The Challenge
When the UK first entered lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses were suddenly forced to switch to remote work — regardless of how ready they were. For a multi-site manufacturing and distribution company supplying products across the UK, this created an immediate communications challenge.
They were already exploring options to modernise their ageing phone system. But with multiple offices, nationwide retail partners, and a team that needed to stay connected from home, the lockdown accelerated everything.
Without a functioning telecoms system, their Sales and Accounts teams would have been effectively offline.
The Zen Systems Solution
Zen Systems responded immediately with a tailored interim solution that would bridge the gap and prevent disruption to daily operations.
The plan:
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Deploy Zen Systems’ Hosted 3CX Phone System remotely
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Instantly provision a temporary number using SIP trunking and DDI services
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Repoint the company’s main number to ensure continuity on inbound and outbound calls
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Equip remote staff with softphones and mobile apps so they could work from anywhere
This meant Sales and Accounts teams could operate as usual — calling out on the correct number, handling incoming queries, and collaborating as if they were in the office.
All of this was delivered remotely, securely, and without downtime.
Rapid Deployment — 100% Remote
With Zen Systems, implementation of a cloud-based communications solution didn’t require on-site hardware or long lead times. The platform was rolled out quickly, fully remotely, and configured with the company's specific workflows in mind.
Features like:
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Call forwarding
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Call transfer
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CRM integration
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Presence and status updates
…ensured staff could function just as effectively at home as they did in the office — if not more so.
A Future-Proof Foundation
Though this transformation was triggered by crisis, the results have had a long-term positive impact. The company now benefits from:
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A future-ready communication system that can scale with them
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Greater business continuity resilience
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The ability to support remote and hybrid work as standard
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Streamlined workflows and CRM-connected call handling
The pandemic forced a rapid change — but Zen Systems ensured it was a change for the better.
What This Means for Manufacturers & Distributors
If your business still relies on legacy phone systems, or you need to support multiple locations and a distributed workforce, Zen Systems can help you move forward — fast.
You get:
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A 99.99% uptime SLA
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Up to 80% cost savings via simultaneous call licensing
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All premium features included as standard
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Crystal-clear call quality with adaptive codecs
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Complete service: licensing, hosting, support, and calls
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A platform that grows with you — no hardware lock-in
Let’s Talk
Whether you’re responding to a crisis or planning for growth, Zen Systems can help you build a communications setup that’s reliable, scalable, and ready for whatever comes next.