Case study:Before Lync, it was hard to stay constantly in touch with my staff and colleagues, apart from using email. Now it’s become much easier to join meetings and get updates on my phone, tablet or laptop.
Bernard Chia
Alyka Digital Agency
Founded in 2008 by Bernard Chia and Zion Ong, Alyka started out with two employees and has since grown to a team of more than 25 in-house employees made up of web developers, software programmers, project managers, and digital marketers.
Alyka is a boutique digital agency specialising in website development, search engine optimisation, adwords management social media and content management systems.
The seven year old company has since won various accolades including the BRW Fast Starters Award, Rising Stars Award and WA Business News 40 under 40.
Their vision? To create genuine results to their clients in the form of online leads or a strong digital brand. Their clients include Pindan, Pharmacy 777, City of Rockingham, Pilbara Ports Authority, and Curtin University among others.
"When we were looking around for a teleconferencing and instant messaging solution, we immediately thought of iiNet. Like us, it’s a Perth-based business with a proven track record in delivering on all things online."
As a busy digital agency with more than 25 staff, Alyka was looking for an all-in-one communications solution that would enable them to connect better with their employees and customers as well as enable working on the go.
Many Alyka staff work from home and even when they’re in the office, are often out and about meeting clients to discuss projects. With an emphasis on working on the move, Alyka was searching for a value-for-money solution to help them maintain a high level of service and deliver on KPIs.
"I’ve got the free Lync mobile app on my phone, which enables me to dial my contacts when I’m out. And if we ever lose our broadband connection at the office, the Lync app can function as a backup to ensure I’m always connected to my staff, customers and suppliers."
Zion Ong, co-founder and Director of All Things Strategy, found iiNet’s Microsoft Lync to be a perfect fit for their business as it’s enterprise-class communications at small business prices.
"When we were looking around for a teleconferencing and instant messaging solution, we immediately thought of iiNet. Like us, it’s a Perth-based business with a proven track record in delivering on all things online. From my experience using iiNet at home for my broadband connection, I already knew that customer service would be a standout feature so it was really a no brainer for us to sign up for iiNet Microsoft Lync."
"I was also pleasantly surprised at the price as a Lync license starts from $1.95, which is really affordable for a small but growing business like ours.
Zion finds the instant messaging and Presence functions one of the best features about Lync, as it allows him to see where his staff are at throughout the day and lets him contact them easily.
"With the Presence feature on Lync, I’m able to see if staff are available to chat, busy or away as it’s reflected in their online status. This may seem like a small detail, but it’s actually really useful as I know exactly when to reach out to my contacts – if a colleague shows up as ‘Away’ it means that they’re not at their desk."
"The instant messaging function is also great for sending across files and asking urgent questions as it gets a faster response than email."
Even when Zion is out, he uses the instant messaging function to stay updated with any developments in the office. He can also dial into meetings through the video and audio conferencing feature.
"As strategy director I’m often out and about meeting new clients and attending various functions. Before Lync, it was hard to stay constantly in touch with my staff and colleagues, apart from using email. Now it’s become much easier to join meetings and get updates on my phone, tablet or laptop."
"I’ve got the free Lync mobile app on my phone, which enables me to dial my contacts when I’m out. And if we ever lose our broadband connection at the office, the Lync app can function as a backup to ensure I’m always connected to my staff, customers and suppliers."
"With the Presence feature on Lync, I’m able to see if staff are available to chat, busy or away as it’s reflected in their online status. This may seem like a small detail, but it’s actually really useful as I know exactly when to reach out to my contacts – if a colleague shows up as ‘Away’ it means that they’re not at their desk."