Thompson’s awarded Executel the significant service provider contract which covers the provision of sophisticated IP telephony services for eight sites located across the North East of England.
Founded in 1950, Thompson's is a family owned independent builders’ merchant which now boasts three separate divisions, Thompson Building Centres, Thompson Waste Centre and TAPS plumbers merchant.
Executel’s installation is recently complete and has linked Thompson’s headquarters in Hendon with branches in Newcastle, Gateshead, Chester-le-Street, Durham, South Shields and Sunderland. The net result is that Thompson’s eight sites are now seamlessly connected to a single voice and data network, which in turn enables them to operate and communicate in a cost-effective manner as if under the one roof.
Of the investment in new technology, Company Operations Director, Brent Ganley said: “The expansion of Thompson Building Centres and our sister company TAPS in recent years means that we needed a telephone system which would link all the sites and prove efficient for staff and of course, for our customers.
"We are extremely happy with the new system which allows callers to get straight through to the person or department they want to reach, using the very latest in technology."
Sales manager for Gateshead-based Executel, Michael Errington, added: “From small beginnings, Thompson’s has grown steadily to become a leader in its field.
“However, until recently the company had been operating with ageing and disparate telephony systems across its North East based sites and instead needed a standardised communications infrastructure with the flexibility to support its geographical spread which we are confident we have delivered.
“Continued company growth and acquisitions over the years had resulted in the need for a scalable communications solution that would evolve to meet requirements. We have therefore provided a complete IP telephony solution and with it laid the perfect foundation for future deployment and growth, thus making Thompson’s critical communications both seamless and cost-effective irrelevant of location.
“Meanwhile, in terms of cost savings the new infrastructure has enabled free internal calls between all sites, fewer line rentals and reduced maintenance for outdated systems.”