Racelogic designs and manufactures cutting edge electronic systems for the automotive industry.

Having worked with Lynx Networks for nearly twenty years, the Chairman, Harry Thuillier, came to us for the best advice on network architecture, cabling and a replacement telephone system. The business has ambitious plans so any solutions had to help the company grow and provide a platform to build on for the future.

Since communications and customer service are essential elements of the business plan, it was decided that a Cisco Call Manager Express IP phone system combined with the Unity Express software suite, twenty four Cisco handsets and four Kirk DECT wireless phones would be a good investment. This helps all of their staff to be available as easily as possible and, if they’re not available, for a voicemail to be sent to their email inbox as a wav file attachment. Auto-attendant helps callers to get through quickly to the right person without waiting for a receptionist. In addition, an interface to CRM (customer relationship management) software is available to provide features such as pop-up of data when a customer calls or single click dialling.

Each of twenty four IP phones connects to a port on a pair of a Cisco WS500 24-port Ethernet switches. The PoE (Power over Ethernet) feature on the ports provide power to the phones. Each user’s PC connects to an Ethernet port the phone rather than directly to the Ethernet switch, so each user only uses one port on the switch for both telephone and network data. This and the Cisco architecture gives priority to time-sensitive voice packets without causing any perceptible delay to data traffic.

The Cisco Call Manager Express unified communications and IP phone system is, in effect, software. In Racelogic’s application, it runs on a Cisco 2821 ISR (integrated services router) that is located in 2U of space in the communications cabinet.

It is very unlikely that speeds of more than 1Gb to the desk will ever be required so a Cat5e cabling system was installed because it meant that smaller containment could be used and it offers excellent value. The offices were flood-wired so that staff could be located anywhere and additional team members could be accommodated as and when required.

Lynx Networks installation fitted neatly into the tight office relocation program, being completed in time to allow a smooth transition onto the new phone system after some brief training.

Harry Thuillier commented that he has made use of the expertise provided by Lynx Networks for nearly 20 years, and it's a pleasure to do business with people who was could not only provide the right advice, but then carry it out in the required timescale.