Offices

Why every modern business needs VoIP Great communication is crucial for any business. It goes without saying that you need clear and frequent contact with your team to run a company with optimal efficiency, and we’ve never seen this demonstrated more than during the pandemic.  Our only option was to meet virtually, and because of that there was a huge rise in the use of VoIP systems.  It suited businesses so well that, even now, as the workforce begins to return to the office, remote working is still popular.  Many industries experienced the benefits of VoIP in time for BT Openreach to announce that analogue telephone services will be switched off in 2025, meaning that all telephone systems will be replaced by IP services.  It is now necessary for any business owner who wants to stay ahead to have a better understanding of VoIP and to make this progressive switch.  We’ve put together a short guide to explain why you should consider installing a VoIP system for your business WHAT IS VOIP? VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a communication system that allows you to make a phone call through an internet connection, instead of through a traditional analogue landline. While the outdated analogue systems rely on a complex network and physical lines, all that your VoIP system needs is a strong broadband connection and high standard cabling, to ensure that all phones connect to the router.  Due to its success, the range of VoIP services now on offer is steadily growing. You may already be familiar with a whole host of VoIP services:  Zoom Ring Central Google Meets Microsoft Team  So what is about this type of software that has driven so many businesses towards VoIP phone system installations? HOW DOES A BUSINESS BENEFIT FROM USING VOIP? Multitasking technology VoIP is not limited to just voice calls. Its technology facilitates multitasking, allowing you to share multiple documents, videos and images on screen with employees and clients. This enables you to collaborate with your team, just as you would in a live conference.  Group calls With VoIP, you can hold an online meeting with as many members of your team as necessary. The beauty of VoIP is in its flexibility; you can hold quick, short meetings to touch base with your team, or hour long conferences with clients. Accessibility A large part of the appeal of using VoIP is portability. Whether you are in the office or away on business, you can link any member of the team into a meeting, at any time and any place – all you need is a supported device, and an internet connection.  Low cost  The cost of having high speed internet installed costs significantly less than a landline.  By integrating VoIP into your daily processes, you can cut down on the amount of commuting, general travelling, and may even wish to downsize to a smaller office space that suits a hybrid workforce – all of which proactively cut your overheads. Speed and ease of use  In an era where time is money, you want a system that enables you to organise a meeting with your team in under a minute. All you need is one phone number and the right access and you can be connected instantly to your team.      High sound quality VoIP systems have come a long way since their early development, and while you may have traumatic flashbacks of crackly voices and frozen images of your team as your signal drops, modern tech means that you have to worry about this far less than you used to. As long as you have a high speed, reliable internet connection, which is easy to obtain now with the right expertise, you’ll enjoy a smooth VoIP experience.  WHAT BUSINESSES WOULD BENEFIT FROM VOIP SERVICES? While the needs of your business will be unique and complex, VoIP systems benefit a multitude of industries, from hospitality to ecommerce. This includes any organisation that: Holds group calls Regularly organises remote team meetings  Has a large contingent of their team working from home Regularly liaises with clients remotely.  Has customer service at the core of their business Has to communicate across various departments It’s our experience that by implementing a VoIP system, you can improve your organisation’s efficiency and effectiveness across the board. HIGH SPEED INTERNET CABLING AND VOIP INSTALLATION SERVICES FROM WHITESTAR SOLUTIONS At Whitestar Solutions, we go above and beyond for our clients. Rely on our team to provide specialist services, from installing high speed internet cables that deliver exceptional internet performance, through to integrating functional, out-of-the-box VoIP systems, ready for you to use.  If you need advice on setting up a VoIP system, or have any further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our dedicated and friendly VoIP experts. Alternatively, call us on 01442 234808, or email us at welcome@whitestarsolutions.co.uk. How to ensure your construction or building project is compliant with the latest legislation and fire safety standards How to ensure your construction or building project is compliant with the latest legislation and fire safety standards If you are carrying out electrical installation work, as part of a construction or building project, it’s essential that you comply with the rules set out in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. It doesn’t bear thinking about if a user of the building you’re responsible for should come to any harm due to a fault in the electrics – that’s why safety needs to be paramount.  The Regulations were set up under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, requiring precautions to be taken by ‘duty holders’ against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity in work activities. Under the rules, duty holders must: have the electrical systems constructed in a way that prevents danger; maintain the electrical systems as necessary to prevent danger (including a five-year fixed installation inspection​); and ensure work carried out on electrical systems is done in a way that prevents danger. BS7671 WIRING REGULATIONS

