UC provider Blackstar Solutions enhances customer retention with Highlight network and app monitoring
Blackstar Solutions, a unified communications (UC) provider based in Bristol and Cardiff, UK, has chosen the Highlight network and application monitoring service to further improve customer retention.
Owen Hawkins, head of infrastructure at Blackstar’s HQ in Bristol says, “Keeping our customers is critical to the business, and whilst we already have an excellent retention rate, we wanted to ensure customers stay for the long term.”
“To achieve this, we needed to make it easier for our team to build and maintain strong relationships with customers, and this required proactive support. That’s why we chose Highlight – it enables us to have full visibility of how all our services are performing as well as the ability to share and use this trusted information with customers.”
Blackstar serves medium to large sized enterprises with flexible and scalable unified communication solutions including voice, video, collaboration and mobility solutions. Many of its customers have large contact centres and Blackstar delivers an end-to-end service which also covers networking, servers and the underlying infrastructure.
Owen explains his initial problems. “Our UC business is extremely active and growing fast. Through our partnerships with network aggregators such as Mitel, Gamma, and Huawei, we could only see how services were performing for customers by accessing each separate and proprietary reporting tool. This was suitable for larger customers with a big presence in multiple countries, but the reports were useless for supporting smaller companies".
“We needed a way to monitor all our customers so that we could be more responsive and proactive to their needs, specifically those with smaller WANs and LANs. The last thing we want is to be unaware of an issue until we receive a call from a customer.”
Blackstar started working with Highlight in April 2018 and as part of its commitment to customer service, the company offers basic monitoring within all its packages.
“With Highlight, we now have a single view encompassing all our customers and can identify potential issues in advance,” continues Owen. “A wallboard in the office shows us at-a-glance if anyone is having performance issues. And when visitors come to the office, we can show them that we are actively monitoring all their services. In the past, we had no way to achieve this.”
Blackstar’s sales team will also benefit says Owen, “With Highlight we are able to differentiate our offer over competitors. And if a customer needs more bandwidth it is a clear-cut sales opportunity since they can see for themselves how much they are using and what extra is required.”
source vanillaplus
Industry: Unified Commmunications News
Latest Jobs
-
- Senior Penetration Tester - UK - Ability to achieve security clearance.
- United Kingdom
- To attract the right person
-
Senior Penetration tester, who has the ability to achieve security clearance. (Visa sponsorships NOT available - sorry) UK based - remote first - occasional travel. Red teaming experience desirable. The successful person needs to have a history of engaging directly with customers (consultancy experience) technical delivery of penetration tests AND report writing. Limited travel - company operates a remote first approach. Must be living in the UK. Not one of the usual names in the pen testing industry. Looking for someone highly technical but looking to grow and develop their skills. Apply here or Reach out to me on chris.holt@dclsearch.com or 07884666351 All details kept discreet
-
- Cloud Architect- German Speaker
- Hungary
- Upto €48000 per year + bonus + benefits
-
As a Senior Pre-Sales Solutions Architect, you will play a pivotal role in driving our sales success by translating complex technical solutions into compelling proposals that resonate with our clients. You will collaborate closely with our sales teams to understand customer needs, design tailored solutions, and negotiate successful deals. Responsibilities: Solution Design: Develop comprehensive technical solutions that align with customer business objectives and industry best practices. Proposal Development: Create compelling proposals, including requirements gathering questionnaires, presentation materials, and Statements of Work (SOWs). Customer Engagement: Build strong relationships with clients, understanding their technical, business, and commercial requirements. Collaboration: Work closely with sales teams, delivery teams, and third-party partners to ensure successful project execution. Pricing Strategy: Define and deliver pricing strategies that align with customer needs and company objectives. Requirements: Experience in technical pre-sales or sales support roles. Proven track record in designing and delivering successful customer solutions. Strong technical foundation in areas such as VMware, Azure, AWS, cloud computing, and data center technologies. Excellent understanding of sales principles, account management, and negotiation techniques. Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and concisely. Experience working in international teams and supporting clients across multiple regions. Fluency in German and English is essential. Benefits: Competitive salary and benefits package Opportunity to work on challenging and rewarding projects Collaborative and supportive work environment Potential for career growth and advancement Please note that this role is focused on supporting German clients, but will also involve global client support as needed.
-
- Solution Architect - OUTSIDE IR35 - Contract- SC / DV - London
- London
- OUTSIDE IR35
-
Solution Architect For a London based Contract This is an Outside IR35 project. MUST have a minimum of an ACTIVE - SC clearance and be willing to be put through DV clearance. 6 month rolling Immediate Experience delivering technical Security Architecture design / assurance of security design. Cross domain experience desirable HLD / LLD London commutable Immediately interviewing.
-
- Microsoft Sentinel Architect
- Netherlands
- discussed on applications
-
Microsoft Sentinel Architect We're seeking a talented and experienced Microsoft Sentinel Architect to be responsible for the design, deploy of a new Sentinel solution into an expanding Services business. As a key member of our team, you'll play a vital role in driving security operations and protecting clients' assets. Responsibilities: Solution Design:Develop comprehensive Microsoft Sentinel architectures aligned with our clients' specific needs and industry best practices. Deployment and Configuration:Oversee the deployment and configuration of Sentinel components, including data connectors, analytics rules, and playbooks. Integration:Integrate Sentinel with other security tools and platforms within our MSSP ecosystem. Tuning and Optimization:Continuously monitor and optimize Sentinel performance to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency. Training and Mentoring:Mentor junior team members and provide training on Sentinel technologies and best practices. Required Skills and Experience: Proven experience as a Microsoft Sentinel Architect with a deep understanding of its capabilities and limitations. Strong technical skills in Azure, security operations, and data analytics. Experience designing and implementing complex security solutions, into a services environment Knowledge of threat intelligence, incident response, and compliance frameworks. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.