Testimonials
"The time used to prepare for the new phone system was time well spent. When it was time to cut over to the Mitel 3300 ICP, it was absolutely flawless. I've never been through a smoother conversion." - Scott Stoflet, IS Manager
With immediate plans to open a new branch office as well as introduce innovative financial services, Bull’s Eye Credit Union (BECU) wanted its expansion built on a solid technological backbone. BECU’s data network is a well administrated and technologically strong system designed to accommodate growth. In stark contrast, its phone system used old technology that would cripple BECU’s future ambitions. The search was on for a new phone system.
Driving the timeline for implementing BECU’s new phone system was the opening of a branch office in Stevens Point, WI. “We didn’t have the time to sort through sales pitches. We needed relevant information that we could use to make an informed and correct decision,” said Dave Stark, president BECU. An outside consultant was hired to help BECU formulate the dimensions of its new phone system, which would be a Voice over IP (VoIP) system. With a strategy in hand, BECU’s management team reviewed three potential vendors. Stripped of sales hyperbole, BECU probed each vendor’s system to find strengths and weaknesses. After careful consideration, BECU chose the Mitel 3300 Integrated Communications Platform (ICP) that the Enterprise Systems Group of Wisconsin Wireless (ESG) proposed. In addition to its superior operating system, its “soft console,” a PC program receptionists use for call handling, made Mitel an easy choice. Another strong point was Mitel’s ability to seamlessly integrate with BECU’s existing data network. “We value our business relationships,” said Scott Stoflet, IS Manager, “and we were thrilled we could continue our longstanding relationship with our data vendor.”
Implementing its new phone system coincided with the opening of its new Stevens Point branch office. Both required detailed planning and both had to be executed flawlessly. During this hectic time, comprehensive phone system design meetings seemed unnecessary but BECU soon realized one valuable aspect of these planning meetings – each department had the capability of having its “own” phone system. Scott Stoflet said: “The time used to prepare for the new phone system was time well spent. When it was time to cut over to the Mitel 3300 ICP, it was absolutely flawless. I’ve never been through a smoother conversion.” One of the efficiencies of the Mitel 3300 ICP is members can call and reach an associate – not someone’s voice mail. Another is the soft console that allows the receptionist to handle phones in every location. Future plans include setting up special call-in programs that will provide members a no-hassle way to communicate with BECU.
Customer needs
• One Answering Point to Serve Multiple Offices
• Automatic Call Distribution (Loan Officers)
• Voice Mail Messages Integrated with Outlook
Solution components
• Mitel 3300-ICP
• Mitel Advanced Voice Mail (with Std. Unified Messaging)
• Mitel IP Telephones
• VistaPoint Soft Console (PC-based Operator Console)
Results
• Phone System with Common Platform
• Rapid Implementation throughout Organization
• Reduced Training and Operating Costs
"The thing I like about ESG is it’s not some big corporation. The people you work with, you know their names and you know you can count on them." - Shay Santos, Chief Financial Officer
Sit in on our interview with Dane County Credit Union’s Chief Financial Officer, Shay Santos, and their Chief Operating Officer, Mary Rescorla. ESG designed and implemented a Mitel 3300 VoIP phone system for the credit union that included all six locations and completely virtualized applications.
ESG: How did Dane County Credit Union decide to work with ESG?
Shay: Lane Manning contacted us wanting to meet up at the Wisconsin Credit Unions convention. We were already working with another vendor, but ESG came in and did a demo and we said, “That’s an intriguing system.” It had a lot of the features we were looking for and it seemed like they (ESG) listened.
Mary: Then it really got down to deciding whether to upgrade the Cisco system we had already or pursue the Mitel system.
ESG: What was the turning point for that decision?
Mary: The last meeting we had with ESG reinforced with us what we liked about the Mitel system to begin with. We liked the reporting, the ease of use, and it had features that the Cisco system could not provide to us without a lot of customization and extra expense.
Shay: I think we all had that “ah-ha!” moment at separate times.
Mary was on board from the beginning, but I being on the IT side, was hesitant. My moment came after we met with ESG technicians Michael Buckna and Lane Kufner. They had such an understanding; all of our concerns we had listed out and they explained how they would address each of those.
