I agree, I have found (after many painfull experiences) that training the receptionist separately and then staff is the best approach. I never cut over until everyone has played around with the system (transfered a call, put someone on hold, get * to say the time...etc. I will then connect all the outside lines and test before the cut-over the next morning. The first few hours are criticle; have as many bodies as you can to help out.
Henry L. Coleman. Web: www.voip-pbx.ca Tel: 1 866 415 5355 < Jim Van Meggelen> > Roy, > > Any way you slice it, transitioning to a new telecom environment will be > stressful and emotional. I've done a lot of PBX installs, and the only > time > there was no drama was when the users and management just didn't care. > > Integrating Asterisk with a legacy PBX is technically not that > complicated, > but managing user expectations is. People will constantly be comparing the > two, and you will discover all kinds of things that do not work between > the > two systems, even though they work fine on one or the other. > > Unless you have a clearly-defined need for integration, it's probably time > to replace the whole system. Having said that, pick up a copy of a good > book > on Project Management (such as O'Reilly's The Art of Project Management) > and > follow a strict methodology with respect to outlining needs, goals, > deliverables, timeframes and such. Also, keep in mind that using the old > phones will predispose people to expecting the new system to work as the > old. With new phones, people will be more tolerant of the fact that there > are a new set of skills to develop. Price out new IP phones in addition to > the integration piece. You may be surprised that there is not as big a > price > difference as you might think. > > Really the trick to acceptance of new technology is managing people's > expectations. If you know exactly what is required of the new system, you > can build it, test it, and get buy-in before you cut over. Then, when you > finally do cut over, make sure that you plan for several days of bitching, > whining, and sometimes even yelling while people adjust emotionally to the > change. Make sure you have some user training sessions. This is a good way > to get a feel for how people are responding to the new system, and it > allows > you to catch complaints before they escalate. > > If you have never done a PBX installation before, make sure you plan this > out very carefully, or you will be in for some serious pain. This holds > true > whether you integrate or replace. > > Never a dull moment. > > Jim > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Roy Morris [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: March 5, 2007 4:52 PM >> To: Asterisk Group (E-mail) >> Subject: [on-asterisk] Nortel Integration >> >> G'day, >> >> I have been working with our Asterisk system for a while now >> and getting close to final stages. I hate the thought of just >> pushing all the users over to a new system over night and >> hoping for the best ;) >> >> Anyone seen any integration between the old Nortel stuff and >> Asterisk (hardware/software) ? My current plan just uses a >> box that converts my existing Meridian phones to SIP. >> >> Thanks in advance for any advice. >> Roy >> >> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >
