Vox Loyalty Rewards Programme: Helping Households Save More on Everyday Deals

Posted on 3 December 20255 December 2025 by Claire Williamson

Introducing the Vox Loyalty Rewards Programme…!

Vox, one of South Africa’s leading internet and communications companies, has launched a free, tiered loyalty programme that rewards customers with instant value discounts across groceries, fast food, retail, travel, technology and education.

Delivering everyday savings to customers, the programme launches with two tiers – Bronze and Silver – and is free for qualifying customers, offering impressive vouchers and discounts that have an immediate financial benefit.

“The Vox loyalty programme rewards customers for great payment behaviour and for being long-standing users of our products and services,” says Claire Williamson. Senior Product Manager – FTTH at Vox. “The programme is designed to provide our users with tangible benefits they can use to save money and improve their quality of life, every day.”

Customers qualify for the programme by being a Vox fibre-to-the-home subscriber and paying their account consistently via debit order. It is being launched in partnership with a specialist loyalty platform that manages established brand relationships across South Africa, and will provide customers with access to digital coupons, vouchers and discounts from the outset. This means Vox customers can save money instantly on the items they purchase every week rather than niche benefits or gimmicks.

At launch, the programme introduces two tiers – Bronze and Silver – with Gold and Diamond tiers to follow, and the savings are substantial. Silver tier members will have access to grocery coupons of up to R1,250 per month at leading retailers, while Bronze tier members will enjoy monthly fast-food vouchers and retail gift card discounts of around 10%.

Vox developed the programme to address two business realities. The first, a need to retain customers where non-payments are often the cause of churn. The second, is to provide even more value to customers in a saturated fibre market where differentiation and customer care make a difference. Incentivising customer payment choices and preferences and recognising those who have remained with the company are a smart way to reward loyalty and build engagement.

“We want our customers to know how important they are to our business and longevity,” says Williamson. “Their commitment to our brand should be recognised with rewards that show our commitment to them.”

From the moment customers join Vox, they can start redeeming real savings with more value unlocked as they move through the different loyalty tiers. Vox will be consistently refreshing the offers and vouchers on offer and testing new categories, like dining and health and wellness, to keep the experience dynamic and fun.

The Vox rewards model is deliberately straightforward: customers qualify by being a Vox FTTH subscriber who pays their account consistently via debit order and can immediately begin accessing benefits. Membership is free, with rewards scaled by points earned, reinforcing Vox’s position as a market differentiator in the ISP industry as the first to offer a free rewards system.

“Households need real savings, not gimmicks,” said Williamson, Vox. “By working with loyalty rewards partners, we’re bringing grocery, food and retail value straight into the homes of our fibre customers. It’s a benefit you can use every week, and it grows the longer you stay with us.”

Why not register today to start enjoying the benefits available to you through Vox Rewards? Visit our website at https://benefits.voxrewards.co.za – the process of signing up and participating in the programme is simple!

Join the Vox loyalty programme – check your eligibility and explore your Rewards!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the Vox loyalty programme?
Qualifying customers are Vox Fibre to the Home subscribers who pay their accounts consistently via debit order.

Is there a fee to join, and how do I register?
There is no fee to join – membership is free for qualifying customers. Visit our website at https://benefits.voxrewards.co.za – the process of signing up and participating in the programme is simple!

What rewards are available at launch?
The programme launches with Bronze and Silver tiers. Bronze members receive monthly fast-food vouchers and retail discounts; Silver members additionally get access to grocery coupons to the value of up to R1,250 per month.

How do I move from Bronze to Silver (or higher tiers)?
Rewards scale with points earned for consistent payments and tenure. Continue paying by debit order and maintain good payment behaviour to progress through tiers.

How do I redeem my vouchers?
Vouchers and coupons are issued digitally via the Rewards platform and can be redeemed at participating partner retailers according to each offer’s terms.

Which retailers and partners are included?
Vox has partnered with a specialist loyalty platform that manages established brand relationships across South Africa — participating retailers will be listed in the rewards portal and updated regularly.

Who can I contact for help with rewards or eligibility?
Contact Vox customer support for questions about eligibility, account status or voucher redemption.

Microsoft Teams Voice Options: A Practical Guide for SA Businesses

Posted on 12 November 202514 November 2025 by Andrew King

Navigating Teams Voice Connectivity from Vox

The use of Teams Phone, a cloud-based phone system, transforms Microsoft Teams into a full Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform, blending Voice, video, chat and collaboration. To enable external calling, organisations can select from a variety of solutions, each balancing simplicity, control and customisation.

The right choice for your business depends on your IT maturity, existing infrastructure and business needs.

In this article we discuss the various options of navigating Microsoft Teams Voice Connectivity from Vox. Collectively, our customers report deployments that are 20 to 50 percent faster, with lower operational costs, and resilience tailored to SA’s infrastructure challenges.

Microsoft Teams Voice: Three Excellent Options to Consider

Microsoft Teams offers two primary pathways for enabling public switched telephone network (PSTN) or PSTN-replacement (VoIP) calling from within the Teams application, namely:

Operator Connect for managed simplicity, and
Direct Routing for flexible control.

We also discuss:

Azure Communication Services (ACS), a developer-centric Platform as a Service (PaaS), for building custom communication apps that extend Teams Phone into other IT assets.

The choice for your organisation hinges on factors such as infrastructure, scale and workforce distribution.

