How Newark's IT department cut costs, simplified management, and improved service with help from Maverick Networks.
In August 2022, the City of Newark appointed Ed Miranda as their first IT Director. Before this appointment, Newark did not have a dedicated IT department. One technician handled all technology responsibilities, including public safety support, help desk tasks, and server management.
Upon joining, Ed quickly built a small but capable IT team. Today, the department manages an extensive range of technology needs across the city.
Several issues emerged when reviewing the existing phone infrastructure.
The city was overspending significantly on phone services, carrier contracts, and the ongoing costs required to support aging infrastructure.
The previous system was challenging for IT staff to maintain, resulting in delays and inefficiencies.
Employees were not adequately trained, limiting their ability to effectively use system features.
We were spending significantly on telephony services. It became clear that significant savings and operational improvements were possible by evaluating alternative solutions. Ed Miranda
Newark conducted a formal RFP process, thoroughly evaluating multiple providers. City employees from various departments attended demonstrations of several leading systems, including RingCentral.
We prioritized ease of use, especially fundamental functions like call transfers, voicemail, and conferencing. It was essential that employees could quickly adapt to the new system. Ed Miranda
RingCentral was ultimately chosen because:
RingCentral's intuitive interface and strong reputation made it the obvious choice. Many employees were already familiar with it from prior experiences, which eased adoption. Ed Miranda
The transition to RingCentral was carefully planned and executed over a single weekend to minimize disruption to city operations.
Maverick Networks managed the entire installation, from initial setup through final deployment, working closely alongside Newark's IT team.
The installation process was excellent. Maverick brought in their team, and we transitioned smoothly over a weekend, starting Friday and finishing by Sunday. They carefully planned around our emergency services to ensure downtime was minimal and at a manageable time. Overall, it was seamless, quick, and professionally handled. Ed Miranda
Switching to RingCentral brought significant improvements to Newark's communication capabilities.
Newark achieved annual cost savings of nearly 50% compared to their previous phone system, freeing up budget for other critical technology projects.
The cloud-based solution greatly reduced downtime, ensuring uninterrupted communication and consistent service for employees.
Modern phones, enhanced functionality, and comprehensive training resulted in positive feedback from staff. Users quickly embraced the new system.
The new solution streamlined administration and reduced complexity, significantly cutting down the workload for Newark's small IT team.
RingCentral has exceeded our expectations. Our staff face fewer issues because the system consistently meets their needs. It's been reliable, intuitive, and much easier for our team to manage. Ed Miranda
The successful phone system upgrade has provided the City of Newark with a solid foundation for pursuing additional technology improvements. With a reliable and cost-effective communication platform in place, Newark's IT department can now focus resources on other strategic initiatives to benefit the community.
Choosing Maverick Networks as our partner was an excellent decision. Their ongoing support, expertise, and proactive approach ensured a seamless upgrade with minimal downtime. They consistently check in and proactively alert us to potential issues. I knew Maverick wouldn't let us down, and they haven't. Ed Miranda
I knew Maverick wouldn't let us down, and they haven't.Ed Miranda, IT Director, City of Newark
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