Tag Archive for: education solutions

OVER 12,700 FLIP PHONES DELIVERED

KEY INSIGHTS

A major New York based Metropolitan School System required specialized flip phones as part of their Covid-19 response plan. Over 12,700 hard to find devices were needed in a tight time frame. ConnectUs was the only value-add reseller that had the flip phones in stock in large quantities. The phones were custom kitted and shipped in just over one week.

  • Over 12,700 ZTE flip phones kitted and shipped in 8 business days.
  • Enabled rapid, custom response to Covid-19 education demand.
  • Trust built with community for any future technology needs.

SITUATION

Major Metropolitan School System faces unique remote learning challenge

During the height of the Covid-19 crisis, educational organizations had to reinvent how to teach their students. Most turned to distance learning solutions that required digital devices for each student to learn from home.

A Major Metropolitan School System based in New York faced this situation with an added challenge. Being affiliated with a religious group, they decided to only use flip phones for remote learning. In early 2020, these devices were especially hard to find. As the lockdowns continued, time was of the essence. 

OBJECTIVE 

Find a provider that could deliver uncommon flip phones at scale

The School System was already using Verizon Wireless for their mobile needs. However, when they approached the Tier 1 Carrier, they learned that Verizon could not fill such a large order (12,700 phones) in such a short period of time. The quoted wait time from the Carrier was 10-12 weeks. This was far too long for students to remain unschooled.

It was immediately clear that an alternative flip phone provider needed to be found to meet the unique education needs.

APPROACH

Consult with Carrier about alternative flip phone provider

Due to numerous previous successful experiences, Verizon referred the School System to ConnectUs. We are the industry leader in hard to find handheld device fulfillment. The School System was delighted to learn that ConnectUs had the flip phones in stock and in the quantity desired.

RESULTS

Over 12,700 custom flip phones kitted and delivered in record time

As soon as the order was placed, the ConnectUs team got to work to outfit the large flip phone order. The devices required custom kitting along with SIM pairings assigned to each device. A team of 16 people was assembled to work on the project. Over the course of 8 business days the phones were quickly configured and staged.

Even though the customer had no other options, being part of a religious community did not hinder their ability to enable remote learning. 

ConnectUs was able to configure, kit, and SIM pair over 12,700 flip phones and ship them within 8 business days. Thanks to these intense efforts, and the unique positioning of ConnectUs in the device market, the School System’s students could engage in distance learning.

Due to strict governance, the School System community does not enter lightly into any provider contracts. After this successful campaign, they will certainly look to ConnectUs again for future technology requirements.

Covid Testing Site

KEY INSIGHTS

The Covid-19 crisis sent a Global Health Services Organization scrambling to locate 4G LTE Enterprise Gateway devices which were essential for their distributed enterprise. The devices were designated to be deployed to Covid-19 urban testing tents. ConnectUs was able to configure, kit, label, and ship the devices in one business day to help keep the Organization ahead of the crisis.

  • 225 Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Enterprise Gateway devices shipped within one business day
  • Enabled quick response to pandemic health crisis needs
  • Devices arrived fully configured, kitted, and labelled upon shipping

SITUATION

Global Health Services Organization requiring hundreds of 4G LTE devices on-demand

During the height of the Covid-19 crisis, many healthcare entities were forced to re-invent strategies to confront the unprecedented demand of a pandemic response. A large part of the effort revolved around virus infection testing as a core preventative measure. 

A major Global Health Services Organization responded to the crisis by deploying urban tent-based testing centers. As enterprise grade IT infrastructure was unavailable in the field on such short notice, the Organization required hundreds of 4G LTE devices to equip the tents with advanced connectivity capability.

OBJECTIVE

Find a provider capable of rapidly providing 4G LTE enterprise level connectivity devices

When the Global Health Services Organization approached their distributor about the demand for 4G LTE devices, the turnaround time was set at 8-12 weeks. This long wait time was unacceptable as the spread of infection was being clocked in hours and days.

The Organization set out to find a device provider that could ship immediately to keep up with the urgent need for field testing. 

APPROACH

Consult with Tier 1 Carrier regarding hard to find device providers

In their search for enterprise grade 4G LTE devices, the Global Health Services Organization turned to their Tier 1 Carrier for help. The Carrier immediately referred the Organization to ConnectUs, due to our long, successful history of delivering hard to find devices to meet urgent needs

The Organization was thrilled to learn that ConnectUs could fulfill the order and ship the devices on-demand. 

RESULTS

225 Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Enterprise Gateways configured and shipped within one business day

Once the order was received, ConnectUs rapidly configured the devices with the latest firmware. The devices were then kitted and labeled according to specific location requirements. All the devices were shipped out the door within one business day.

With state-of-the-art global 4G LTE coverage, the Global Health Services Organization established broadband connectivity for POS devices and other mission critical equipment to ensure service during the crisis. This high level of connectivity enabled the Organization to provision devices, monitor cellular data usage, and remotely maintain software versions and configurations.

In the end, it meant virus testing and all pandemic related issues could be communicated quickly and reliably over the enterprise’s secure network.

ConnectUs has established a relationship with this top 10 US healthcare provider as a result of being able to turn around the equipment order quickly. Along with ConnectUs, the Organization has extended a lengthy contract process to ensure future device demands are met on time.