For schools, colleges and universities, a robust communications system is essential for staying in touch with parents, colleagues, local businesses and the surrounding community.
But with technology developing at such a rapid pace, choosing the ideal telephone and IT solution can be a challenge.
Direct Voice and Data have vast experience in designing and installing telecoms systems for education providers. Here we look at the features and benefits of telephone and IT systems that could significantly help schools, colleges and universities today.
Phone Systems for Schools
A well-designed and professional phone system can bring real benefits to schools, colleges and universities by helping to streamline and improve overall communications.
However large or small your establishment, you’ll undoubtedly have a daily requirement for taking and making calls to and from parents, suppliers and local contractors. By installing a high quality business telephone system from leading manufacturers such as Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya and Panasonic, schools, colleges and universities can take advantage of a whole range of useful features to help manage calls.
Utilising options such as auto attendant (press “1” for reception etc…), call forwarding and voicemail, inbound calls can be automatically routed to the correct destination, providing the caller with a fast, efficient service and saving office staff time from fielding calls and taking messages.
Installing a professional business phone system also provides options in terms of the number of direct phone lines you can have. If you would like key departments (such as kitchens, sports department, human resources, maintenance/caretakers department) to have their own direct dial-in (DDI) numbers rather than all calls being routed through a central receptionist, this can be set up and individual team members given a unique internal extension number.
Another feature that may be useful for larger schools and colleges is call recording. This enables multiple phone lines calls to be recorded simultaneously helping with quality monitoring and training. It can also be invaluable in logging interactions with parents and suppliers which may help to resolve future disputes should they occur.
Helping schools, colleges and universities with a complete telecoms package, most business phones providers also offer lines and calls solutions. Preventing the need to deal with different suppliers for ongoing services such as line rental, telephone system providers can install analogue, digital and ISDN lines and offer a range of competitive tariff packages for calls.
If you buy lines and calls through a business phones provider, you may also be able to manage your account through an internet billing system. This allows your finance team to access call and cost information through an internet portal and download information as often as required.
Another useful telephone service that is available from business phone system providers today is SMS text messaging. A popular service that is being increasingly adopted by schools, SMS text messaging enables you to keep in touch with parents as often as required through an easy to use and cost effective system.
IT Solutions for Schools
A professionally installed and robust IT system can bring huge benefits for schools, colleges and universities. Not only will it help teaching and administrative staff to do their jobs efficiently and effectively, but it will also enhance the pupils’ learning experience.
With technology constantly developing, teaching children about computers and mobile devices at an early age will ensure they are comfortable and familiar with the latest digital equipment. Allowing them to use laptops and tablets as part of their regular lessons exposes them to the software and techniques they will undoubtedly be required to use in later life when eventually taking up employment.
Installing a broadband line and setting up internet access for your school also means that children can benefit from the vast array of educational websites that are available today. Teaching literacy and maths through interactive websites adds an element of fun to their learning and effectively captures their attention.
Schools, colleges and universities can also benefit from technology in individual classrooms. Interactive whiteboards enable teachers to project material and presentations from their laptops, as well as writing down notes as part of a daily lesson.
A good IT system is also a powerful tool in helping schools keep in touch with parents. Building a website and using it to publish letters, document and photos reduces the requirement for printed resources and helps showcase the schools achievements to the local community.
Telephone and IT Maintenance for Schools
Designing and installing the ideal business phones and IT system solution for your school will certainly help improve communications. But once it’s up and running, it’s essential to consider taking out a maintenance agreement to take care of any technical faults and issues that may occur in the future.
A direct link to your business phones and IT supplier, via a remote help desk, is invaluable in resolving queries quickly and efficiently. For technical faults, having access to a help desk and an engineer call-out service means that breakdowns will be dealt quickly and with minimal disruption to your daily operations.
For IT systems, an aftercare maintenance contract will help you to take care of your hardware and software, and also help you keep up to date with software license renewals.
In Summary
A professionally designed and installed telephone and IT system can bring a wealth of benefits for schools, colleges and universities. For more information and to arrange a Free Consultation from a professional telecommunications provider, contact Direct Voice and Data by calling 0800 84 999 84 or visit our Website.
