Transform Your School’s Communication with Sharp’s 3CX

September 15, 2024

Business Phone Systems Education

In today’s educational environment, where efficiency and cost-effectiveness are paramount, having a reliable and modern phone system is crucial.

If your school is on the hunt for a phone system that combines affordability, flexibility, and advanced features tailored for academia, look no further than Sharp’s 3CX phone solution. This hybrid VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system is designed to meet the unique needs of educational institutions, including primary, intermediate and colleges across New Zealand.

Why Choose 3CX for Your School?

3CX offers a sophisticated yet straightforward solution for school communications. It stands out for its ability to provide a unified communications platform that simplifies and enhances your school's telephony system while being cost-effective and easy to manage. Here’s why 3CX is the ideal choice for educational institutions:

Cost-Efficiency Without Compromise

One of the most significant advantages of 3CX is its cost-effective pricing structure. Unlike traditional phone systems that charge per user on a monthly basis, 3CX operates on a model based on simultaneous calls. This means you avoid the hefty per-user fees and only pay for the capacity your school needs. This pricing model is especially beneficial for schools with fluctuating call volumes or those that need to manage tight budgets.

Advanced Features Tailored for Education

3CX isn’t just about saving money—it also offers a suite of features designed to enhance communication and operational efficiency within schools. Here’s a closer look at the features that come standard with 3CX:

Free Call Recording: Essential for safeguarding students and ensuring compliance with educational regulations. Call recordings can be invaluable for reviewing incidents and maintaining records.
Flexible Handsets: Choose from a variety of comfortable IP handsets that fit your school's needs and budget. Whether you prefer traditional desk phones or more modern options, Sharp can accommodate your preferences.
Hosting Options: Opt for on-premises or cloud hosting based on your school's infrastructure and preferences. This flexibility ensures that you can deploy 3CX in a way that best suits your existing setup.
Emergency Broadcasts: The system includes broadcast functionality for emergency situations such as lockdowns, allowing for swift communication across the entire campus.
Easy Management and Scalability: With self-administration capabilities, 3CX simplifies maintenance and scaling. Deploy the system quickly and make adjustments as your school’s needs change.
Mobile and Web Access: The inclusion of a free mobile client and webphone ensures that communication isn’t restricted to school grounds. This feature is particularly useful for school trips, sporting events, and remote learning scenarios.
Integrated Conferencing: Both audio and video conferencing are included, supporting remote meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and collaboration among staff and students.
Extensive Integrations: 3CX integrates seamlessly with popular platforms like Microsoft Teams and leading MIS (Management Information System) providers, enhancing your school’s overall IT ecosystem.
Built-In Disaster Recovery: Ensure business continuity with disaster recovery features that protect your communication infrastructure against unforeseen events.

Affordable, Easy to Install, and Manage

In the face of ever-tightening budgets, 3CX offers a cost-saving alternative that doesn’t compromise on functionality. For schools with large campuses or multiple buildings, the potential savings on line rentals and call charges can be substantial. The system’s reliance on internet connectivity instead of traditional telephone lines further reduces costs and eliminates the need for expensive legacy systems.

3CX’s open-platform nature means it’s compatible with various IP desk phones, softphones, and mobile devices. This flexibility allows you to choose the hardware that best fits your school’s needs without incurring additional costs for specialised equipment. Additionally, 3CX provides all the features of on-premises phone systems and more—without the need for costly hardware purchases.

Comprehensive Features for a Modern Educational Environment

Here’s a snapshot of what 3CX offers beyond the basics:

Commercial Model: Enjoy over 150 telephony features included at no additional cost, such as advanced reporting and comprehensive call recording capabilities.
Versatile Conferencing: Audio and video conferencing tools support remote learning, staff meetings, and collaborative projects, enhancing the educational experience.
Flexibility: Mobile clients, softphones, and WebRTC ensure that communication remains seamless regardless of where staff or students are located.
Safeguarding: Emergency broadcast/paging and free call recording help maintain a secure environment and ensure safety protocols are easily implemented.
Mobile Client: Ideal for managing pastoral care, attending sports events, and handling school trips with ease.
Absence Line: Includes voicemail services with voicemail-to-email and transcription, ensuring that important messages are never missed.
Messaging and Presence: Instant messaging, presence indicators, and web chat streamline communication and foster collaboration within the school community.
Integration Capabilities: Effortlessly integrate with Office 365, Microsoft Teams, and SMS gateways, creating a unified and efficient communication environment.

Adopting 3CX means modernising your school's communication infrastructure with a solution that is not only affordable and flexible but also rich in features that support educational excellence. Say goodbye to outdated, costly phone systems and embrace a new era of efficient, reliable communication with 3CX.