GordonKapesMZ4
Programmer
So we've come a long way since the dual non related Intercom and old 1A2 key systems in retail stores. Remember the days we had Aiphone intercoms and separate Western Electric 1A2 phone setups in our stores? Even worse, a 1A2 system with microphones in stores. EVEN worse was Kmart and some other retailers still had microphones/Aiphones on their counters even though they had a first generation Norstar system that could do the paging and intercom.....
I think I noticed the integrated telephone paging system revolution about 1983 when my local elementary school had me do the morning annoucements on a Dukane Nortel SL-1 telephone that could speak with the schools telephone system, it was pretty cool. ATT came out with the Merlin system in 1983 that could do both paging and intercom....maybe a few retailers caught on at the time, but not many. Then came Dominick's/Omni Superstore in Chicagoland in 1985. They really revolutionized the market with using a ROLM Redwood system with integrated intercom and paging. Very high tech at a time when most Retailers were still using the old split system technique.
Then throughout the late 1980's reatilers left and right simplified their telecommunciations platforms in their stores and provided cost savings across the board by utilizing their telephone systems integrated with their PA systems....retailers such as:
TJ Maxx went from 1A2/Aiphone to TIE, then Norstar
KMart went from 1A2/Mic to Comdial, then Norstar
Marshalls went 1A2/Mic to Delta/Lanier/Toshiba
Dominick's (Chicagoland) went from 1A2 Intercom to ROLM then Meridian 1 Option 11
Jewel Osco went from 1A2/Aiphone to Toshiba then to Norstar
Walgreens went from 1A2/Red Line Green Line to Norstar now Cisco
The retailer list making this cost savings trend went on and on and on throughout the late 1980's and 1990's.
Yes there are still some Ma and Pa's that still live and die with Aiphone intercoms but they are generally gone and I don't know how they stay in business.
My point? A lot of radio/intercom/headset people have hit the market with Brittney Spears headsets and are convincing retailers to go back and buy a seperate system for paging by using walkie talkies or two way radios. All of that work in the past 20 years to simplify paging and in store communications has been thrown down the toilet so retailers such as Target, Giant Food, Defunct Borders Books, Dick's sporting goods, Best Buy and others can spend extra money using 2 systems when one will do the job.
How?
Use wireless phones that tie into the store's telephone systems and utilize both the paging system and wireless such as Meijer does. Most important calls are directed through to the wireless phones, but occasionally an important annoucement, maybe about one every 5 minutes is paged over the Avaya PA system.
Also, in stores that have paging systems, employ a paging "script" such as Nordstrom. Take the time to train the employees to page cleanly and effectively. Train them to depress the "RLS" key so convienently installed on the ever so popular Norstar phones. With a little work, the paging system doesn't have to be an enemy.
I think it's bull crap when I ran across a publication from Polycom touting their Spectralink phones eliminated "disruptive overhead paging" from the Giant Grocery stores. Since when is it annoying to hear annoucements at a grocery store? It's maybe 5% of the population that hates it. I for one like to hear employees working hard and urgently to meet my needs as a customer. It's part of the experience and excitement of big box retailing. Even Wal-Mart known for it's fast pace retailing and energetic stores has eliminated overhead paging.
My point, don't let some in store Madonna/Brittney Spears/Old Navy touting headset people make you waste un-necessary money with 2 systems! Otherwise you are just going back to the 1970's 1A2/Aiphone combo systems......
****New Forum - E-Metrotel UCx****
Joseph Sus-Nortel Installer/Programmer-"JoetheUCxguy" on Youtube
I think I noticed the integrated telephone paging system revolution about 1983 when my local elementary school had me do the morning annoucements on a Dukane Nortel SL-1 telephone that could speak with the schools telephone system, it was pretty cool. ATT came out with the Merlin system in 1983 that could do both paging and intercom....maybe a few retailers caught on at the time, but not many. Then came Dominick's/Omni Superstore in Chicagoland in 1985. They really revolutionized the market with using a ROLM Redwood system with integrated intercom and paging. Very high tech at a time when most Retailers were still using the old split system technique.
Then throughout the late 1980's reatilers left and right simplified their telecommunciations platforms in their stores and provided cost savings across the board by utilizing their telephone systems integrated with their PA systems....retailers such as:
TJ Maxx went from 1A2/Aiphone to TIE, then Norstar
KMart went from 1A2/Mic to Comdial, then Norstar
Marshalls went 1A2/Mic to Delta/Lanier/Toshiba
Dominick's (Chicagoland) went from 1A2 Intercom to ROLM then Meridian 1 Option 11
Jewel Osco went from 1A2/Aiphone to Toshiba then to Norstar
Walgreens went from 1A2/Red Line Green Line to Norstar now Cisco
The retailer list making this cost savings trend went on and on and on throughout the late 1980's and 1990's.
Yes there are still some Ma and Pa's that still live and die with Aiphone intercoms but they are generally gone and I don't know how they stay in business.
My point? A lot of radio/intercom/headset people have hit the market with Brittney Spears headsets and are convincing retailers to go back and buy a seperate system for paging by using walkie talkies or two way radios. All of that work in the past 20 years to simplify paging and in store communications has been thrown down the toilet so retailers such as Target, Giant Food, Defunct Borders Books, Dick's sporting goods, Best Buy and others can spend extra money using 2 systems when one will do the job.
How?
Use wireless phones that tie into the store's telephone systems and utilize both the paging system and wireless such as Meijer does. Most important calls are directed through to the wireless phones, but occasionally an important annoucement, maybe about one every 5 minutes is paged over the Avaya PA system.
Also, in stores that have paging systems, employ a paging "script" such as Nordstrom. Take the time to train the employees to page cleanly and effectively. Train them to depress the "RLS" key so convienently installed on the ever so popular Norstar phones. With a little work, the paging system doesn't have to be an enemy.
I think it's bull crap when I ran across a publication from Polycom touting their Spectralink phones eliminated "disruptive overhead paging" from the Giant Grocery stores. Since when is it annoying to hear annoucements at a grocery store? It's maybe 5% of the population that hates it. I for one like to hear employees working hard and urgently to meet my needs as a customer. It's part of the experience and excitement of big box retailing. Even Wal-Mart known for it's fast pace retailing and energetic stores has eliminated overhead paging.
My point, don't let some in store Madonna/Brittney Spears/Old Navy touting headset people make you waste un-necessary money with 2 systems! Otherwise you are just going back to the 1970's 1A2/Aiphone combo systems......
****New Forum - E-Metrotel UCx****
Joseph Sus-Nortel Installer/Programmer-"JoetheUCxguy" on Youtube