ESG: What add-ons does the system have?
Mary: We have UCA chat, the contact center, call recording and we’re working on getting UCA mobile.
Shay: We have the Mitel Border Gateway too, so we can have phones outside of our network. We also have Teleworker and that works so well. We used to have soft phones and there were always problems. With Teleworker we ship the phone out and the teleworker plugs it in and it works.
ESG: How has the new system increased efficiency or productivity for your employees?
Mary: I really like the reporting capabilities the system has. You can really tell efficiency in our call centers. Whether we’re overstaffed or if we need to beef it up at different times. The supervisor piece where you can see who’s logged on and what state they’re in at any time has also helped a lot.
ESG: How difficult is the system to manage overall?
Shay: I think it’s easy. The thing I like about it is you’re not alone. The interface is intuitive and I’ve recently learned a few tricks the ESG support has pointed out. There is also a ton of documentation for the system.
Mary: I’ve discovered some Oaisys videos that are quite good that I’m going to go through again. The written documentation is alright, but those videos are awesome.
ESG: What has your experience been working with the ESG technicians?
Shay: It’s been great. Usually I start a support ticket and they either answer me right away or get back to me within the hour. The thing I like about ESG is it’s not some big corporation. The people you work with, you know their names and you know you can count on them.
ESG: What would you say to another organization looking to work with ESG?
Mary: I would tell anyone that we’ve been pleased with the people we’ve worked with and the system itself has answered a lot of our business needs.
Shay: I would say the biggest reason we are with ESG is that they have quality people. They know the systems that they sell. They try to match products and services with your needs. They don’t sell you anything you don’t need. I like the size of the company and the way they address our concerns.
"I have never said this to ESG, but I was actually more pleased with how the project went than how I expected it to go based on previous project experiences." - Michael O'Callaghan, Director of Technology
The use and variety of wi-fi enabled devices being brought into the classroom has skyrocketed in recent years and has been a major issue at De Pere School District (DPSD). That was until they made the move to have a Ruckus Wireless system installed by Enterprise Systems Group.
The existing system wasn’t providing the necessary bandwidth and couldn’t support the number of devices the students and faculty wanted to utilize. There has also been more reliance on media-rich resources within student’s curriculum. The district was missing out on these features due to the the existing wireless system.
ESG stood out from the rest of the Request for Proposal (RFP) respondents immediately. “They (other respondents) didn’t have nearly the amount of detail in supporting our implementation that ESG had thought out in their response,” said Michael O’Callaghan, Director of Technology. “ESG was really the only vendor that did a pre-site survey before they filled out their RFP.”
The detailed approach ESG took in their evaluation was matched by the technology they proposed. The Ruckus solution had many features separating it from other products.
“When you look at some of the other technologies we looked at, it’s all basically the same type of wireless technology. Maybe packaged a little differently, maybe managed a little differently, but what impressed us about Ruckus was their antenna array, the ability of their system to support more connections with fewer access points,” stated O’Callaghan.
Requiring fewer access points (AP’s) was a staple of Ruckus’ marketing that had O’Callaghan skeptical at first, but after his team’s research process he found every claim to be true. “The fact that we could get by with fewer AP’s had a direct impact on the cost of the Ruckus implementation.”
One of the biggest improvements from an IT stand point is the system’s ease of use. The previous solution required a technician to physically touch every device for it to work on the network. This required special sessions to be held where students, guests and faculty would have to bring in their devices to be onboarded. That process was eliminated and users can gain access to the network quickly and easily without assistance from IT.
Managing the system itself also became easier. “The Ruckus tools that came along with the product, we felt, were much more intuitive and easy to use than any of the other tools that we looked at,” claimed O’Callaghan.
The Ruckus solution is now live in all of the district’s six buildings. ESG’s ability to work with the team at DPSD and bring in Ruckus technicians directly helped the implementation run smoothly and efficiently, according to O’Callaghan.
“If you look at a project, from a technical perspective, from a people perspective and from a process perspective, I mean the process they followed was solid, the technology was solid the technical skills to support that were solid, and the people we worked with just had a fantastic attitude,” O’Callaghan stated. “I have never said this to ESG, but I was actually more pleased with how the project went than how I expected it to go based on previous project experiences.”
