UK senior living contract furniture company, Shackletons, has made the switch to hosted telephony to support its team of remote workers throughout the pandemic, thanks to help from business communications provider, Fusion Communications.

When Shackletons was forced to shift to home working as a result of Covid-19, the business needed to replace its old, analogue telephone system to allow its remote workforce greater control and flexibility.

The team approached Fusion Communications, having originally formed a partnership with the company in 2018, to implement a new VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system, which has allowed Shackletons to manage calls simply and effectively, whether working from the office or remotely.

The system can be accessed via any connectivity, providing a far more stable cost per user model and a greater scale up speed than the firm’s previous system, along with offering productivity improvements and supporting the ability to work from anywhere via the mobile app or desktop.

Shackletons’ move to hosted telephony comes ahead of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PTSN) closure in 2025, which will see traditional analogue telephone networks be switched off and all business forced to find other IP-based options for their business telephony systems.

Anthony Ullmann, chairman and CEO of Shackletons, said: “Making the switch to the new VoIP system was simple and stress-free. Fusion Communications listened to our requirements and recommended the right products for our needs.

“We are delighted with the new system and Fusion Communications’ service. The VoIP system has been extremely beneficial even when members of the team work remotely, allowing them to not only stay in contact with one another, but with our customers too.

“I worked with Fusion Communications in my time before Shackletons, and it is no coincidence that when I acquired the business in 2018, we moved all telecommunications to the provider.”

Oliver Rowe, founder and CEO of Fusion Communications, said: “The benefits of making the switch to hosted telephony, like the VoIP system, have become even more apparent during the pandemic, as it provides an extensive range of telephony capabilities via an easy-to-use web portal that can be accessed wherever.

“Many businesses have seen the advantages of implementing hosted telephony throughout the past year, as it has enabled them to stay connected whilst working remotely.

“As we approach the closure of the public switch telephone network at the end of 2025, it is vital that businesses think about their next steps in regards to their telephone systems and take action sooner rather than later so they are prepared.”

Established in 2013, Fusion Communications manages the communications for 250 small to medium businesses, including Midlands Air Ambulance, Birmingham Royal Ballet and APC Technology Group PLC.

The business offers a variety of communications solutions, including business mobiles, hosted and unified communications, fixed line and secure device management.