North East BIC boosts region’s SMEs with five-figure telecoms investment

A new telecommunications system has been launched by North East Business Innovation Centre (BIC) to support the region’s smaller businesses.

North East BIC has invested £24k in a new Telephone as a Service (TaaS) cloud-based online phone service, in order to enable SMEs to stay connected in changing circumstances.

The TaaS phone system works for businesses of any size, and extensions can be added or removed as businesses grow and circumstances change.

All users are given a guarantee that they can keep their number forever regardless of premise relocation. All telecoms infrastructure is hosted and maintained by experts at the BIC.

The BIC’s chief executive Paul McEldon explained: “Right now businesses of all sizes need communication systems that allow their teams to work seamlessly between home and the office.

“Our innovative and affordable telephony system means teams can quickly adapt to the challenges of today’s business environment with tools that give them a competitive edge and mean they never need to miss a conversation with a customer or contact.

“With our system, even small businesses and start-ups can access features that you would normally only find in larger organisations, such as call recording options, voicemail to email translation and an app that allows you to make and take business calls on your personal mobile when you’re out of the office.”

Paul Hampton, founder of Approved Mortgage Solutions at the BIC in Sunderland, was an early adopter of the new system. He commented: ‘We switched to the BIC’s digital telecoms services to get more flexibility and we knew the enhanced functions offered would make a big difference to the way we operate.

“During lockdown the phone system was invaluable. The advisers took their handsets home and simply plugged them into their router. Within 20 minutes of lockdown being announced we were set up to work from home.

“It was seamless for anyone calling the office – there was no interruption to the service offered and didn’t miss a single conversation. This system gives us peace of mind and it means we can go forward with confidence in these uncertain times.”