"You could get a Mitel system from somebody else, but you may not get the close connection we have with the ESG team, or the service. They’re a good, solid company. They’re growing; it’s impressive how much ESG has grown. I’m really proud of how they’ve expanded." - Nancy Coonen : Vice President of IT
Five years ago Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin was featured as an Interconnect Customer Spotlight. We caught up with Nancy Coonen, Vice President of IT, to see how things have gone since our last interview.
We found the Goodwill NCW employees have not missed their previous system. “The phone system we had was unreliable,” said Coonen. “Outside customers had problems getting a hold of people internally, and it wasn’t able to do basic functions. We needed to find something better.”
They opted to install a Mitel 3300 solution. This gave Goodwill NCW the ability to consolidate phone lines and save money. It’s important to be conscious of every dollar spent on a system because it’s a dollar that could go to a direct service to our cause, said Coonen.
“We have a responsibility to watch our dollars and take care of the donations that come in for us,” said Coonen. “ESG understands that, they know we have budgets. They’re willing to listen and provide us with solutions that they know will work for us.”
Being cognizant of the needs of a non-profit has also helped other organizations that work within the same building as Goodwill NCW’s headquarters. The Workforce Development Center, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and others also use the Mitel 3300 system. The system is configured so an outside customer won’t know it is one big system and also allows for each organization to be billed separately.
The system has grown significantly since its first install. There are currently 25 locations; each store having its own controller. The individual systems are also equipped with answering services that help customers answer some of their questions without ever having to take an employee away from what they’re doing in the store.
The number one reason Goodwill has been so happy with their Mitel 3300 system is its reliability and the people who service it. “I feel like the people we work with have pretty much been the same through the years. It’s nice to not see that turn over,” said Coonen.
“They’ve become friends more than just vendors.” The ESG technicians have been able to educate Goodwill NCW’s phone system managers through the years so maintenance has been relatively easy. If there ever is an issue, the ESG technicians can remotely access the system through (i)View Network Management, according to Coonen.
“You could go get a Mitel system from somebody else, but you may not get the close connection we have with the ESG team, or the service,” said Coonen. “They’re a good, solid company. They’re growing; it’s impressive how much ESG has grown through the years. I’m really proud of how they’ve expanded.”
"I would categorized (ESG) as superior to other vendors. Just because of their customer service. Their willingness to work with you. To make the entire experience, not only for us, but other customers superior and that sort of commitment shines through in everything they do." - Cynthia Morris, Telecom and Network Administrator
When Cynthia Morris, Network and Telecom Admin. for Menasha Joint School District (MJSD), began her extensive research into what phone system would best suit the district, ESG wasn’t even on her radar. Only after bringing up the project with a friend, Stacy Rohr of Fox Communities Credit Union (FCCU), did she become aware of ESG and what they were able to do for FCCU.
“[Stacy Rohr] was raving about the process, the customer service, about everything in the transaction. I contacted ESG because of the great reference she gave,” explained Morris.
This was after Morris had already conducted extensive research on her own. Beginning with the system itself, she compared hosted vs. non-hosted; then compared the various brands such as Shoretel, Cisco, Avaya and eventually settled on a comparison between Cisco and Mitel MiVoice solutions.
“Of the systems we looked at, Mitel and Cisco looked very robust. Mitel looked like it would be relatively easy to manage in-house and it had all the features we were looking for,” said Morris.
With the decision to go with a non-hosted solution Morris chose three vendors to come in and do live demo’s with the selection team. The field was narrowed to two systems to move to Request For Proposal (RFP).
In the RFP process Morris assembled a team of IT staff, a superintendent, secretaries, and a principal to attend demos from the two vendors. ESG was able to bring in phones to MJSD and create a mini network to demonstrate the system in a live environment. The demo exemplified ESG’s knowledge of education environments, according to Morris.
“It was very helpful because they understood the needs of a school district versus the needs of a business,” Morris recalled. “There are some things, such as emergencies, which you need to address in the educational environment that you don’t have to address in a business.”
