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Genesis Blog

Did you know Genesis supports Linux too?

by Nathan December 13, 2018

Did you know Genesis solutions are compatible with many different operating systems - not just Microsoft Windows?

Although many users prefer to install their software in a Windows-based environment, it is not a Genesis requirement, and indeed our applications work equally well in Linux environments.

Users who prefer Linux will be pleased to know that they can expect the same reports, ease-of-access, and simple 1-click installation and trouble-free operation regardless of the operating system they choose. Especially for larger organizations with multiple installations, the ability to manage and roll out software updates centrally makes Linux an simple, attractive option.

Hosted users can of course access their software easily from any browser equipped computer, tablet, or smart device, so if you are looking for the ultimate flexibility give us a call to get moved over to our hosted versions!

The Shift Towards More Complex Hosted Systems

by Nathan November 16, 2018

I see more and more customers choosing to go with hosted solutions as their older phone systems become obsolete and need replacing. The decision to choose hosted reporting and management applications is predictable given the common benefits - a predictable monthly cost and a consistently up-to-date, feature-rich experience.

We've seen a major change in how customers are using hosted telephone systems. While hosted users typically had limited requirements in the past, I now regularly see complex call routing, IVRs, queues, hunt groups, etc., with many customers extensively using features that were previously solely the domain of fully-featured on-premises equipment.

Mirroring this shift, we see a corresponding shift in customer needs on the reporting and management-side as well. Where relatively basic call detail reporting sufficed for smaller organizations in the past, many are now reaching for in-depth call quality metrics, analytics, and modelling previously reserved for the largest, Enterprise-sized organizations. Reliability is also becoming more and more of a concern, as businesses rely more heavily on the data for day-to-day business decisions.

These Enterprise-level reports and features have been built-in to Genesis software since 1984, and continue to be developed as customers need more and more specialized features. Our earliest customers were large Enterprises, and although we service businesses with only a few phones (and all those in between), we've always maintained that our customers should all have Enterprise-level features and reliability.

Contact us for more information on why Genesis is your Enterprise Solution, whether your Enterprise has 5 or 50,000 phones.

Labour Day Office Hours

by lisa August 31, 2018

Genesis Systems will be closed on Monday September 3 for Labour Day.

Customers subscribed to our 24-7 support package are unaffected by holiday closures. If you'd like more information on after-hours or 24-7 support options please contact Genesis Sales at 1-888-993-2288 or sales@buygenesis.com

Our office will re-open on Tuesday September 4th with regular business hours.

Needing More Accurate or Timely Reporting for your RingCentral System?

by Nathan June 4, 2018

As many RingCentral users quickly realize, call reporting isn't as real-time or accurate as they'd like. Daily call logs are not available until the following day, and the built-in reporting can show issues (e.g. excessive missed calls) which aren't actually occurring but are a result of having more unique installations. Users are increasingly contacting us as their need for timely access to accurate information is not being fulfilled.

We've not only identified the issues that cause most users frustration, but have designed our reporting from the ground up to avoid these issues entirely, while handling the unique challenges of the RingCentral system. The interfaces available to developers - while powerful and reliable - aren't designed for ongoing data collection & reporting like what a typical Call Accounting / Tracking solution would use, and because of this, require an entirely differently designed solution.

The available interfaces however allow for features which are not possible in standard Call Accounting solutions. Some of these reduce the amount of direct administration necessary, others provide access to more timely information, and improve staff safety.

Anyone familiar with RingCentral's built-in reporting will appreciate the flexible reporting and report delivery options built-in to our fully RingCentral-designed solution. Contact us to see how Genesis Call Accounting for RingCentral improves your business oversight, safety, and ultimately, performance. 

 

RingCentral App Gallery Link Updated!

by Nathan May 3, 2018

RingCentral just updated our app page link - should be a bit easier to find us now!

https://www.ringcentral.com/apps/genesis-call-accounting

 

 

Call Accounting: Differentiating proven and current solutions from all the "old technology"

by Nathan March 4, 2018

Call Accounting solutions have been available for a long time - well over 30 years now. Over the years these solutions have been marketed under a variety of other names, like call tracking, expense / productivity management, call analytics, etc..., but mostly have provided some level of "Call Accounting" functionality, regardless of the name.

Taking a look around the marketplace today, I see a lot of old, outdated technology still being marketed as leading-edge stuff. Some of it just doesn't make sense: how can a product be current when it's "new" features that have been industry-standard for 10+ years? Why do the reports look like they were designed in the 80's?

I see companies advertising some product / feature releases that just make me scratch my head, like:

- Now web-based (it hasn't been for the last 10 years!?)

- Multi-PBX / location reporting (the largest group of users are multi-PBX!)

- 911 Alerting

- Now available as: hosted / cloud / virtual (take your pick)

If these are the new features in a solution you are looking at, it is simply "old technology".

You won't find the most important differences on the company's website either - like third party software and licensing dependencies which add significant cost to the solution, missing support for current data collection methods, excessive PC/server hardware requirements, etc. Unfortunately, many times you aren't aware of these limitations until you're already committed, and then locked into using outdated methods or purchasing additional licenses.

