Editorial

Value for Cloud Services Looks Attractive Right Now

Published on:

July 27, 2021

Mr. Brink believes cloud-based ICT products and services could offer a solution within the overall current climate of uncertainty. “No-one is suggesting things are as dire as they seemed 20-plus years ago, but if businesses are unsure exactly how things will pan out over the next couple of months, our advice is to invest in the cloud, not in physical equipment,” he says.

There’s hope for the independent telco, says Lucien Brink, Executive Head of Products and Services at Vodia’s South African partner, ICTGlobe

South Africa’s current woes, both real and imagined, appear to be coming in jumbo-packs of late. The uncertainties around the upcoming local elections, severe weather conditions, the Covid-19 pandemic and now civil unrest are all dealing body blows to the nation’s already struggling economy, says Lucien Brink, ICTGlobe.com Executive Head of Products and Services.

The independent telco is, however, hopeful. It is perhaps echoing the sentiments of many in the South African corporate world, which are that local businesses should always hope for the best, but they must remember preparedness wins the day.

“Being prepared is the best antidote for uncertainty,” says Mr Brink.

Mr. Brink believes cloud-based ICT products and services could offer a solution within the overall current climate of uncertainty. “No-one is suggesting things are as dire as they seemed 20-plus years ago, but if businesses are unsure exactly how things will pan out over the next couple of months, our advice is to invest in the cloud, not in physical equipment,” he says.

According to Mr. Brink, while ICTGlobe SME and enterprise clients are reassured by the company’s proven ability to deliver reliable voice and data services through double back-up generators, huge banks of batteries in offsite data centres and a host of other measures aimed at Eskom-proofing, clients are still concerned about other uncertain aspects of the current economic climate.

The physical, desk-bound PBX equipment of yesteryear makes little sense at the best of times and certainly no sense in these times, and Mr. Brink believes cloud-based PBX solutions, such as Vodia, give nervous corporate clients the advantage of month-to-month contracts, rather than large capital outlays. Hosted switchboard solutions from Vodia mean any enterprise-class firm or SME can benefit from corporate-quality unified communications platforms.

As a Tier 1 operator, ICTGlobe.com owns its telecoms network, meaning it has full control over roll-out and maintenance of this core asset. Operating its own interconnect and networking facilities means the firm can reliably offer voice calls at the country’s most affordable rates.

“Save capital for brighter times and use the cloud as an uncertainty buffer for now,” Mr. Brink says. Contact ICTGlobe to find out more.

Latest Articles

View All

Vodia Visits IT Expo 2025

Vodia was excited to attend IT Expo 2025 in Ft. Lauderdale, where Sales Engineer Eric Altman connected with industry leaders such as Tommy Lee from Fanvil, Gary Harbeck from Dinstar, Spencer Lee from Telin, Sebastian Balan from Fidelity, Todd Weikle from Soar Communications, Steve Scott from Borderless.com, and Mitch Kahl from BCM One. The discussions highlighted the role of AI in business communications, Vodia’s Microsoft Teams-certified PBX, and our integration with Realtime AI via APIs. This event followed a strategic planning session with key partners to outline Vodia’s goals for 2025. We look forward to connecting with you at future events!

February 19, 2025

AI-Powered Hotel Phone System: OpenAI for Guest Services

Vodia has integrated OpenAI’s Realtime API with its PBX, enabling real-time AI-powered hotel phone systems that enhance guest services. By leveraging natural speech processing, guests can make reservations, request services, and access hotel amenities in multiple languages - all through voice commands. This integration streamlines hotel operations, reduces staff workload, and improves guest satisfaction. Whether booking a room, ordering room service, or arranging transportation, AI-powered phone systems provide seamless communication and efficiency. Hotels can now offer personalized, automated experiences while maintaining reliable, high-quality service.

February 18, 2025

Vodia and Microsoft Teams: Your Call Center Solution

ConnectPlus, a fictional call center with 150 agents and 20 support team members, faced several challenges in managing its phone systems and customer interactions. The company struggled with inefficient call routing, long wait times, and inadequate reporting, especially as it relied on Microsoft Teams for internal communication. To improve operational efficiency and enhance the customer experience, ConnectPlus sought a solution that could streamline its processes across multiple devices and platforms. Integrating Vodia’s PBX with Teams provided the ideal solution, optimizing their call handling and overall communication capabilities.

February 12, 2025