One of the key features of MJSD’s RFP was the emergency applications of the new system. They wanted a non-emergency help button teachers could press to directly call into the main office and allow administrators to listen in on what was happening in the classroom so they could act appropriately. Other features requested included phantom voicemails for teachers, redundancy among systems, voice mail notification to Gmail, and the potential for E-911 down the road.
The task of customizing such a system was met with ease by ESG’s design team and then handed off to the install technicians who worked with MJSD to meet their tight timeline for implementation.
“We wanted to implement the [Mitel system] in the few days between when the school year ended and summer school started,” said Morris. “ESG had the manpower here in order to complete the process in two days.”
The relationship with Morris and MJSD didn’t end upon installation. Morris has been in continuous contact with the people at ESG and she believes that makes all the difference.
“They’re always willing to work with you to find a better way and the customer service I’ve received after the sale is outstanding and for me that’s the most important part of a relationship with a vendor,” said Morris. “How you’re treated after the sale. Their willingness to make your customer service experience the best possible.”
"They listen to our concerns - not like listen and have things fall on deaf ears - they take action upon it." - Carolyn Gilbertson, Director of IT
Tucked away in the hills of Upper Michigan stands Portage Health. This not-for-profit healthcare system offers services from emergency/trauma, to pediatrics, orthopedics, wellness screenings and also many surgical procedures. With this level of patient care Portage Health needs to keep all lines of communication open. That is why their team chose to implement a Mitel MiVoice solution with Enterprise Systems Group. Read the full interview with the Director if IT, Carolyn Gilbertson.
ESG: What was the process Portage Health used in deciding what voice platform to implement?
Carolyn: We already had an Avaya system in place, so that wasone option. Cisco was a contender, Shoretel and Mitel. We createda matrix of features and functionalities we wanted: having different queues for staff, ability to transfer calls from multiple locations and also the quality of the phones themselves.
ESG: Why did you choose Mitel over Cisco or Avaya?
Carolyn: Aside from the features, we looked at the vendor relationship. That was really important as well. ESG distinguished themselves by being very personable, by being there when we needed them and being flexible. Looking at our organization as a whole and not just selling us a piece of equipment, but really making sure they were selling a solution that met our needs now and into the future.
ESG: What about Portage Health being a medical organization made the VoIP implementation more complicated.
Carolyn: Well, a lot of other 24x7 shops can be down for a period of time, obviously we can’t. Setting up we had continuous access relays in strategic places, like emergency, so they could have communication open during the down time while we were switching over to the new VoIP system. We planned for a 10 minute down time. We were only down two minutes and 45 seconds; so pretty impressive.
ESG: How have the people of ESG been able to handle the needs of Portage Health?
Carolyn: I think the people of ESG handle our needs very well. They listen to our concerns – not like listen and have things fall on deaf ears – they take action upon it. As we’re expanding our demands, ESG has been very responsive to come back and do additional follow-up with our end users to show them how to use other features, as well as observing how people are using the phone system and giving little tips and techniques to better handle the learning process.
ESG: How has the new phone system helped Portage Health run more efficiently?
Carolyn: It helped save our butts, so to speak. We went live in the middle of the week and our Avaya system died two days later. We put the new phone system in the nick of time. I think managing the call queues and letting the business units have ownership over that has really helped, it has streamlined business a lot.
ESG: What advice would you give to someone looking to implement a new VoIP system?
Carolyn: I would tell them pretty much everything I’ve said. Go with ESG. They’re responsive, very collaborative, very much want to be a part of the success and not just today, but success tomorrow too.
I think that’s been the best thing about ESG is the willingness to be collaborative and not to point fingers.
ESG: How does ESG rank compared to other vendors?
Carolyn: If I were to rate vendors on a scale of 1-10, I would say ESG is probably close to a 9, where other vendors might be down about a 4.5 or 5. So pretty good!
"Traditionally we did all our external communications via Webex and shifting to AWC (Mitel MiCollab) it has saved us roughly $10,000." - Tom Boutain : Director of IT
Having a vast geographical distance between offices can pose a great communications challenge for any business. That was a primary concern when Wausau Financial Systems (WFS) was seeking a platform that would fit their unique business while also having the potential to grow as the organization continually expands.
