Leading IT specialist Croft Technology has become the only company in the North East to be awarded a unique service standard from global giants Microsoft.
Already established as a Microsoft Gold Partner, Croft has achieved the Microsoft Specialisation in Unified Communications, which acknowledges Croft as experts in the planning, deployment and management of Unified Communications as well as delivering a consistently high level of service support. Unified Communications is a rapidly growing technology which tears down the barriers between telecommunications and computing.
By integrating these systems it enables businesses to communicate more effectively and to work more efficiently. The systems give business a huge advantage both in and out of the office. This can involve the combination of services including fixed and mobile voice, email, instant messaging, fax, audio, video, web conferencing and white-boarding. Voice mail and data move over the network like e-mail, workers on the move can dial in over any telephone to hear e-mail messages, their calendar. Address books can be accessed by voice control and the system will call anyone in it just by speaking his or her name.
To achieve the Microsoft Specialisation in Unified Communications, Croft had to demonstrate a high level of skill and customer service excellence. A number of staff also had to successfully complete a range of specialised training. Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp, said: “Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. “They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies.”
Unified Communications help businesses of all sizes to streamline information delivery, allow faster interaction, faster delivery of service and a reduction in costs. It also enables a simpler, more direct collaboration between co-workers suppliers and clients, even if they are not physically on the same site. Mick Keeble, Business Development Director at Croft said: “The combination of our existing expertise, coupled with Microsoft’s recognition of our Unified communications skills, allows us to offer businesses in the region a range of beneficial products and services which can answer a number of business challenges. “We work hard to ensure that we can give business the level of skill and support they need. We have had these skills for some time but by formalising them through recognised programmes, our customers can be assured that the solutions they are receiving are of the highest standards.”
