Last year, the County Information Technology Department replaced the County’s phone system, undertaking a large-scale project that will save the County an estimated $2.5 million over 10 years.
County departments can now leverage and integrate this new communications system into current and future business systems and processes. At the same time, first responders will now be able to identify the physical address of those who place emergency 911 calls from the County’s phone system.
Prior to this change, the County spent over $1 million per year on an AT&T legacy telephone system that AT&T announced it would replace with newer technology beginning in January 2020.
With this announcement, the County’s Information Technology Department sprang into action by comparing new technologies and potential implementation options. The technology chosen is known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which uses digital data packets that traverse the County network for internal calls, and to and from outside external entities over a private AT&T fiber connection. This meant new technology, new equipment, much more functionality, and savings estimated at $400,000 annually after implementation costs are recovered. This means the County will realize over $2.5 million in savings over 10 years.
The first step was to build the business case in order to prioritize, properly fund, and staff the project according to the information technology governance process.
What are the benefits?
Beyond costs, the switch brings many other benefits including:
The County’s Technology Steering Committee approved the business case in October 2016. The Board of Supervisors approved and funded the project during the 2017-18 annual budget cycle.
County departments can now leverage and integrate this new communications system into current and future business systems and processes. At the same time, first responders will now be able to identify the physical address of those who place emergency 911 calls from the County’s phone system.
Prior to this change, the County spent over $1 million per year on an AT&T legacy telephone system that AT&T announced it would replace with newer technology beginning in January 2020.
With this announcement, the County’s Information Technology Department sprang into action by comparing new technologies and potential implementation options. The technology chosen is known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which uses digital data packets that traverse the County network for internal calls, and to and from outside external entities over a private AT&T fiber connection. This meant new technology, new equipment, much more functionality, and savings estimated at $400,000 annually after implementation costs are recovered. This means the County will realize over $2.5 million in savings over 10 years.
The first step was to build the business case in order to prioritize, properly fund, and staff the project according to the information technology governance process.
What are the benefits?
Beyond costs, the switch brings many other benefits including:
- The new system provides accurate site information and location of the caller to the responding public safety organization. Prior to VoIP, when the County employees dialed 911, the public safety responder may not have received their specific location or site address.
- The new system reduced the time needed to perform physical changes from three business days to the same day. Unlike the former system that required dispatching an AT&T technician at a cost to the County for each move, moving a VoIP phone can now be accomplished with the help of County ITD.
- The system provides the ability for citizens and County departments to reach staff members at their desk or cell phone with single number function, regardless of their actual location.
- Emergency notifications to staff in specific locations or facilities can now be sent using the VoIP system.
- Fax machines have been replaced with virtual fax services, allowing incoming and outgoing faxes to be generated and saved electronically without the need for a paper copy.
- The VOIP phones are caller-ID enabled, allowing users to screen calls and effectively identify and respond to pre-scheduled calls.
The County’s Technology Steering Committee approved the business case in October 2016. The Board of Supervisors approved and funded the project during the 2017-18 annual budget cycle.
Action Plan
The new system required new telephone hardware, thousands of VoIP phones, and professional IT services to help County departments migrate from old to new.
A Request for Proposal was released in January 2018, and the final contract was awarded to AT&T Consulting and approved by the Board of Supervisors in May 2018. And yes, AT&T was selected to help move away from their own legacy phone system!
The project began in June 2018 a pilot migration within the County’s Information Technology Department, which allowed the team to learn and document how to use the new phones and get the most out of the new system.
Once comfortable, the County Information Technology Department migrated the remaining departments in two phases:
That’s correct: The County replaced over 3,300 phones in over 160 locations in just under nine months.
The project completed in May 2019, two months ahead of schedule, and just under budget at a total cost of about $2.4 million.
The new system required new telephone hardware, thousands of VoIP phones, and professional IT services to help County departments migrate from old to new.
A Request for Proposal was released in January 2018, and the final contract was awarded to AT&T Consulting and approved by the Board of Supervisors in May 2018. And yes, AT&T was selected to help move away from their own legacy phone system!
The project began in June 2018 a pilot migration within the County’s Information Technology Department, which allowed the team to learn and document how to use the new phones and get the most out of the new system.
Once comfortable, the County Information Technology Department migrated the remaining departments in two phases:
- Phase I from September through December 2018, with approximately 1,070 phones at 53 locations, and
- Phase II from February through May 2019, with approximately 2,295 phones at 108 locations.
That’s correct: The County replaced over 3,300 phones in over 160 locations in just under nine months.
The project completed in May 2019, two months ahead of schedule, and just under budget at a total cost of about $2.4 million.