Originally based in Mosinee – WI, WFS has expanded and now has offices in Omaha - NE, Milwaukee – WI, Albuquerque - NM and Kirkland – WA, with around 100 remote employees. WFS chose to implement two Mitel 3300 MCD’s to unify all the employees under one communications platform.
“Knowing that our biggest driver was all of our home offices we wanted something that was easy, not something that would take a lot of time for my staff and help desk to resolve issues,” said Tom Boutain Director of IT Engineering for WFS.
The decision to go with ESG was reached through a series of white board sessions where WFS compared seven vendors, evaluated each presentation and assigned the vendors a number rating. “Mitel and ESG had the best ratings from everybody there by far,” according to Boutain.
“ESG was the only provider that brought phones to our facility, connected them to our outside network and was able to demo using live phones without any issues,” said Boutain. “We only had one other vendor try to do this when we asked, and it was unsuccessful. Others were not even willing to try.”
The WFS and ESG teams worked hand-in-hand designing the Mitel System. They started with the “Cadillac version, fully decked out with all the options,” according to Boutain. But then ESG worked with WFS to establish what was really necessary by explaining what the benefits were and what made sense.
“They helped us become more realistic and cut costs of those features that are very beneficial, but for a company of our size weren’t what we really needed,” Boutain said. “We came up with ways to meet our objectives without adding extra costs.”
Each of their Mitel 3300 MCDs are equipped with the teleworker solution, PrairieFyre Call Center and Audio-Web Conferencing. The AWC has made a major impact on WFS’s ability to cut costs. The system has been in place for just over six months and they are already meeting their forecasted ROI.
“Traditionally we did all their external communications via Webex and by shifting that to AWC it has saved us roughly $10,000 per month,” said Boutain.
Aside from the cost benefits, they’ve also seen the benefits of implementing an (i)View Network Monitoring system.
“We had an outage and because we use proactive monitoring through ESG they notified us that one of our data lines were down. That was great because we wouldn’t have known about it until the morning,” said Boutain. “The issue was dealt with before anyone even knew there was an issue.”
The WFS installation has been a great example of how Mitel and ESG are able to tackle communication challenges and develop a system that truly meets the needs of the customer while cutting operating costs and increasing organizational efficiency.
"Aside from the outstanding technology - I know the technology is important - what’s more important is the team behind the technology, because technology is just a piece of equipment without a good team. ESG has proven over and over that they know what they’re doing, they work with people who know what they’re doing, and they do it well." - Ann Marie Austin, Operations Manager
Located in the shadow of the State Capitol building, the Wisconsin Counties Association is a governmental organization that services Wisconsin’s counties regarding legislative issues. Because of its need to stay in touch with membership and legislators, having a reliable communications platform is essential for WCA. Ann Marie Austin, WCA’s Operations Manager, recently sat down with ESG to discuss her experience.
ESG: How did the WCA come to choose ESG?
Ann Marie: We shopped a total of five vendors and in the end we were really impressed with the phone system itself and the technology, and more importantly the ESG team. They were quick to respond, very helpful and very knowledgeable. So when we presented our challenges for customizing and other requests, ESG never said “no,” they said, “Our team will research it and get back to you.” And to this day we have been able to implement everything that we requested.
ESG: What was impressive about the Mitel 5000 system?
Ann Marie: We loved the looks of it and the touch screen, and the fact that it’s digital and we can flip through the pages. Also, the ease of it was impressive. It is very, very easy to use.
ESG: What process did you use to pick your phone vendor?
Ann Marie: Initially it was pricing, to be honest. I categorized them by price, but then I went further and categorized based on the technology and the kind of technical support that backs the technology. For us, having a relationship with the technical team is extremely important. ESG assured us they would always be there, and have proven that from day one.
ESG: What separated ESG from the other vendors?
Ann Marie: ESG has been coming to the WCA conference, so it was important to know they support some of our counties and come highly recommended. Supporting a company that supports our counties was important. Secondly, what separated ESG from everyone else was the one-on-one attention we received and how they shared their knowledge with us and answered our questions honestly.
ESG: Has WCA seen increased efficiency in day-to-day business?
Ann Marie: Yes. The voicemail to email feature is huge for our Lobby team and our Executive Director. Also, being able to pass off a call to your cell phone as you’re walking out the door, and conferencing people in easily have been extremely beneficial. From that perspective, we have been more productive because everything is now so easy to manage. We have also saved money, as ESG helped us get a better rate with our internet and voice service provider.
ESG: How has your on-going experience been?
Ann Marie: It has been very, very nice. We haven’t had any technical issues—it has been more like, “we would like to add this feature,” or “how do we change this feature?” The technical team has been outstanding in returning my calls and answering my emails right away, and even training me on the admin side so I can go in and tweak the system myself.
ESG: What would you say to a person looking to work with ESG?
Ann Marie: Aside from the outstanding technology—I know the technology is important—what’s more important is the team behind the technology, because technology is just a piece of equipment without a good team. ESG has proven over and over that they know what they’re doing, they work with people who know what they’re doing, and they do it well.
"From the beginning of this project to the end they've been very hands-on, very assertive as far as taking action and responding to questions." - Julie Gallagher, Director of Operations
2016 marked the 50th anniversary of the World Dairy Expo with all 50 being held at Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The World Dairy Expo is a forum for dairy
producers, companies, organizations, and other dairy enthusiasts to come together to compete, exchange ideas, technology, and commerce. Spending a few minutes walking through the expo, it is clear that the dairy industry has made significant advancements in technology. To keep up with the trend, Alliant Energy Center also made some significant advancements to their wired and wireless networks.
Industry leaders from all around the world gather for this event each year and there is a high demand to stay connected with their farms and businesses back home as well as with all of the competitions and events that are being broadcast throughout the facility during the day. To accommodate such demand, Alliant Energy Center worked with ESG to expand their current wireless coverage as well as add additional support to existing infrastructure.
"We have a great partnership with Alliant Energy Center and the World Dairy Expo. They have both been very innovative from the start. Our relationship began three years ago with the Wi-Fi installation at the New Holland Pavilions. The installation was very successful and now we are adding wireless to the Exhibition Hall and Veterans Memorial Coliseum as well as in key outdoor locations" said Lane Manning, Technology Solutions Specialist with ESG. "Our ability to monitor and analyze web traffic helps us determine where internet access is the most demanding and how to efficiently distribute signal during large events like the World Dairy Expo.
The Alliant Energy Center can now provide live video streaming, wireless animal tracking, ticket scanning, realtime judging results, and support for vendor sales and service." Improvements were also made to the wired infrastructure to make the network more reliable and secure to further
protect sensitive information.
"Everything they have done for us has been top quality work and I think the best part is the follow-up. It's the customer service aspect of it." - Tony Mancilla, General Manager
When Island Resort & Casino asked us to help them design their brand new sports bar (T. McC's) like no other in the area, we were ready and excited for the challenge! ESG's Audio/Visual Division Manager Jeff Seager and Account Manager Dan Rubin oversaw the design and implementation of the system. "Originally they had a lounge with just a few TV's and a nice eatery area," said Dan. "They felt it was overdue in improving and enhancing the space. [Island Resort & Casino] saw an opportunity to turn that space into something that could really draw people in for events like a big game experience."
Cellcom is an innovative wireless company with more than 50 locations throughout Wisconsin and Michigan. They provide nationwide 4G LTE service, affordable plans, and the latest in wireless devices.
Customer service is a top priority for Cellcom and a key differentiator when it comes to competitive advantages. Which is why they reached out to ESG to modernize
their contact center. Sallie Drier, Cellcom's Customer Care Director, was part of the team that selected ESG. “We went through the standard RFP process of several different providers, we also researched further via the Mitel website and found that ESG was rated the highest of the vendors that we were considering", said Sallie.
“Everyone at ESG is just so easy to work with. They are very personable, very responsive, and hands on. The solutions ESG offered us, along with their ongoing support, have allowed us to optimize usage of the Mitel system. We are able to offer additional contact options to our customers such as live web chat, texting,
social media, along with robust reporting capabilities. We can also track the reasons customers contact us and we can perform customer satisfaction surveys now."
