The Challenge
Santa Barbara City College’s legacy system, installed in the early '90s, relied on physical lines, aging infrastructure, and lacked the tools necessary for effective remote communication. During COVID, these limitations became even more apparent.
“It was a good system. It served us well, but we kind of grew out of it—especially with COVID. It just wasn’t built for people working remotely,” explained Miller.
Maintaining the system became costly and time-consuming. Upgrading it would have required a major investment in hardware and backend support. The college needed something more modern, mobile, and lower maintenance.
Why They Partnered with Maverick
Santa Barbara City College has partnered with Maverick Networks since 2016. The college chose Maverick for their responsiveness, transparency, and practical approach to long-term support. Miller shared,
“We started looking at other vendors, and Maverick stood out among the rest as a good company—a very responsive and reasonable company.”
When it came time to explore UCaaS solutions, Maverick helped the college evaluate several leading providers, including RingCentral and Zoom. Because the Chancellor’s Office had secured a special agreement with Zoom, it emerged as the best fit—both technically and financially.
The Solution
Zoom Phone was a natural fit. The college was already a “Zoom campus,” and the move to Zoom Phone felt like a seamless extension.
Most users transitioned to softphones, with Poly desk phones installed only in shared spaces like front desks and classrooms. The total phone count dropped by more than half, saving on hardware and maintenance.
Implementation
With Maverick’s support, Santa Barbara City College completed the transition in about six weeks. Maverick handled the decommissioning of the legacy system, helped identify what needed to be migrated, and ported the remaining lines while retiring the old PRI circuits.
Maverick Networks also provided extensive training, led by Cloud Engineers Harrison and Susan, including:
- Live training sessions for end users
- FAQs to address user concerns
- Pre-go-live education that helped ease adoption
When speaking about the implementation Miller emphasized, “They did a lot of work for us, I couldn’t have done it without them. I didn’t have a large telecom team, and Maverick made it manageable.”
The Results
Switching to Zoom Phone brought immediate and noticeable improvements for both staff and IT operations at Santa Barbara City College.
Voicemail Transcription
One of the most popular features was voicemail transcription. Users loved receiving their messages directly in email, which made it easier to stay on top of communications—even while working remotely.
“Voicemail transcription sealed the deal for so many people. Getting messages in their email just made things easier.” - Chris Miller
Reduction in Physical Phones and Hardware
The transition also dramatically reduced the need for physical infrastructure. With most users now relying on softphones, the total number of physical phones dropped from over 1,000 to about 400. That meant less hardware to manage, fewer maintenance issues, and lower long-term costs.
Simplified Management
Zoom Phone’s cloud-based platform also simplified day-to-day management. There was no more backend programming, and Chris could make updates quickly without needing outside help.
“There’s really no backend programming at all now. It’s all through Zoom. It’s a much simpler system, and that’s freed up a lot of time.” -Chris Miller
In addition, the system provided the flexibility needed for a growing hybrid workforce. Faculty and staff could stay connected from wherever they were—without having to rely on personal cell phones or in-office desk phones.
Ongoing Savings from UCaaS Adoption
By leveraging the Chancellor’s Office agreement with Zoom and reducing dependency on on-prem hardware and service contracts, the college significantly lowered both upfront and recurring costs.
Future Outlook
Even after the transition was complete, Santa Barbara City College continues to rely on Maverick Networks as a trusted advisor. Whether it’s exploring new ideas or tackling unique challenges, the relationship remains strong. Reflecting on the relationship Miller said,
“We’ve had a good experience with Maverick for years. I’ve recommended them to several school districts and other organizations. They’ve always been friendly, knowledgeable, and quick to respond.”
When asked what sets Maverick apart, he explained,
“Having direct access to Aaron (CEO)—that makes a big difference. You don’t get that with big companies, but with Maverick, you do.”
Want results like this?
Schedule your free consultation today. We’ll assess your current system, uncover potential savings, and guide you toward the best-fit solution for your needs.