A Guide to PPM (Planned Preventive Maintenance) Plans An organisation’s premises may well be the most valuable asset that you own. So, it stands to reason that you’d like to keep your property in good shape. The solution? Planned preventive maintenance! Without effective PPM measures, your maintenance schedule will likely be more reactive. While reactive maintenance is often necessary, being proactive in your approach helps to stop things from going wrong in the first place, allowing your organisation to operate safely and effectively for extended periods of time. WHAT IS PPM (PLANNED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE)? PPM (planned preventive maintenance), or scheduled maintenance, is a proactive approach to the maintenance of electrical, gas, water, heating and fire safety systems. Key maintenance jobs are scheduled to regularly take place, with detailed notes taken once it’s finished to ensure consistency. This is done to ensure that your systems are in optimum condition at all times. Fail to do this, and you’ll find yourself rushing around trying to fix issues that could have been spotted and sorted months ago. Types of PPM PPM covers the whole spectrum of property management: Electrical safety standards Boiler servicing Gas safety certificate Roof inspections Network maintenance Energy performance certificate (EPC) Fire risk assessments Lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations AOV servicing Emergency light testing Cold water storage tank chlorination Regular PPM will likely require the input from a variety of specialists, which might seem like a large investment at the time, but the costs of regular PPM are dwarfed by the costs of a disaster caused by a lack of PPM.  It’s always more expensive to fix a major error, versus paying to prevent it. Take electrical PPM, for example.  Example of PPM Business A choose not to implement a PPM plan, while Business B have a comprehensive, regular maintenance schedule. Business A suffer from a mild electrical fire. Their sprinkler system dealt with the blaze, but damaged many of their systems in the process. Business A now have to spend a lot of money rebuilding their electrical systems, and carrying out further surveys in their building to ensure nothing else is going to imminently go wrong. Business B, on the other hand, spotted a small fault during their regular PPM. This fault would have eventually caused the same fire, but their maintenance team spotted the fault and have rectified it before it has a chance to become an issue. Business A spends thousands replacing their systems and endure a lot of downtime, Business B spends a little, and remain safely in business. 5 KEY BENEFITS OF PLANNED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE In addition to the above, there are a whole host of great benefits of PPM. Electrical, gas and water failures can all result in severe harm. By maintaining your systems, you’re proactively ensuring that you’re fully compliant and in adherence with the law. Regular maintenance spreads costs over the course of the year, rather than being lumped with a sudden, unexpected (and often large) sum. Many manufacturers require PPM in order to maintain warranties. Should you fail to maintain your systems, manufacturers may void your warranty. A well-maintained property will always be far more desirable to potential buyers over one that’s in disrepair. By showing a clear history of PPM, you’re demonstrating that the building has been properly cared for. Unplanned repairs are frustrating, and can take a fair while to rectify. It could take days for an engineer to finally get around to seeing you, and (as mentioned above) can cost an arm and a leg. WHAT SECTORS BENEFIT FROM PPM? Most organisations who have permanent premises should implement a PPM plan. However, more specifically: Preventive maintenance plan for schools PPM is crucial for schools and other education buildings, especially ones who rely heavily on their IT systems and network(s).  Schools should conduct regular electrical, data cabling, water, fire risk & gas safety checks. Protecting your staff and students should be the utmost priority, and regular PPM is the best way to do so.  Preventive maintenance plan for shared office space owners Unplanned errors often result in downtime in any organisation, which can prove catastrophic for businesses working in shared office spaces. By conducting regular, comprehensive PPM (or encouraging your landlord to do so), you’re working to ensure that your company remains in business at all times, positively impacting your bottom line by preventing all downtime.  Preventive maintenance plan for retail Retail businesses need to be agile and able to react to trends, and should be 100% sure that their customers are safe while shopping.  By keeping your systems maintained, your retail business is allowed the confidence to alter displays, welcome customers and ensure that your stock remains safe from unnecessary damage.  Preventive maintenance plan for hospitals & medical buildings System errors can mean the difference between life and death in hospitals.  It can be easy to presume that everything is working well, especially when there aren’t any obvious faults or issues. This is why PPM is essential in hospitals – it will identify underlying issues and rectify them before they cause harm. HOW TO CREATE A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN Before you create a PPM plan, you’ll need to know what type of maintenance you’re after. Time based PPM – This is where you get your systems checked every X months (this will vary depending on the equipment/systems). Engineers might recommend that they give your systems a once over every 6 months, for example. Usage based PPM – This is best when you’re using a system/piece of equipment regularly. This can be something like usage hours (how many hours a network is at full capacity, for example), or distance/other benchmark, such as mileage or production cycles. Condition based PPM – This is the process of looking out for specific conditions in your system before conducting maintenance. Some systems feature key indicators that can be used to determine when maintenance is required (excessive vibrations, rattling, etc.).  You’ll want to talk to industry specialists before making this decision, as every

