Case Study: Rod Stewart Avaya Solution
The Rod Stewart challenge
Rod Stewart is one of an elite group of artists who have demonstrated the staying power needed to remain at the top of their profession. But being a rock star isn’t just about living the high life. To be a serious player with a life-long career in the music industry takes a great deal of hard work and dedication, and involves an enormous amount of detailed planning. When Rod was on the UK leg of his 2002 tour, he was based at his estate in the South of England. With so much to take care of in terms of logistics, it soon became clear that his existing telephone system was simply not good enough. Rod and his team wanted a single system that had the capacity to use email and the Internet as well as provide telephone extensions throughout the whole estate, from the house itself to the swimming pool, stable complex, and even to his world famous private football pitch. In addition, Rod wanted to be able to add further extensions as necessary. These were all functions that his existing telephone system could not supply.
But as well as providing plenty of on-site connectivity, the new system also had to offer the power to deal with important communications when Rod and his team were on the road. The pressures of the music industry mean that they have to spend more than half their time away from the office, and in order to keep things running smoothly, they need to be able to stay in touch, by email and over the phone, from wherever they are in the world. The Avaya™ IP 403 system was chosen, a mid-range IP Office solution that offered the rich functionality, ease of use and scalability that were needed to take Rod’s business communications well into the 21st century.
The Avaya Solution:
The team called upon iQual, an Authorised Avaya BusinessPartner, to design, configure and implement the IP Office solution. The new IP-enabled system means that, wherever they are within the grounds, Rod and his team can receive or transfer a call, and even set up a conference call or download their emails. And wherever else they are in the world, they have access to exactly the same features.Sarah Jane Symeou, Rod Stewart’s UK-based personal assistant, manages the property on his behalf. Having personally commissioned Avaya’s BusinessPartner, iQual, she was delighted at the speed, thoroughness and efficiency with which the project was completed. “I was amazed that the whole thing went from start to finish in just three months,” she said. “There had been a lot of complaints about our old system. It couldn’t support Internet access while making a phone call, and people who rang up were always getting lost somewhere in the system. It just didn’t seem to be designed with an eye to the future. “With the Avaya technology in place, things are so much better. The new system is really straightforward to use, and we can very easily keep track of multiple calls, park them and pick them up from anywhere on the site, while being online the whole time.” The infrastructure (using SYSTIMAX® PowerSUM copper cabling, which allows voice and data traffic to be transmitted at gigabit speed across a network) was supplied and installed by Teswaine Business Communications Ltd, a BusinessPartner for Avaya’s structured cabling systems. “It was important to us that they didn’t damage the oak panelling,” said Sarah Jane, “They ended up feeding cables through dumb waiter shafts, and all over the place. But the end result is impeccable. You just can’t tell they were ever here. “One of the main advantages for us is the fact that we now have a cutting-edge communications system that we can easily upgrade. Now the initial investment has been made, we know that we can expand the system, without having to get a whole new telephone network.” “Everyone’s really pleased with the new system,” adds Sarah Jane. “Avaya and its BusinessPartners have made it easier for all of us to do our jobs better. Their professionalism was outstanding, and we look forward to working with them again, as and when the system needs further expansion. Our contacts at iQual were really helpful, and made me feel absolutely confident they were providing the best solution possible.”
The Future:
With a fully IP-enabled communication system, Rod Stewart’s business now benefits from the cutting edge in IP telephony solutions. The Avaya IP Office suite can easily be expanded to accommodate over 100 users, and could be used in the near future to facilitate transatlantic Web-conferencing. The system can also be integrated with security technology to enable video imaging of visitors calling at the gate. And as the team becomes increasingly reliant on the benefits of IP telephony, the system can very easily be migrated to cater for Voice over IP.
