Conforama (Suisse) SA
The Conforama (Suisse) SA Group, known for furniture, home décor, and high-tech products, has decided to switch all of its stores’ landline telephone systems to peoplefone in 2021. We took this opportunity to speak with Alexandre Colot, the company’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), who masterfully led this technological transition.
Alexandre, why did you switch to a new telephony solution?
Our previous solution was outdated and ran via SIP bridges to an analog PBX. The decentralized solution, over which we had no control at the IT level, had become too cumbersome to maintain and not dynamic enough.
What were the biggest challenges during this transition?
The biggest challenge was the number of locations to migrate—a total of 23 branches. In addition, service continuity was a key consideration so that our employees could continue their work without being affected by the ongoing changes. Finally, it was important to us that employees get the hang of the new solution as quickly as possible so they could be up and running right away.
Which phone system did you choose?
We looked at several solutions on the market and, on the recommendation of peoplefone, evaluated the 3CX solution, which we ultimately chose. The on-premises implementation of 3CX for our 1,200 employees offers us a wide range of features that are particularly valuable for reporting in our retail sector.
Why did you choose peoplefone?
Since I had already carried out this type of migration to peoplefone for other companies, I was familiar with the high responsiveness of their service and the excellent stability of the lines. So it was only natural that I turned to them when it came to the Conforama Switzerland project. The migration at the 23 locations, which took place in several phases, went very smoothly and was transparent overall, except for the physical replacement of the terminals in the stores, which required the on-site presence of our electricians.
How satisfied are you to date with your new phone solution from peoplefone?
We are very satisfied with these changes, which have given us much greater responsiveness and functionality while significantly optimizing our costs. We’ve transitioned from 23 PBX systems to a single PBX that manages all our branches; our DECT phones have been replaced by our employees’ PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants); and the 3CX softphone is highly valued by employees for its ease of use, whether they’re working from home, in the office, or on the go.
Interview with Alexandre Colot, Chief Information Officer (CIO)