Connecting Teleplex to a Legacy PBX
While Teleplex is a complete system in itself, you can also use it to the
features of or expand the capacity of an existing PBX or ACD. For
example, you can:
- Add preview or predictive dialing capability.
- Add intelligent call handling features to a dumb PBX.
- Add more extensions or "agent seats" at price more attractive than from
the PBX/ACD maker.
- Add IVR capability.
The following are examples of some actual PBX integrations that we have
done.
Predictive Dialing on Avaya Definity G3
In
addition to connecting outbound agents directly to Teleplex, some customers
have opted for the solution shown on the right in order to leverage their
investment in an existing Avaya switch.
Teleplex and the Avaya are connected by one or more digital lines such as
ISDN PRI, and agents can use their existing extensions (usually a CallMaster IV
or CallMaster V).
Predictive dialing requires dedicated lines, so this diagram shows
additional connections going to the telephone company or ISP. Existing
lines on the PBX could also be reserved to achieve the same thing.
Naturally, all of the features such as call and customer contact details are
available to the agent when using Teleplex CallBrowser
or a custom agent application.
This solution is much more cost-effective that the traditional offering
for this environment, and is much easier to manage.
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Inbound via Avaya Definity G3
Teleplex
has been used before to handle overflow inbound ACD traffic from an Avaya G3.
The configuration was nearly identical to the previous diagram, except that the
extensions were connected directly to Teleplex.
There are other possible ways of handling overflow traffic in multi-site
call centers such as using a feature known as "Look-ahead Interflow" over ISDN.
When one center is busy, it can query the other centers and transfer the call
to where it can be handled immediately.
Similarly, multi-sites can be linked using VoIP (SIP or H.323) over the
Internet or a private network.
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Inbound and Outbound via Fujitsu IP Pathfinder
A
major life insurance company uses Teleplex for their 60-seat customer service
Call Center. The company also has a Fujitsu PBX with over 600 extensions
for "back office" operations. Teleplex and the PBX are directly connected
via two ISDN PRI channels using crossover cables.
- The PBX extensions are configured as Teleplex "virtual extensions", so
agents can just dial the PBX extension number when they need to "escalate" a
call. Likewise, the Call Center extensions have been configured as a special
access group, so PBX extensions can easily dial into the Call Center.
- All of the calls in the Call Center are recorded. PBX users can record
important outbound calls by dialing an access code that routes the call out
through Teleplex.
- Both Teleplex and the PBX have ISDN PRI trunks, so calls can come into the
company either way. Calls into Teleplex can first go through an ACD, and then
to the back office.
- The company as different toll-free numbers for different produces and
services. Agents can dial a special access code that will cause a different
toll-free number to be used for the Caller ID, depending on the nature of the
outbound call.
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Inbound and Outbound via Cisco 2850 Router
This
system uses a Cisco router as the hardware middleman between a PBX a
third-party application server.
Teleplex acts as a simple PBX, but also provides call recording capability.
This rather hybrid configuration was implemented for the customer's particular
business strategy, but could be simplified (and cost reduced) by implementing
the entire system with Teleplex.
In this particular case we connected Teleplex to the Cisco using ISDN PRI
lines, although SIP or H.323 VoIP connections are also a possibility.
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IVR via NEC NEAX, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Others
It
is very common to connect Teleplex behind a PBX for IVR applications such as
voice mail. Teleplex is connected to a PBX extension line (usually
analog, but sometimes digital).
Staff can call the application by dialing a pilot number assigned to the
Teleplex lines. Outside callers may also access the application by either
routing particular trunks or dial-in numbers to Teleplex.
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