devices such as IP phones, laptops, switches, and routers are added or removed. Whether it’s a minor change or a major one it will impact your network. Therefore, it is important to re-evaluate your network regularly to identify any faults so they can be corrected as soon as possible. Conducting ongoing assessments will help your organization increase quality, optimize system infrastructure, and reduce costs.

4. Break/Fix Strategy
Unfortunately, unforeseen things may happen to a network that’s not readily identified by your IT department. The situation may be brought to your company’s attention by a customer, an employee or business partner. The Yankee Group,
another independent information and technology research and advisory firm, has reported that some companies’ labor costs grew 30 to 40 percent with VoIP because of dealing with network problems. Having a network assessment tool in place enables one to take action quickly, diagnose the problem, and resolve it, while minimizing its impact to the system as a whole.
Essentially, these four key steps have illustrated the primary objective and the many benefits of conducting network assessments. Whether your company is about to take the plunge into VoIP or has already gone down that path, it is critical to deploy a tool that can accurately analyze your network. Surprisingly, most companies overlook this integral component of the VoIP implementation process and the research clearly shows its negative impact.
As you tap into this relatively new communication solution that’s changing how business gets done, make sure you ask yourself this question. What is my telecommunications provider doing to create a network environment that enables my company to take full advantage of VoIP? If network assessment is not included in the response then something is definitely wrong.

ABOUT CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS
Founded in 1975, Central Virginia Communications is committed to establishing and maintaining a dynamic partnership with every customer. Extensive technology and service experience allows the Central Virginia Communications team to develop an understanding of each customer's unique telecommunications requirements, and to respond to those requirements quickly and effectively.
Central Virginia Communications is proud to be among the top nationwide distributors of quality telecommunications and voice mail products. Our team of industry certified technicians is on call 24-hours a day with access to extensive on-site equipment inventories for fast and efficient response to customer requests. Even our customer service representatives are factory certified, ensuring the highest level of customer support available.
Central Virginia Communications understands the critical role a telephone and data system plays in the smooth operation, growth and success of every business. By working with each customer to establish a telecommunications and data strategy based on the highest quality product and service standards, Central Virginia Communications ensures optimum system performance and customer satisfaction for years to come.
For more information on Central Virginia Communications, please call (434)-237-4300 (Lynchburg) or (540)-777-3377 (Roanoke) or visit http://www.cvacm.com/