High Growth Company

"I like the cost savings. We no longer have to pay long distance charges between the three offices." Ann Marie Lang, Director of Human Resources

One of the challenges facing growing companies is the cost of growth. Opening new offices and achieving connectivity can be stressful operations. Any company that experiences significant growth from fast success can relate to this enviable dilemma.

SCI Systems (formerly Scheduling.com), a growing Application Service Provider (ASP), provides Access Management applications and services to the healthcare enterprise, making healthcare accessible by connecting providers to healthcare organizations and consumers to providers. SCI Systems wanted to connect their office in Tucson, Arizona with their two California offices: Los Gatos and Novato and maintain effective communication despite the great distances, while keeping costs down. They wanted advanced functionality that was easy to use and administrate. What seemed like an impossible solution was just another day at the office for Ketchum Integration's consulting team.

Ketchum Integration implemented the Shoreline Communications System to fit all of SCI Systems unique needs. First and foremost, all three of the offices were connected over a WAN. Thus, to reach any other office, a quick three-digit extension would allow any office to call any other, eliminating long-distance telephone calls to reach another office. This provides tremendous cost savings because the phone traffic travels over a leased line. "We no longer have to pay long distance charges between the three offices," exclaims Ann Marie Lang, the Director of Human Resources. "We can reach any of the offices just by dialing an extension. The Shoreline box allows us to call Novato and Tucson internally."

That's not the only place SCI Systems saved money. Unlike some new solutions in this VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) market, the Shoreline system doesn't require digital phones. "From a corporate perspective, as well as a financial perspective, I like that it's very inexpensive to supply the handsets. I don't need to buy a special handset, I can just buy a generic brand and plug it in."

With the cost savings and easy connectivity, SCI Systems has grown to love the Shoreline system's functionality and ease of use. Ann Marie adds: "It's so easy to use the phones now." Transferring, conferencing, call control, call reporting, and other features are just a click of a mouse. "I really like it. When you get a call, the Shoreline client pops up. It's nice to start a conference call or transfer a call, with just a click of a button, and then see where it's going." From the client standpoint, it only makes using the phone easier: "Employees rave about the client software; it's just point and click."

Above all, SCI Systems has been happy with the support Ketchum Integration has lent to their project. "Ketchum has been very responsive. I couldn't say enough about them. It was such a pleasure working with Ketchum, because they made sure we were up and running smoothly."

As their motto states, SCI Systems is connecting healthcare today and tomorrow. Ketchum Integration simply helps make that connection possible. "We can see who's calling on our client. It's far better than just an LCD display. Everything is right there. The software is very easy; the employees are very impressed."