Installation at the Wetzikon Vocational School by Beltronic IT AG
With 2,600 students in basic vocational training and 900 participants in continuing education programs, the Wetzikon Vocational School is a leading vocational institution for future-oriented teaching and learning. We are committed to providing challenging and goal-oriented education for everyone who wants to advance their careers.
Why did the Wetzikon Vocational School switch from a conventional phone system to Microsoft Teams?
The previous phone system was already over 15 years old and should have been replaced years ago. Since the location issue remained unclear for a long time, the decision to replace it was repeatedly postponed. Once it became clear when the move would take place—and it was evident that the phone system was definitely too old to be moved—we began looking for a replacement. We made the decision to adopt Teams calling based on the recommendation of our external IT partner (Beltronic IT AG) and the Office for Secondary Education and Vocational Training of the Canton of Zurich. The Wetzikon Vocational School has been relying on Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft 365 services for quite some time. So, the introduction of Teams Calling was essentially just the activation of a new feature within the existing Teams app, which is used on a daily basis.
Why did you choose peoplefone as your telephony provider and Beltronic as your installation partner?
The evaluation of the most suitable telephony provider was conducted in collaboration with Beltronic. Beltronic has already successfully completed several Teams telephony projects with peoplefone. In addition, telephony fees (basic fees and call charges), as well as reliability and functionality, played an important role. Automatic caller ID via tel.search.ch, for example, is a feature that only peoplefone offers and that we’ve come to appreciate greatly.
How did the migration process go?
Microsoft Teams offers several features that we wanted to use right from the start—and, above all, in the way Microsoft intended. We took this opportunity to reevaluate our existing call flows as well as the general availability and office hours of our administrative staff, teachers, and employees. We began with a workshop led by Beltronic, during which we familiarized ourselves with the general features of Teams telephony and worked together to define both our starting point and our goals. Afterward, Beltronic simultaneously set up Teams telephony using temporary phone numbers from peoplefone. This allowed us to test and optimize the newly defined call flows. It also gave everyone involved the chance to thoroughly test and learn the new Teams telephony features. The switchover took place on a weekday at 12:00 p.m. While we were providing final training to the administrative staff in the secretariats before noon, Beltronic technicians dismantled the old telephone sets and replaced them with headsets connected to the computers. The subsequent migration of the number blocks to peoplefone went off without a hitch. This allowed us to use the lunch break to test the call flows and verify that important phone numbers were correctly configured.
How did the teaching staff respond to the new solution, and how did the training go?
The teaching staff was informed in advance and on an ongoing basis about our plans and further details regarding the rollout of Teams telephony. After lunch on the day of the switchover, we trained the entire teaching staff via a webinar on how to use Microsoft Teams telephony. We also provided the entire staff with handouts and quick guides on how to set up and use the Teams apps on all their devices (laptops, tablets, and cell phones).
Eight months later, are you satisfied with Microsoft Teams and the integrated landline telephony?
Landline telephony via Microsoft Teams made our move to the new school building last summer much easier, as we no longer had to worry about phone service or reachability. It’s also much easier now to reach our employees at their various work locations—whether in different school buildings or working from home—without having to use their mostly personal cell phone numbers. The solution works reliably, is stable, and is easy to use. Yes, we’re very satisfied.
What impressed you most about working with peoplefone and Beltronic?
We found peoplefone to be a professional and reliable partner, especially during the transition. We considered the planning and preparations, as well as Beltronic’s provision of the entire team telephony environment even before the actual transition, to be extremely valuable. We were able to prepare optimally for the transition. The project went smoothly—just as you’d hope.
Interview with Edgar Schlumpf, Head of IT at the Wetzikon Vocational School
March 7, 2023, by Alexia Zufferey