atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems ESI Telephones & Systems Average time to install a system.

Hi,
We are currently trying to set up a guideline for our techs and sales reps for installing an ESI system. Do any of you use a guidline?

we price by the size, s-class 1 day, most e-class 2 days, esi-link or x-class never know until i look at the job. if you know the system it should only take 1 day to do a s-class even with lots of programming, training, and lables. now e-class takes more time with acd and pri but this should give you an idea.

We usually expect one hour installation time for the KSU with an additional hour for voice mail. In addition, we allow one hour per station. Training is one hour initially at cutover and a one-hour follow-up session 30 days later. It's been working for us for years and rarely, if ever, does it not work accordingn to this plan (knock on wood).

I've been installing phones for almost 25 years now and no matter which type of system the ' selling ' price usually has 2 hours per phone built into it. It usually averages out. I've installed 50 phone jobs sometimes in 2 days, other smaller 8 or 15 phones in 1 day. It all depends on the DETAILS when talking with the Customer, They might not tell you they have had problems with their wiring in the past etc. It also depends if You are ' reusing ' existing cable etc. as with reusing, will the customer let you shut down their system to Cut-over the new, and When? back to the DETAILS...Is there enough room at the MDF to install the ESI without taking them out of service..Etc.(Thats the Great thing about ESI..it so Small!)You can always make room for it.

Long reply but may be worth reading.

I have been installing the ESI product for over 8 years now. Every scenario will be different. Your company should come up with a "Vanilla" installed price. This would be basic programming, button mapping, etc... Example: All lines ring to one ext., all sets have the same buttons and features, all obviously have line access. Just come up with a "Vanilla" template.

If the customer wants to build an auto attendant tree, have all personalized buttons, work arounds for off site transfers and forwards, then you would estimate the time to do such an install and charge this seperately at anhourly rate.

No matter what, your install will only go as smooth as your planning. Information gathering is the key to success and will let you come in at your estimate or below.

The fallowing took me a total of 6 days to complete on a road trip to Southern California for one customer.

Day 1: Bakersfield installed 2, 72e's each had 10 sets and 8 lines.
Day 2: Complete training and install for the Bakersfield sites. Drive to Sylmar to begin install of 72e w/ 28 sets and PRI.
Day 3: Complete training and cutover for Sylmar. Drive to Long Beach.
Day 4: Install 128X w/67 sets and two PRI's
Day 5: Complete Long Beach.
Day 6: Drive to Oxnard, with LA traffic this took all day.
Day 7: Install 72e with 8 sets and 6 lines.

Keep in mind that I live in San Francisco wich is a 6-7 hour drive to LA. ALL sites had NSP bords and were ESI-Linked. All work done by lil' ol' me. This is something I would not do again.

These installs all went w/o a hitch because of good planning and my experiance with ESI.

If you took the time to get this far, thanks for reading. Hope you find some answers.

Attaboy - good job!

Whoa! Sydeshow MO! I am printing this out and showing this to all my techs! they think 2 days for a 56S with 10 phones and no cabling and no training is too much too ask for!

Blelisa....What union do your techs belong to?

Blelisa, another thing I have done in the past is pre-program the system at my shop and send it out with the tech.

This can easily be done with good data collection from your customer.

Im in Plano, Tx and cant wait to get over to the ESI facility. I guess part of this class includes their Thanksgiving feast.

All re-sellers were invited to this beta test run of the sales training. More of you should have came.