Streamline Your Data & Electrical Systems with Whitestar We get it, you’ve heard this all before – we’re not the only electrical installation company shouting about how great they are.  However, we refuse to just tick boxes, at Whitestar Solutions, we back up our words with actions, providing the most comprehensive, effective and people-focused electrical & data installation service on the market.  A bold claim, we know. Here’s a little more information about how we excel at every stage of your project, from design through to deployment. WE HAVE AN UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT TO QUALITY If we do a bad job, it reflects poorly on us, and that simply won’t do. At every stage of a data and electrical project, we draw on decades of experience, and our class-leading portfolio, to offer a greater degree of control and consistency.  What does this mean for you? You’ll get a dedicated project manager who has worked on similar jobs before, meaning that there’s always someone who is up to speed with your organisation and understands your industry. You can expect excellent results, every time. You’ll enjoy our ongoing support, meaning that, should there be any issues down the line, you can rest assured that they’re dealt with efficiently.  When we say uncompromising, we mean it. Our engineers embody our values, taking on personal responsibility for your electrical and data project. WE OFFER A CONSULTIVE SERVICE We work with our clients as partners. After all, your success is our success! Our consultative process ensures that nothing is missed. Your personal project manager is there to comprehensively understand your organisational needs, meaning that when it’s time for survey/installation/maintenance, we know exactly how you function, and what’s required.  We’re not afraid to have difficult conversations, either. You’ll get honesty at every stage, challenging decisions when required and ensuring that the most efficient and compliant solution is deployed. WE’LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT We’re doing the work, we’ll take responsibility.  We guarantee that if something does go wrong, that it’s our responsibility to rectify it quickly and effectively.  We own the entire process, start to finish: A comprehensive site survey. Identifying key pain points and problems. Deploying the agreed solution, using trusted manufacturers and certified testing procedures. Full aftercare and robust maintenance, using the Planned Preventative Maintenance Programme. The whole project is our responsibility, you’ll get reliable support as and when you need it. SPECIALIST DATA AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS SOLUTIONS WITH WHITESTAR At Whitestar Solutions, we pride ourselves on our ability to gain a detailed understanding of the challenges you face. We’ll never do “just enough”, we always go above and beyond to deliver results. –     London Business School When you’re ready to enjoy a more human approach to data cabling, electrical services, wireless networking, CCTV & security, and much more, get in touch with our specialists for an honest talk about your requirements. Contact us today, call us on 01442 234808, or email us at welcome@whitestarsolutions.co.uk. Our experts are on hand to answer any questions you might have. Why bespoke business CCTV systems can enhance your business Why Bespoke Business CCTV Systems Can Enhance Your Business At Whitestar Solutions, we believe that bespoke business CCTV systems are an effective way of harnessing information to drive your company forward and provide an enhanced service to clients. A bespoke CCTV system can benefit and enhance your business in multiple ways – it’s not just about keeping assets safe. Let’s take a closer look at how CCTV security systems for business use automated data capture to provide valuable data insights. You may already use business CCTV security systems to safeguard your company. Still, there are several key areas that a surveillance system can be utilised to help business performance over time. REDUCING WASTE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS You may be astonished to learn how many resources and materials are wasted in your company each day. A fully integrated remotely controlled system can be used to reduce energy consumption by impressive amounts saving you money. Whitestar Solutions offers bespoke systems that could reduce energy consumption by up to 76% and maintenance costs by up to 67%. Depending on the nature of your business, a bespoke Whitestar Solution is always a possibility. Landfill sites, for example, are now increasingly using bespoke business CCTV systems as a way of improving logistics and reducing error with complex vehicle registration recognition processes. Use an innovative solution to seize back control, save time and costs – more critical than ever in these challenging economic times. KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON STOCK LEVELS Focussing CCTV cameras on warehouse storage areas or retail display shelves can offer a real-time remote view of re-stocking requirements or shortages wherever you are, even if you are away from the workplace. Visual markers on boxes enable cameras to record and store extremely detailed data about stock levels. You can then send this data to software platforms that can be programmed to inform the purchasing team, or automatically trigger the re-ordering of low stock goods. LEARNING ABOUT CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS Bespoke business CCTV systems are increasingly being used in shops for many reasons apart from security. CCTV footage that offers facial recognition, for example, can be used to track where customers head to when in a retail environment, which has the potential to improve store layout. It is possible, for example, to use data to quickly identify high-spending clients so they can be offered preferential treatment such as tailored offers within the store or excellent customer service. A ceiling camera could be used to track the footfall of shoppers across a shop floor, providing valuable insights into how well people respond to shop layouts or promotional signage. KEEPING YOUR TEAM SAFE CCTV not only helps to protect your corporate assets but more importantly, it can help to safeguard the well-being of your staff; the most essential part of your company. OPTIMISING EFFICIENCY Everyone wants to ensure consistent quality, output and performance are maintained at all costs. However, if there is a slowdown