martinyoung

Sounds like a lot of changes coming your way. This is facing everybody, VoIP is becoming more prevalent. What you need to do is make sure that management knows your value. A phone system is a phone system, regardless of what platform it is on. If the company still segregates data and voice, that will need to change. Work with the data group and get acquainted with them. If they are segregated in your company they will not know voice or how to do it. I would get to know them regardless of the final solution, Cisco or Avaya. If they get to know you, they will begin to rely on you for phone knowledge.

An instructor I had at an Avaya class a few years ago put it rather clearly. If a switch goes down the computers off that switch will still function off the network. This is inconvenient but they will still work. A phone will not thus it becomes an immediate problem that must be fixed now.

All new systems have training and that is usually bundled in with the sale. For Avaya the programming commands will be the same, just more choices and some additional access options. Avaya will have the upper hand now because it is an upgrade of existing equipment. A Cisco solution would cost more because nearly nothing is reusable.

Find someone who does access the S8300 and learn how to do it, it is not hard to do. This will help you in the future.

Good luck!

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Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech