PUT US ON HOLD

For the Holidays

FOR FREE!

The holidays…it’s the time of year to express your gratitude and well-wishes to your customers and clients.  When you put your callers on hold…what do they hear?  Is it silence?  That will surely drive them away.  Is it annoying music that no one wants to hear?  Or…are you running old repetitive messages that haven’t been updated for years?

Targeted – Powerful Marketing Tool: 

♦ Control what your callers hear 52 weeks a year

♦ Engage the listener

♦ Shorten the perceived wait time

♦ Support your company’s branding & sales efforts

The Benefits of working with On-Hold Concepts:

♦Your on-hold service will include everything: copywriting, voice talent, music licensing, and any on hold equipment that you might require.

♦ Choose the type and genre of music that you feel best represents your business or service, including popular chart music by original artists.

♦ We set-up and maintain your new advertising tool with updates of fresh copy and music.

♦ You will be assigned a personal account manager to monitor and do all the work for you.

♦ Professionally voiced and produced on-hold advertising messages, auto-attendant greetings and automated prompts enhance your business identity, reinforce your branding and present a polished image.

Give your callers a special gift this holiday season! 

Give them the gift of On-Hold Concepts when you place them on hold. 

Contact Lisa Woodstock 800.864.6828 ext 3217 lisaw@woodstockmediagroup.com

ECS is an AVAYA Edge Emerald Level Business Partner located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

8-Channel 4K NVR with 6 each 4K Outdoor Color Night Vision Cameras

Costco Price: $799.99

Kit Includes:

8-Channel Ultra HD 4K NVR

2TB Security-Grade Hard Drive

Color Night Vision

H.265 Video Compression

Remote Viewing from PC, Tablet, or Smartphone

Remote Control

USB Mouse

Power Adapter

HDMI Cable

6 each 4K Outdoor Cameras

Contact ECS to install it for you!

ECS is Video Surveillance Installation company located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Video Surveillance, IP Office Telephone Systems, Voicemail, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Circuit Extensions, WiFi, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

Efficient Communication Solutions, Inc. (ECS) is a locally owned Avaya Business Partner that sells, installs, and services Avaya business phone systems in Washington and Oregon.

ECS has been certified by Avaya as a Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) Expert Business Partner.

In today’s business environment ECS can coordinate installations anywhere in the United States. 80% of our installations are in the greater Seattle, WA & Portland, OR metro areas, but because many of our clients have offices outside of our service area we partner with other Avaya Business Partners across the country. We only contract with certified Avaya installers and business partners that have the same standards we have in customer service and customer satisfaction.

In order to earn the status of Emerald Level Business Partner, Avaya requires a 90% “random” customer satisfaction rating and we must deal exclusively with Avaya products. Random means that Avaya contacts 100 random customers of ours each quarter and asks a series of questions pertaining to their experience with us and a MINIMUM of 90% of those customers rate us good or excellent in all categories. These are not customer we “cherry pick” and ask them to call. We register every system we sell with Avaya and THEY pick the customers to contact. Our most recent survey reflected an industry leading 94% customer satisfaction rating.

Make no mistake, we service our customers, period. We don’t leave until your system is operating at peak performance and programmed to your specific needs and requirements. We fully train all users and system administrators so you are happy with the product we sold to you and refer us to your friends and associates. 73% of our new sales in the past 5 years have been from referrals and that speaks volumes. 

ECS is an AVAYA Edge Emerald Level Business Partner located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Avaya IP Office, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, PoE, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

The Avaya IP Office Platform is a cost-effective system that supports a mobile, distributed workforce with voice and video on virtually any device.

IP Office is an integrated, modular communications solution that scales up to 3000 users and 150 locations in a multisite network with resiliency.

Match a deployment model to infrastructure needs from simple appliances to dedicated servers to virtualized software in a data center.

Improve customer experience and contact center agent efficiency with powerful, affordable multichannel functionality for voice, email, fax, SMS, and web chat.

The solution combines collaboration software plus multichannel contact centers, networking, security and video.

There is an IP Office to meet the needs of any small and midsize business.

From the smallest enterprise with essential team engagement and mobile requirements, scaling up to sophisticated large enterprises requiring high levels of resiliency to support their customer engagement solutions.

