Revolutionizing Customer Experience: InterBel Telephone’s Seamless Infrastructure Upgrade with VergeIO
Customer experience (CX) has become a critical differentiator in today’s competitive business environment. InterBel Telephone’s collaboration with VergeIO exemplifies how innovative technology can directly enhance CX. By modernizing its IT infrastructure, the telecom cooperative achieved remarkable cost savings, operational efficiencies, and service improvements, underscoring the importance of aligning technology with customer needs.
InterBel Recognizing the Need for Change
InterBel Telephone, a telecommunications cooperative in northwest Montana, faced mounting challenges with its aging infrastructure. The cooperative’s existing setup relied on Cisco UCS and NetApp systems, which were nearing their end-of-life. Moreover, VMware’s escalating licensing costs—driven by Broadcom’s acquisition—added financial strain, with fees increasing by 30%. These pressures forced InterBel to reconsider its approach, ensuring its IT systems could continue supporting exceptional customer service.
Faced with these challenges, InterBel sought a modern, cost-effective solution. The goal was to streamline operations, reduce costs, and maintain scalability. After evaluating multiple options, InterBel chose VergeIO’s ultraconverged infrastructure (UCI) platform. This decision proved transformative, as it addressed the cooperative’s challenges while elevating the overall customer experience.
InterBel: A Strategic Partnership for Modernization
VergeIO’s VergeOS platform quickly emerged as the ideal choice for InterBel’s infrastructure overhaul. Designed to collapse the IT stack into a unified solution, VergeOS simplified virtualization, storage, and networking. This holistic approach reduced complexity while enhancing efficiency.
Tom Rasmussen, InterBel’s IT Manager, shared his perspective: “The Broadcom acquisition of VMware hit us hard, with licensing costs jumping by 30%. It was a punch in the gut. VergeIO stood out with its simplicity, flexibility, and ability to run on the hardware we already trusted.”
VergeIO’s platform was implemented using Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 servers in an all-flash production environment. Additionally, ioGuardian—VergeIO’s disaster recovery feature—provided robust backup and failover capabilities. This feature allowed InterBel to mix SSD and hard disk drives seamlessly, ensuring performance and cost-efficiency.
InterBel: Streamlined Implementation and Deployment
One of the standout features of VergeIO’s solution was its straightforward implementation process. Unlike traditional infrastructure setups, which often require extensive time and resources, VergeIO’s deployment was remarkably quick and efficient. Within two hours, the platform was operational in InterBel’s lab environment. Adding additional nodes was seamless, reducing the burden on InterBel’s one-person IT team.
Rasmussen highlighted this ease of use: “VergeIO was like reading an open book. Compared to the complexity of Cisco UCS and NetApp, VergeIO made the process remarkably simple.” This simplicity ensured minimal downtime during the transition, safeguarding uninterrupted service for InterBel’s customers.
Cost Savings with Direct Customer Impact
Cost efficiency played a pivotal role in InterBel’s decision to adopt VergeIO. Traditional virtualization solutions, such as VMware, would have exceeded the budget by 30%. In stark contrast, VergeIO’s solution came in at just 28% of the original budget. This 45% cost reduction enabled InterBel to allocate resources toward improving customer-facing services.
These savings also translated into competitive pricing for InterBel’s telecom services. Customers benefited directly from these reduced costs, reinforcing the cooperative’s commitment to delivering value. By prioritizing cost-effective solutions, InterBel demonstrated its dedication to enhancing customer satisfaction.
Enhanced Performance and Reliability
In addition to cost savings, VergeIO’s platform delivered significant performance improvements. The all-flash environment provided faster and more reliable service, ensuring that customers experienced seamless connectivity. As reliable telecommunications are essential for modern living, this enhancement played a critical role in improving CX.
Moreover, VergeIO’s ioGuardian feature ensured robust disaster recovery capabilities. By minimizing the risk of service interruptions, InterBel was better equipped to maintain consistent service quality. This reliability further strengthened customer trust in the cooperative’s offerings.
Simplified Management for Improved CX
Managing a complex IT infrastructure can be daunting, especially for organizations with limited IT resources. InterBel, with its single-person IT team, faced unique challenges in maintaining its legacy systems. VergeIO’s solution alleviated this burden by offering a single-pane-of-glass interface for streamlined management.
This simplicity not only reduced the workload for InterBel’s IT manager but also ensured quicker response times for any issues. Consequently, customers experienced fewer disruptions and faster resolutions, enhancing their overall satisfaction with InterBel’s services.
Scalability for Future Growth
Another critical advantage of VergeIO’s platform was its scalability. The solution allowed InterBel to add compute-only nodes and flexible storage options as needed. This scalability ensured that the cooperative could meet growing customer demands without undergoing costly infrastructure overhauls.
As technology continues to evolve, customer expectations for connectivity and reliability will only increase. InterBel’s forward-thinking approach ensures it remains well-positioned to adapt to these changes, reinforcing its commitment to long-term CX excellence.
VergeIO’s Commitment to Supporting CX
Yan Ness, CEO of VergeIO, emphasized the importance of empowering organizations to deliver superior customer experiences. “We are thrilled to support InterBel in achieving their infrastructure goals,” he stated. “Our ultraconverged platform is designed to simplify IT operations and deliver exceptional value, enabling organizations like InterBel to focus on delivering superior services to their customers.”
By partnering with VergeIO, InterBel demonstrated its dedication to leveraging innovative technology for the benefit of its customers. This alignment of technology and CX priorities reflects a broader trend in the telecommunications industry, where customer satisfaction increasingly drives decision-making.
Conclusion
InterBel Telephone’s successful infrastructure modernization with VergeIO highlights the transformative power of technology in enhancing customer experience. Through cost savings, improved reliability, streamlined management, and scalability, the cooperative strengthened its ability to serve its community effectively.
This case study serves as a testament to the value of aligning IT investments with customer needs. By prioritizing CX in its decision-making, InterBel not only addressed its operational challenges but also laid the foundation for continued growth and customer satisfaction. As other organizations navigate the complexities of modern IT infrastructure, InterBel’s journey with VergeIO provides a compelling blueprint for success.