Cellcom has about 45 agents working at a time and with the Mitel system they are able to look at the reports and it will forecast how many agents they will
need at certain parts of the day. Cellcom also utilizes an additional workforce management system that integrates directly with Mitel and feeds information all day long
so they can get both real time and historical reporting.
Eric Laracuente, Cellcom's Systems Administration Manager, handles the technical side of the operation. "Hands down ESG has been the best integration partner we’ve had. And we were able to not only roll it in smoothly but they were able to provide me with the sufficient knowledge, training, and information that I needed to build up the wealth of knowledge I have today to support our Mitel contact center correctly.”
Mitel's contact center offers a flexible, intimate customer experience. ESG TV Host Kristin Henzi and her film crew spent the day with Sallie and Eric at Cellcom.
Visit esgexperience.com/news to watch the full video.
"I’m so pleased with how great everyone from ESG was during the Mitel phone system project. I really liked the weekly project meetings that kept everyone’s communication open and everyone up to date on where the project was. You have some very great, knowledgeable, and dedicated professionals working for ESG. I’ve never had so many compliments from my end users during a project like this. Big Kudos to ESG on this smooth VoIP project rollout. Grassland is very pleased with the new Mitel phone system, as you’ve streamlined jobs and made our communication as a company much more effective and efficient." - Stacy Petkovsek, MIS Director
ESG TV's Host, Kristin Henzi, and the ESG film crew got an exclusive tour inside Grassland Dairy's manufacturing plant in Greenwood, Wisconsin. It is an enormous facility and ESG was selected to install the wireless network. Established in 1904, Grassland Dairy has grown into one of the top producers of butter in the United States. Grassland receives 5 million pounds of milk daily from more than 850 dairy producers. In addition to butter, they also produce a versatile portfolio of dairy products sourced from fresh milk and cream.
ESG installed ExtremeWireless access points both outside and inside the facility. But the climate inside the plant varies drastically going from high heat to below freezing temperatures with miles of metal piping in between. Because of those conditions, even outdoor access points needed to be installed indoors. The engineers at ESG were able to figure out a way to make sure that they had successful connectivity throughout the entire facility. There are about 100 access points that support production tablets, scanners and WiFi voice over IP. ExtremeWireless access points deliver wired-like performance, at scale, for high-density in every environment. Smart Access Points are equally adept for both distributed and centralized deployment models.
ESG engineers use a two phase process to determine how many access points will be needed. The first is a predictive study where they take blueprints and known information about the space, then run it through software that allows them to make predictive heat maps and coverage maps of the area. This allows them to give an
accurate idea for quoting purposes. Phase two is an on-site survey to get real data. This means using an actual access point and computer to map the entire building for coverage based on the needs of the customer. This then allows them to accurately place the access points to ensure optimal coverage.
At the heart of the network is a mix of stacked x460 and x440 Summit switches both at the headquarters as well as the manufacturing plant which are connected via fibre optic cables. Branch locations nationwide are also deployed with Summit switches. The award-winning ExtremeWireless Controllers are simple to deploy and manage. They provide advanced functionality to allow organizations to define how data traffic is processed without architectural constraints and in accordance with business needs. In addition, they have in-depth visibility and control over users and devices via Extreme's management center. ExtremeManagement delivers integrated management of your wired and wireless infrastructure from a single pane of glass.
Zero Touch Provisioning eliminates manual provisioning and configuring when adding network devices. One dashboard aggregates the view of users, devices, and applications. The analytics software allows IT operations to optimize the network for each and every application, enhance security for those applications, and provide data for business analytics. This empowers IT to turn the network into a strategic business asset that can now provide value to other lines of business and it enables business innovation powered by the network infrastructure. Watch the video at: esgexperience.com/news
Company Ratings
- Preconstruction Services
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5.0
- Cost Estimating
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5.0
- Competitive Pricing
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5.0
- Schedule
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5.0
- Quality of Work
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5.0
- Jobsite Safety
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5.0
- Paperwork & Administration
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5.0
- Professional & Courteous Service
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5.0
- Would Use Again
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Yes