FLYINGGROUP communicates better, at lower cost, with Unified Communications

FLYINGGROUP has many exacting customers who expected a high quality service. When a reservation is made for a private jet, communication is the absolute top priority because the customers always decide late in the game and their route is bound to change at the last minute. That is why FLYINGGROUP has to remain reachable for their customers 24/7.

In the past, customers’ calls were not always answered and the telephone expenses were high, says Ben Paindavin, Chief Information Officer at FLYINGGROUP. That is why we decided to replace the existing telephone switchboard with an alternative using voice over IP (VoIP), since we wanted a complete range both inside and outside of the office as well as an efficient integration across the different international locations.

Ferranti Computer Systems installed a Cisco IP Telephony solution, constructed on the basis of the business edition of Cisco Unified Communications Manager. The solution is integrated with a QuesCom GSM Gateway, Cisco Unified Presence Communicator and the existing Microsoft Exchange Active Directory for centralised user management. The integration of the different solutions ensures that the communication with customers is now done far more efficiently. Whatever telephone number they use, the calls will always be answered. Through an operator post and an IVR system FLYINGGROUP now has a clear menu system with individual on-call service for departments such as the technical department, financial department, commercial department, ...

Whereas in the past telephone calls had to be transferred manually, thanks to the Mobility system, now each landline is linked to its owner’s mobile telephone. Through use of simboxes linked with free intercompany traffic, the telephone costs for FLYINGGROUP are significantly lower than before.

The staff of FLYINGGROUP also communicate more efficiently and in a more targeted way using these intelligent applications. Thanks to the presence-function, they can instantly see whether a colleague is there or not, or is in a meeting or on the telephone. They can use instant messaging and a centralised mailbox application ensures that all missed calls or voicemail messages end up in the mailbox. Each employee can easily configure his own voicemail using a web interface. Thanks to an expansion on the Quescom GSM gateway, text messages are intercepted and delivered to the user’s mailbox as well.

After an extensive market study, the choice was made to go with Cisco because of the expandability of the product and the possibilities for integration with Quescom and Microsoft. Ferranti provided a smooth implementation and changeover from the old system to the new one.

About FLYINGGROUP

FLYINGGROUP is an air transport organisation that supplies services and solutions for both private and business related air travel. Their activities encompass aspects such as consultancy, charter flights, business flights, Flying Card, co-ownership of business aircraft, management of business aircraft, airplane maintenance and ground services for business flights. FLYINGGROUP manage a fleet of 25 business airplanes and is present at the airports of Antwerp (B), Rotterdam (NL), Luxembourg (L), Paris (FR) and Cannes (FR). FLYINGGROUP’s aim is to be a profitable and professional air transport organisation with a modern fleet and a commitment to providing top quality and the best service.