peoplefone UCC Summit 2024

peoplefone: Partner day becomes the UCC Summit

For the sixth time, peoplefone is inviting its resellers to its Partner Day. This year, the event will take place on October 18 in Fellbach under the theme “Shaping the Future: Achieving More Together.”

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peoplefone expands its sales team

peoplefone Germany is investing in partner support. Three additional sales representatives—Norman Rasch, Oliver Greskötter, and Michael Chodzinski—joined the team this year. We also conducted an interview with Daniel Hodel (Sales Manager).

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peoplefone: That was the UCC summit

For the sixth time, the VoIP provider peoplefone invited its partners to Fellbach. There, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the latest developments—and some even received an award.

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peoplefone: Newcomer and top performer in sales

peoplefone Germany Honors Partners with an Award: During Partner Day 2024, the companies that had acquired the most new customers and generated the highest revenue since September 2023 were recognized.

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Peoplefone invests in partner support

The telecommunications provider Peoplefone is expanding its sales team. With the addition of Norman Rasch, Oliver Greskötter, and Michael Chodzinski, three new sales representatives are joining Peoplefone.

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Finding the future in the jungle

Peoplefone CEO Felix Pflüger kicks off Partner Day 2024 with an AI-generated illustration. It depicts a jungle expedition, with a pyramid in the background.

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peoplefone expands partner support

peoplefone Germany has strengthened its partner support...

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peoplefone donates to Karlshöhe Ludwigsburg

peoplefone Germany presents a donation check for 3,000 euros.

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peoplefone donates 3,000 euros to Karlshöhe

On Partner Day, peoplefone Germany will present a donation check for 3,000 euros.

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Kimiko vs. ChatGPT

“Our new colleague works 17 hours for two euros,” sums up Thomas Schlenker of 3iMedia. He’s referring to an artificial intelligence that can generate not only text but also images. It’s the latter that impresses the audience at the Partner Day. An attractive woman of a certain age wearing glasses—generated by AI—could easily grace advertising posters for Fielmann and other companies as a model. The Karlsruhe-based team, however, is focusing on data protection. Unlike ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Co-Pilot (which resembles Kai Klammer, the bouncing paperclip on the screen), Kimiko does not collect data to store it and use it for training; instead, it processes the data exclusively. The AI can be installed locally at companies and used there. “So the know-how stays within the companies,” says Schlenker. In addition, the software offers API interfaces, allowing Google Maps or other apps to be integrated. Schlenker and his colleague Frank Schmidt see the use of AI as a market opportunity for system integrators, since, according to a study by the consulting firm Gartner, only 0.1 percent of all companies officially work with AI. However, the extent of “shadow use” is likely to be significantly higher—and with it, the risk of data misuse. Furthermore, AI programs are currently being tested in the U.S. with voice control, which promises to improve usability.

"We fix it!"

“We fix them!” says Christian Rapp of phone manufacturer Snom, which has been part of the Chinese VTech Group for eight years and took over its competitor Gigaset—which had filed for bankruptcy—this spring. There’s a reason Snom is advertising its repair service: “That’s how we find manufacturing defects,” explains Rapp, who also reports on news from the hotel industry. Despite the ubiquity of smartphones, Rapp notes that hoteliers, in particular, are buying corded desk phones. These now feature an antibacterial coating and can be customized to meet customer preferences. In high demand are revenue-boosting buttons that connect directly to the hotel bar or restaurant. A Dutch senior living facility operator also orders custom editions in the company’s colors and with easily recognizable function buttons featuring symbols. In addition, Snom has developed a multi-charger with an extra battery that can charge six portable phones simultaneously. Another new product is a box that replaces the phone. When connected to the internet and a headset, it can be used to make calls—without any dial buttons, a display, or a handset.

