|
| |
|
 | Welcome to the new electronic version of Voicemail.
Since the last issue, the development of Executel has continued at a rapid rate. We remain the region’s leading supplier of IP technologies and with telephony firmly under our belt, we are ready to take the data market by storm.
Meanwhile, we are preparing to break new ground with the launch of an innovative wireless mobility solution and have positioned ourselves to lead the way when SIP Trunking arrives in the region next year. Furthermore, we are continuing to expand our workforce, we’ve recently celebrated our 10th anniversary and are due to double the size of our Gateshead premises in the New Year.
All in all, it’s an exciting and busy time for Executel with lots to announce in the coming months so be sure to watch this space… | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Executel Adds Another String to its Bow |
As an existing Executel voice customer, you may be interested to learn about our extensive portfolio of business data solutions that is now available.
|
The demand for greater connectivity and increased bandwidth for running data applications is higher than ever before so it’s logical for Executel to move into this arena in earnest. We already manage 17,000 line connections on behalf of our customers and have a number of qualified data specialists on our team so are therefore in a perfect position to step up the pace. This coupled with the fact that leading network providers NTL:Telewest and Thus have both approached us to promote and manage their products and services to the business user.
Over the last 18 months, Executel has acquired a great deal of expertise in providing data network solutions and this now accounts for £250k revenue per annum. This may surprise you as we are yet to really promote the fact that we have been working hard behind the scenes on data. Instead, we have focused our attentions on ensuring that we fully understand the market, that we build the skills needed to support our customers, and that we have sound knowledge of the provision and reliability of the products.
Thus far, we are very happy with the products which have proved to be excellent once deployed and we see data solutions as core business for Executel as we move forward. Moreover, we expect to manage as much data as we do voice by the end of 2010.
For further information on our data portfolio – which includes high speed internet, MPLS VPN, leased lines, LES circuits and city/national Ethernet – contact us on 0800 1583 260. |
|
|
|
|
|
 The Future of Voice
By Tim Price, managing director of Executel Ltd
Having worked in the communications industry for 22 years – and more importantly, survived – I’d like to think that I have a pretty good handle on where the market is heading and what is and isn’t a business-enhancing technology.
Nowadays, I would say that at least half my time is spent researching and looking at new products the majority of which, as they say ‘end up on the cutting room floor’. However, it’s not so much the products themselves that fail but the back up and support – or lack thereof – which leaves a lot to be desired.
Like many of you, I run a business and first and foremost I want it to run efficiently. That includes being able to contact anyone, anywhere, anytime through the numerous mediums currently available but NOT at any cost.
As I see it, contact methods continue to be a ‘moveable feast’ currently encompassing traditional voice, text, email, web chat and video supported by the delivery of data and ability to browse and access information. This wide choice is now considered the norm and will only become more complex as time goes on. As a result, more demand than ever is being put on the industry and in turn service providers like ourselves, to meet customer expectation and cater for what essentially comes down to personal preference and trend.
So while contact methods remain a slight unknown, the transmission medium is not. We know it will be IP, be it on your Local or Wide Area Network (LAN/WAN) and we have therefore positioned ourselves as the leading provider of IP technologies and infrastructure in the North East of England.
For the past few years, we have successfully delivered Mitel’s telephony product set and alongside this, we can now offer data solutions to compliment and enhance existing infrastructure, thus enabling a single point of contact for all your business connectivity.
At present, external connectivity is still through digital lines but over the next 18 months a technology called SIP Trunking will be used to route traffic and connect multiple sites more cost effectively. We have been testing this technology and suppliers for over a year now and while yet to find the complete package of price, support and reliability, we are getting very close. We therefore expect this to become the accepted connectivity for telecoms by 2009 and Executel will of course lead the way with this service.
Meanwhile, we are working on the launch of a new wireless mobility solution which will slash mobile phone expenditure for local businesses and facilitate more flexible working. The mobile-to-mobile convergence product will facilitate private GSM networks, thus increasing workforce mobility by extending access to desktop applications. As a result, end users will be continuously accessible via a single telephone number and handset that works within both LAN/WAN environments and GSM networks by roaming seamlessly between the two environments.
Furthermore, for remote or field workers with access to the internet we have developed a memory stick that plugs into the USB port of any internet-connected PC, thus enabling ‘free calls’ across that network. This innovative product is currently in the final stages of testing but when launched, will be ideal for those who travel abroad and incur large mobility costs.
The introduction of these product sets is all well and good, but behind the scenes we are working just as hard at making sure you get the expertise and support you need. We continue to invest in skilled people and in the last three years have increased our engineering resource by 50 per cent in order to provide expert pre-sales support, implementation and after-sales support. Our Helpdesk and Administration numbers have also increased significantly to support call handling, queries, and customer support. Moreover, we have invested heavily in and implemented a new CRM system to ensure we can track all customer activities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executel is set to double the size of its Gateshead-based operation.