It's not all bad though! Feel free to reach out to us if you have questions about or are just looking for some more clarity on Call Accounting and which solutions best fit your needs. We love Call Accounting! The uses for are seemingly endless; over 30 years in, and we're still discovering new problems we can help customers solve with Call Accounting. It's truly a universal solution, with a compelling use case for nearly any business with telephones.

 

What does your software's annual support actually cover?

by Nathan January 16, 2018

Most software includes some form of an annual support option to provide you with periodic updates and access to technical support when the need arises. Subscribe to annual support is not much of a decision for many of us - the software was purchased to fill a void (e.g. business analytics, emergency notification, etc.), and it just needs to work.

We subscribe to annual support so help is there when we need it.

Have you looked closely at your support coverage and terms though? There are always limitations, and the biggest ones may not be obvious until you encounter them. Many will leave you wondering what your support actually covers. We've all been there. A few examples of services and items I've seen other manufacturers charge additional fees for:

  • Software installation & re-installation (or moving the software to a new PC)
  • Phone equipment changes (e.g. changing or upgrading your phone equipment)
  • Software training
  • Physical copies of software & updates

Do these not seem like opportunities to up-sell you on services you believed were included with your support in the first place? Since you're under annual support, shouldn't you at least have access to the necessary support so you can continue to use your existing software?

We think so. It's a simple, yet illusive concept, and is one we strongly believe in.

Going Hosted: Are You Missing Something?

by Nathan November 25, 2017

Lower total cost of ownership, simplified deployment, reduced in-house staff administration, always up-to-date...

These are the themes echoed in most cloud-solutions marketing collateral - and for good reason - they are consistently the top 4 reasons why businesses of all sizes choose a hosted solution over an on-premises one. It's a compelling pitch, what business wouldn't want to improve their efficiency and reduce their costs?

But... It's not always that simple. Take for example:

A law firm customer I worked with had been using monthly telephone reports to substantiate their activities related to each client. Receiving these details broken down by each client vastly simplified their billing process, reduced errors, and improved billing transparency for clients. They had been using these reports for years and had become reliant on them for simplifying their billing process.

Their phone system was becoming obsolete and the firm made the choice to replace their old phone system with a new cloud-based solution due to some of the above reasons. Their set up was quick, and after a couple months the entire office was quickly trained on and moved over to using the new system. 

All was good until the first time client bills were generated after their migration. Their reports now had no unique client numbers on them, essentially giving them no way to associate the time spent on calls with the appropriate client! This was a huge issue for them. Their billing process changed entirely overnight, with staff now were having to keep track of billable time manually.

Needless to say, the customer was surprised to lose this long-time functionality, especially given that their new system had promised more features than their previous premises-installed one. The simple functionality they'd been using for 10+ years was now gone, the new system had no way to allocate calls to clients, and the customer was inevitably left scrambling to find a solution to this issue.

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Genesis Systems makes every effort to ensure our solutions, whether premises-based, virtual-installed or cloud based, feature all of the same functionality to eliminate these types of issues. We consult with your organization prior to implementation to ensure there will be no unpleasant surprises or limitations so you know exactly that you're getting.

For more information on the benefits of Genesis hosted, visit our website at: http://www.buygenesis.com/features/cloud-hosted.htm

 

 

New Appearance Update Now Available

by Nathan September 4, 2017

The latest software release includes a major appearance update. Users of our web versions will notice this upgrade immediately, which provides easier navigation, reporting updates, and significantly enhanced usability on a variety of devices including tablets, smartphones, and other browser-enabled devices.

Feel free to contact our support office with any questions or concerns you have and we’ll be more than happy to show you around your new software. If you haven't received your upgrade yet feel contact our sales office to find out when you will be receiving it.

Users of Genesis Hosted Solutions are already upgraded this latest version, and have the benefit of always having access to the most current features. With Genesis Hosted Solutions you can expect all the same powerful call analytics, management & exception alerting available in our premises-based solutions, but with greater accessibility and virtually no configuration & ongoing maintenance required on your part. Interested in going hosted? Give sales a call to discuss!

Teach Your Old Phone System Some New Tricks

by Nathan August 14, 2017

Are you running older phone equipment but still want access to the latest in hosted / cloud solutions, detailed analytics, simplified management, and reporting?

 We can help!

 Working with legacy equipment is one of our specialities - we're here to work with you regardless of your system's age. Since we've been in business for over 35 years it may not come as a surprise that we likely worked with your phone system while it was still new!

 Older phone systems often have limited or non-existent support for the newer connection methods & protocols necessary to connect to hosted / cloud-based solutions. This often means you need additional conversion solutions, equipment, and may make you feel like you are out of luck.

 Our solutions work around these issues and allow your older equipment to seamlessly integrate with our state of the art cloud and hosted solutions, giving you access to our powerful trend-monitoring, telecom analytics, telephone management, contact center and E911 reporting solutions with all of the latest features.

 Are you considering a phone system upgrade in the future? Genesis solutions can work with your legacy & new equipment and provide you with a seamless system management experience with consistent access to reporting & analytics throughout the migration process. We can even manage and report on both your legacy and new systems in parallel while you transition from one to the other.

 Contact Genesis today for more information about cloud / hosted solutions, working with legacy equipment, and solutions bridging your older and newer systems. Our accessible-anywhere Cloud solutions start from $29 / month and include any conversion equipment & tools necessary.