Seize Market Opportunities

Felix Grabow is presenting new products for the phone manufacturer. These include AML solutions for all security-related areas—“vendor-independent thanks to open interfaces,” as Grabow explains. In addition to traditional customers in the healthcare sector, an increasing number of industrial companies are also showing interest in alarm messaging and location solutions. This is because, when combined with sensors and photoelectric sensors, these solutions can streamline production processes. The same applies to cold storage facilities, where staff can be reminded hourly via push notifications on Gigaset phones of the required warm-up phase—which ultimately saves on labor costs by eliminating the need for inspection rounds. Also noteworthy is the point regarding liability, which does not lie with the system integrator making the sale. Alarm server manufacturers such as F24 and Novalink provide detailed advice on this matter, according to Grabow, who recommended taking advantage of this market opportunity.

URL with customer name

Yannick Meißner of Stimme offered partners an Innovaphone phone system as a white-label solution. Thanks to its modular design, it can be adapted to any industry and any customer need. A key feature is the ability to customize the system to specific needs using installed apps and tools. Change logs are also helpful, saving time especially in the service department. Although stimme relies on the SIP trunk from peoplefone, the software is now provider-independent. API connections to the Microsoft Azure Cloud are available, and the manufacturer also produces apps. One such app allows you to change your own phone number to that of the main office and switch it back again—depending on what needs to be communicated externally.

Text messages are back

Anastasios Papadopoulos of Vodia has revived a medium that had long been declared dead. The telecommunications equipment manufacturer works closely with peoplefone to send text messages through the phone system. This is particularly useful for medical practices, hair salons, and package delivery services that want to remind or inform their customers through more than just email. Vodia is also currently working on integrating Teams into its virtual phone system. To save costs, it’s important to assess users’ exact needs. “Unlike chief buyers, warehouse staff tend to use video calls less often,” explains Papadopoulos.

Teams only with peoplefone

Frank Schmidt of 3iMedia makes a very similar argument, recommending: “If you’re going with Teams, go with peoplefone!” This would preserve features not available in Teams, such as fax, call queues, call forwarding, emergency routing, reporting, and the ability to connect DECT phones or door openers. And because Teams doesn’t have rules for holidays and business hours, hybrid solutions are often essential. Especially since connecting via peoplefone means that data is stored in data centers in Germany—not in the U.S.

New Features

peoplefone Sales Manager Daniel Hodel highlights the provider’s portal, where commission statements for partners can be viewed directly—both by customer and in aggregate. “Sending Excel files is now a thing of the past,” says Hodel. Another new feature is the PIN letter that peoplefone sends to customers, which protects against address and identity theft. Just in time for Partner Day, additional features are now available. These include SMS reminders, a text-to-speech feature for voicemail messages, and, most recently, a mobile plan that rounds out the peoplefone modular platform and offers opportunities for upselling. Two new features are planned for 2025: the Studio announced by peoplefone CEO Beaud, as well as an analytics tool.

On partner day, peoplefone Germany will present a donation check for 3,000 euros.

The recipient of the funds is Karlshöhe in Ludwigsburg, which plans to use the money to provide therapeutic horseback riding for children and teenagers. “The donation from peoplefone will fund riding lessons for an entire year,” explains Alexander Hinz, division manager of youth services. The donation was initiated by eight-year-old Erik. His grandmother works at Peoplefone in Fellbach: Petra Waidmann shares the story of her grandson’s idea to support children in need. To that end, the boy sold toys and donated the proceeds—in the form of new board games—to Karlshöhe a little over half a year ago. Peoplefone Managing Director Felix Pflüger finds this idea worthy of emulation. Without further ado, the telecommunications provider sold about 25 used phones and some office equipment it no longer needed. “Since the desk phones were provided to us free of charge by the manufacturers, it makes sense for us to donate the proceeds as well,” said the head of Peoplefone Germany. The check presentation takes place on peoplefone Partner Day, which the company holds annually at the Schwabenlandhalle in Fellbach. In keeping with the occasion, Erik appears as the check presenter wearing a blue bow tie and a matching vest.