Come the New Year, we will be increasing the size of our premises by 2,500sq ft, taking over occupancy of the upper floor of Cameron House at the Metro Centre where we are currently based.
This is due in most part to the onset of new technologies as well as our recent move into the data arena which together have resulted in the need to grow our showroom and demonstration facilities significantly. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Ten Years and Counting...
At Executel, we are not only celebrating our tenth anniversary but also a record 27 per cent increase in revenues during the past 12 months.
We have successfully reached turnover in excess of £7.5m this year and are now on target to hit £9m within the next 12 months as we continue to grow our booming Tyneside operation. Longer term plans will see the company hit the £15m mark within the next three years.
Of Executel's continued success, managing director, Tim Price, said: “There’s no doubt that it’s an ongoing challenge for service providers like ourselves to continually provide the very latest and most innovative technology but it’s a challenge that we relish and I wholeheartedly believe we are making the right moves at the right time in order to remain ahead of the game.
“The business community is yet to realise the full benefits of IP telephony, SIP Trunking and Next Generation Networks but over the next few years these technologies will cost effectively revolutionise the way in which we all communicate and we aim to be the provider of choice when that happens.
“Meanwhile, I expect steady growth and continued investment for Executel as we move forward into 2008. With technologies maturing at a rapid rate and becoming more readily available, we need to prepare ourselves for the explosion that I believe will happen in 2009 and beyond. However, in the meantime we will continue to invest in people, training and systems in order to meet customer expectations which are higher than ever before.” |
|
|
|
|
|
| Executel Celebrates IiP Success |
We are delighted to announce that Executel has sailed through its assessment for the prestigious Investors in People (IiP) standard.
|
IiP is the nationally recognised framework for improving business performance through the development of people to help meet set company objectives. Ultimately, the IiP process helps organisations become more customer focused, efficient and competitive.
Of Executel’s achievement, Sarah Carnegie from Assessment North East Ltd, said “I was particularly impressed with the way that everyone at Executel understands the underpinning ethos of the company in terms of delivery of excellent customer service.
“Equally impressive was the level of training achieved as part of daily routines and the well established habit of team meetings that are held throughout the company. It’s also clear that Executel staff enjoy working for the company and the active celebration of successes is well above what is normally seen and should be considered a particular strength of the company.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pictured: (L-R) Neil Davies, IT manager for INVISTA with Marcus Ayres, account manager for Executel Ltd. |
| Investment Plugs Communication Gap |
Executel is celebrating the completion of a major £60,000 installation project for Teesside-based INVISTA.
|
Having previously rented telephony equipment at significant cost, INVISTA has now invested in its own state-of-the-art technology and turned to Executel for a phased telephony roll-out to provide a scalable communications platform from which the company can further expand its operations.
Executel’s installation is recently complete, equipping the firm’s INVISTA Performance Technologies (IPT) division located at The Wilton Centre in Redcar with a fully-integrated IP (Internet Protocol) communications platform to serve some 163 extensions.
Of the contract win, Marcus Ayres, account manager for Executel, said: “We have worked – and continue to work – closely with INVISTA to fully understand the firm’s increasingly complex communication requirements and have subsequently provided an integrated and future-proof IP telephony solution from which the company can grow and evolve.
“INVISTA is a world leader in its field and we are both honoured and delighted to be contributing to its ongoing business success.”
Neil Davies, IT manager for the firm, added: “Executel have provided excellent service and support throughout all the stages of the project life cycle. They have worked extremely hard with the business to ensure all needs were met and that any disruption to normal business activity was minimised.
“The IP system installed by Executel not only provides a suitable and stable environment for our current telephony communications but it is also a platform for further development to support our global business activities.” |
|
|
|
|
|
 Paul is Called Up for Service
Executel has further boosted engineering resources with the appointment of Paul Henderson from Bishop Auckland in County Durham.
Paul, 29, joins the Executel team as a field engineer following a seven year stint with the Royal Signals during which he held the position of telecommunications engineer. Prior to that, Paul was liaison officer for The Amour Group and managed a communications room in South Baghdad.
Of his new appointment, Paul said: “It’s great to be back in the North East after working away for so many years and it’s a real pleasure to have joined such a prosperous and forward-thinking company.
“Executel is at the forefront of its industry and is clearly going from strength to strength. I therefore look forward to a long career with the company during which I hope to help further strengthen Executel’s already excellent reputation within the increasingly competitive North East market.” |
|
|
|
|
