Easy Installation Techniques

In this Blog Post “Easy Installation Techniques” I’m sharing usual installation techniques that successfully work for me most of the time, no matter how small or large of a system deployment I’m implementing.

Always keep in mind these 5 techniques might not work for you or your situation, but I feel that they are worth sharing, so here they go=

• Inventory Your Equipment
• Review And Communicate
• Develop A Plan
• Start
• Go Live!

1.- Inventory Your Equipment

This is the one of the most important of all rest steps listed here, why?. If any equipment is missing or stolen you (company) will be liable for it, costing you and your company money and wasted time. If the equipment is delivered by a third party straight to the site have your Project Manager send you a list of the equipment before going out to the customer site, then compare both, your list and shipping packing slips included with each packing box.

If you happen to pickup your equipment right from your company’s warehouse, before signing for anything make sure of what you taking to site matches the list given to you by your Project Manager, this will avoid confusion and trouble down the road.

2.- Review And Communicate

Now that you know what solution you will be deploying have your Project Manager sit-down with you and go over the process and Project Plan. Begin with basic questions, from parking arrangements to where will the equipment be installed, floor-plans listing jack numbers, stations, and names associated with locations, PRI/SIP Trunk Cut-sheets, and environmental requirements.

Reach out for your Site Contact and update him/her with your plan of execution, review installation planning forms. You will need to know who installed the wiring in case of any issues with it, the same goes with the rack, electric contractors, and building managers in case you need access to IDF rooms and loading docks.

3.- Develop A Plan

Is time for you to develop a short plan of attack. In your plan of installation you need to include all personnel involved in this project, PRI/SIP conference bridge numbers, and escalations in case something goes wrong.

Your plan should include these 9 steps=

1. Mount then equipment (if you have any power supplies have them tested)
2. Grounding the system and trunks (this is done before powering up the system)
3. Extending any circuits to your system (T1s and POTS lines)
4. Perform a walk-through of the site and compare your notes (tone at least one jack to verify the labeling is right with your wiring).
5. Place phones
6. Call your Service Provider, connect your trunks and turn them up
7. Test
8. End-user training (This could also be scheduled before installation)
9. First Day Of Business

4.- Start

Now that you have a clear plan of attack, sit-down with your site contact and review it, once reviewed start your installation. Communication is important, something goes wrong with any of your steps inform your Project Manager, then your customer.

5.- Go Live!

Here is when you call your Service Provider, port the numbers, and turn up new DIDs if any. Train your receptionist a day before, or first thing in the morning. Finally schedule your training sessions. I suggest that you have a maximum of 10 people per class, this will make it easier for you, and your end-users to understand the new technology.

How about your strategy?…what are your Easy Installation Techniques?…go ahead and share them in the comment session!