Museum rolls out remote working

IP-based technology to support Natural History Museum staff

The Natural History Museum is introducing teleworking technology to allow employees to work remotely.

The IP-based system is being adopted to reduce costs and improve the work-life balance for its employees. The project follows the London museum’s migration to an IP communications network last year.

Bob Escourt, group telecoms manager at South Kensington Museums, says the technology, which is being supplied and implemented by Mitel, will deliver a strong return on investment.

‘Teleworking means we are making significant cost savings on telephone equipment and call costs,’ he said. ‘Teleworkers now use the IP network instead of mobile phones when working from home.’

The system also allows staff to move locations quickly and without disruption, increasing their availability and enabling them to work from any of the museum’s multiple sites, at home or while they are travelling.

Teleworkers will have a single number to access the museum’s IP network, avoiding the need to divulge home telephone numbers. And in the event of a disaster staff will be able to work from home.

Escourt is implementing the technology in stages.

‘We wanted to converge our voice and data functions at a steady pace to avoid major disruption,’ he said.