Basic Edition: For simple individual engagement on a simple to deploy appliance (IP500V2)

Essential Edition: For essential team & mobile engagement on a simple to deploy appliance (IP500V2)

Preferred Edition: For robust team, mobile, and customer engagement on a simple to deploy appliance (IP500V2)

Server Edition: For robust team, mobile, and customer engagement on a software based solution

IP Office Select: For robust, larger scale team, mobile, and customer engagement with higher resiliency on a software based solution

ECS is an AVAYA Edge Emerald Level Business Partner located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

You probably have a standard phone type for everyone’s desk, a standard PC all employees, even a standard type of data equipment in your communication room. If you are preparing to start a new structured cabling project, there is a simple but very important item to check off before beginning: defining your company’s cabling standards.

There is a lot that goes into the preparation including: Selecting the right contractor and checking their references, selecting the correct cabling standard; Category 5e, Category 6, Category 6A, or fiber optics, determining how many total cables are needed in your building, suite, or at each location/outlet. What type and how many feed cables are necessary from the demarcation point of the Carrier Services company to your communication room.  The cost/budget and timing/lead-time are very important factors as well.

Here are some tips to create well thought out cabling/infrastructure standards for your company:

1. Create a labeling scheme that makes it easy to identify a cable out on the floor.

(When ECS designs a system we usually use this sequence: Building/Floor/Com Room/Rack Location/Patch Panel/Port)

2. Standardizing on a jack color for different types of devices can give you, your IT staff and employees a quick reference on where they can or should plug a device into the wall.  Example would be having white for voice, blue for analog devices and orange for data.  This is less important when creating a “universal” system that allows for every jack to go to the same patch panels and be used for “all of the above”.  But, if you need or want that separation, different colored jacks (and patch cables in the communications room) are a great way to achieve it.

3. Using faceplates with more ports than necessary can save the cost of replacing that faceplate later.  If every station is a standardized at two cables, the cost of using a four-port faceplate instead of a two-port is negligible.

4. Standardize on one brand, color and type of cable and jacks so you have an interchangeable system.  A lot of manufacturers use what is known as “keystone” jacks and faceplates.  These are mostly interchangeable, but not always.  ECS recommends using these.  Keep a record of what you have installed for future reference.

Other items you may want to consider for future proofing:

1. add extra cables now to areas that may have growth to save expense in the future.  If you have an area in your space that you can fore see adding new employees in the future, why not put in some extra cable now, instead of paying for it later when there is furniture/people in the way and it costs more to install.  Not to mention the interruption in your business for the time it takes to install in new cables.

1. Make sure to have an accurate floor plan or “as-built” of your space with the voice and data outlets clearly marked.  This makes finding the correct cables, jacks, & patch panel ports easy.

1. Document adding any Moves, Adds, or Changes (MAC) you may perform after the install for an accurate record of your cabling/infrastructure.

(Article by Charles Bressler – ECS Account Manager)

In today’s world, technology is essential to conducting business in a retail, office or commercial environment.

A well-designed & maintained network infrastructure is vital to deploying technology in any location. ECS installs Low-Voltage Cabling in new locations as well as Moves, Adds and Changes. At ECS our network and cabling solutions provide our customers with consistent performance by following industry standards.

Some of our Low-Voltage Services Include:

• Network Topology Engineering
• Business Telephone Cabling
• Voice Cabling
• Network Data Cabling
• Infrastructure / Network Moves Adds Changes (MAC’s)
• Data / Server Cabinet Overhauls
• Wireless Access Point (WiFi) Cabling
• CCTV Cabling
• Demark Extensions
• T1/Circuit Extensions
• SM/MM Fiber Back-Bones and Extensions
• Cat 5e and Cat 6 cable installations
• Fiber Optic Cable Installation (Multi-Mode and Single-Mode)
• Fiber Optic Termination and Testing Services
• Fiber Optic Splicing
• Coax Cable Installation
• Large Pair Copper Splicing
• MDF and IDF Closet Installations
• Low Voltage De-installation

Remember: a proper low-voltage installation by a trained installer enables your technology investment to work at its full potential!

Some important considerations about Low-Voltage Contractors are:

• Do they have a Valid/Current Business License ?
• Do they have Valid/Current General Liability Insurance ?
• Can/Will they provide a “Certificate of Insurance” (COI) protecting you for their work ?
• Are they able to obtain a Low-Voltage installation permit ?
• Do they use employees or sub-contractors ?

Low-Voltage Cabling is a long‐term investment and regardless of the size of your company, poorly installed low-voltage cabling will over time negatively impact your use of technology. Unfortunately, the problem is often discovered months and sometimes even years after installation.

ECS is a Low-Voltage Cabling Company located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

Cloud Based Storage Option for Video Surveillance

If you have used Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive or ADrive, then you’ve used Cloud Storage.  According to Techopedia.com, Cloud Storage is used to store data on a remote server that can be accessed via the Internet.  It is located offsite and managed by the service providers.

With the advent of IP and networked cameras, businesses now have the option to store their video footage directly to the cloud.  This is important because it allows your video footage to be kept safe, and away from intruders on your premises.  Because the storage is not located on site, they cannot physically destroy it.  Also, in the event of fire or flood, the video footage will be safe.

Another advantage of storing to the cloud is the ability to view stored video footage and real-time live viewing using only a Web browser or a mobile app.  Cloud Storage is typically very inexpensive with a monthly subscription.  You enjoy low entry costs and your footages are safe.  Plus, setting up Cloud Storage with networked cameras is fast and easy.

Disadvantage:  There is a small chance a slow Internet connection may be experienced, especially when Internet is being used to review the footage. Downloading these videos is necessary to review or stream them.  Additionally, a subscription fee maybe charged for ongoing Cloud Storage.  Lastly, consider video footage and images stored on a cloud usually does not give the user complete legal or physical control.

ECS is a Video Surveillance Reseller located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

Network Attached Storage (NAS) or Network Video Recorder (NVR)

Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a type of storage that is connected to the local area network using a standard Ethernet connection.

NAS storage has its own IP address and may be used to store different file types, not just the images and video footage from cameras.  Like SD cards, NAS is very reliable and reasonable primarily because they also use standard storage for LANs.

On the other hand, a Network Video Recorder or NVR is used only for security camera’s recordings, but functions similarly to how NAS functions.  The difference is that NVR uses embedded software to record videos, while NAS can use the software provided by different manufacturers.

When opting for NAS storage for security cameras, be sure to consider how strenuous video recording can be at times.  A network storage drive is different from a desktop computer’s hard drive that spins only when something is being written and read to it.  NAS often just keep spinning even when it is not reading or writing.  NAS continuously write onto the hard drive when used for recording, which could be overworking it.  Be sure when purchasing a NAS that it is specifically designed for use with video surveillance.  Moreover, ensure the hard drives are properly sized for video recordings.  Your camera’s manufacturer can assist in figuring out the required size based on your needs of the frame rate, resolution, and time duration.

One advantage that NAS has over SD cards is the ability to record feeds from different cameras and have a bigger storage capacity, allowing storage of longer footage periods.

Disadvantage:  Like SD cards, NAS are typically located inside your premises, which means that there is a possibility that thieves or a rogue employee can find it and destroy the video recordings.  There is also the risk of NAS being disconnected from the network, which means there would be no video footage.

ECS is a Video Surveillance Reseller located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

SD Card Onboard Memory Option

SD means Secure Digital and this type of storage option has been used for many years.  This is the same kind of storage that is seen on DSLR, smartphones, and other devices.  SD cards are solid state storage, meaning it does not have moving parts that could wear out.

There are many IP camera manufacturers that are integrating SD and microSD storage for their cameras because this type of storage is inexpensive and very reliable.  Small surveillance systems with only a few cameras that use SD storage eliminate the need to have an NAS or NVR, which lessens the installation costs as well.

Even for a large system that make use of NAS or NVRs, an SD card may be used on cameras that monitor important areas. This redundant video coverage can be of use in critical places like the storefront and front door.  Even if wireless cameras suffer from interference or if there is a problem with the network, the security camera can still continue to monitor and store surveillance videos and photos that can be used later.

SD cards of up to 64 gigabytes are now available that have the option to automatically overwrite older footage when it is full.  Even so, two weeks of full-time recording on an SD card can still be stored.

Disadvantage.  A big drawback of storing video footage or surveillance images on an SD card is that it is stored inside the camera itself.  If an intruder steals or smashes the camera, the footage will probably be lost.

ECS is a Video Surveillance Reseller located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

Avaya Leadership

♦ The leader in Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) Telephony Systems at 23.1% Market Share

♦ The leader in IP Telephony at 21.6% Market Share

♦ The leader in Contact Center/ACD at 25.8% Market Share

♦ The leader in Unified Messaging at 46.8% Market Share

♦ Positioned in Leaders’ Quadrant for second straight year

(Gartner Magic Quadrant, Midsize Enterprise UC – NA – 2015/16)

IP Office Proven Track Record of Success

♦ 14 Million+ users worldwide

♦ 500,000+ systems worldwide

♦ Avaya is #1 Worldwide in Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) Business Systems

♦ 25% Lower Total Cost of Ownership (Tolly Report)

ECS is an AVAYA Edge Emerald Level Business Partner located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Voicemail, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, CAT5e/CAT6, Fiber, Circuit Extensions, Wireless Networking, Video Surveillance, Point of Sale, Overhead Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.