In addition, the options aren’t mutually exclusive. For example, you may want or need to use Operator Connect for core users and Azure Communication Services for developer-built bots, or Direct Routing with a Survival Branch Appliance (SBA) for branch offices or sites that can never be without telephony services (for example underground mining).

In short, though, it’s useful to think of your options as follows:

Operator Connect suits low-overhead rollouts in regulated sectors such as finance, legal and advisory;
Direct Routing fits legacy-heavy environments such as manufacturing; and
Azure Communication Services (ACS) is suitable if you’re building custom experiences, for example, Voice in CRM apps, or need extensibility beyond your standard PBX.

Operator Connect (OC)

Operator Connect (OC) is a fully managed service where the Vox Voice network enables calling to and from any destination while being integrated directly into Teams. No on-premises hardware is required – Vox peers with Microsoft’s Azure network for seamless integration.

Key features include the following: Number provisioning via Teams Admin Centre, built-in emergency calling, fraud monitoring, and 99.999% SLA from Vox and Microsoft. OC supports hybrid models (for example: mix with Direct Routing for sites that require offline survivability).

OC is best for organisations prioritising speed and a low IT burden. A deployment can take hours to days, instead of days to weeks, making OC ideal for environments requiring optimal security, fast scaling and low IT burden.

Choose Operator Connect if you are Microsoft 365-centric, want zero hardware (no Session Border Controller appliances – SBCs – or desk phones), and you value the provisioning of managed services with joint Vox-Microsoft support. It’s ideal for cloud-first migrations or when time-to-service in a week or less matters.

Typical industry use-cases include financial services (security, fraud monitoring); higher education or public sector (budget scrutiny, multi-site rollouts); retail and hospitality (high staff churn, thin IT capability across franchises).

Integrations: You could add ACS for AI call summaries and bot-to-human call hand-off.

Vox example: A Kwa-Zulu Natal university provisioned 2,400 users in days, inheriting Entra ID policies for seamless multi-factor authentication.

Direct Routing (DR)

Direct Routing allows the connection of your existing SIP trunks or PBX to Teams via a Session Border Controller (SBC) appliance. This SBC can be hosted on your premises or in your private cloud, or you can take advantage of Vox’s multi-tenanted SBCs.

With Direct Routing and your own SBC, you retain control over routing and carrier relationships, and with Vox’s shared SBCs we manage routing on your behalf.

Key Features include the following: Advanced call routing (for example failover paths), support for Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) for local calling during internet outages, and compatibility with legacy endpoints like analogue phones or Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT.

Direct Routing is best for businesses with complex, on-premises setups needing customisation. DR setup involves more planning, as well as more IT and scripting skills, and deployment is likely to take weeks to months.

Choose Direct Routing if you need on-prem survivability (for example, SBA for internet outages). DR is well suited for complex routing or when full control over media paths is required, due to its granular control over your calling environment.

Typical industry use-cases include manufacturing and utilities organisations (often incorporating legacy DECT/analogue integrations), or logistics and healthcare, which are typically device-dependent, and where offline survivability is critical).

Integrations: You could add an SBA for offline survivability or integrate ACS for custom analytics.

Vox example: A Cape Town logistics firm retained SIP trunks while routing 80% calls via Teams, using SBAs for depots.

Azure Communication Services (ACS)

Azure Communication Services (ACS) is a developer-centric PaaS for building custom communication apps that extend Teams Phone into other IT assets. It’s not a standalone PBX but integrates for scenarios such as embedded calling in apps or AI-driven interactions.

Key Features include the following: APIs for call recording, transcription, video at 720p+, and interoperability with Teams (for example, joining Teams meetings from custom applications or support platforms).

Azure Communication Services is best for innovators embedding Voice into workflows, such as custom contact centres or mobile apps. ACS pairs well with OC/DR for enhanced features without replacing core telephony services or needs.

Choose Azure Communication Services if you’re building custom experiences (for example, Voice in CRM apps) or need extensibility beyond your standard PBX. ACS’s low-code APIs make it accessible for developers, with pay-as-you-go pricing.

Typical industry use cases include tech or consulting (embedded communications in third party applications); contact centres (CCaaS integrations); finance and healthcare (where secure, compliant bots guide incoming calls, and hand off calls to humans where complexity cannot be handled by a bot).

Integrations: Add Teams Phone for hybrid calls and Copilot for AI transcription.

Choosing the right solution for your organisation does not need to be a one-size-fits-all decision. For example, you could start with Operator Connect for 80 percent coverage, layer in Direct Routing for edge cases, and at a later stage add Azure Communication Services for innovation and automation, thus reducing rip-and-replace risks and costs.

Partner with Vox for your Business Voice Requirements

Teams Voice options empower South African businesses to future-proof their communications without necessarily overhauling existing ecosystems. Your organisation could deploy Operator Connect for effortless deployment and scale, Direct Routing for control, and ACS for innovation.

Microsoft-centric organisations in regulated or distributed verticals often see 30 to 50 percent efficiency gains from hybrid deployments, while legacy-heavy setups thrive on Direct Routing.

As your local certified partner, Vox demystifies the realities of Business Voice to match your reality. Vox will engage with you in an initial consultation that covers the following points within this practical evaluation checklist:

Infrastructure Audit to ensure highest return on current investments;
Scale and speed requirements;
Compliance and resilience needs;
Customisation requirements;
Integration path needs; and
A total cost of ownership review that factors in hidden costs.

Explore a no-obligation assessment at https://www.vox.co.za/microsoft-operator-connect/.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Operator Connect and Direct Routing?
Operator Connect is a managed service where Vox provisions calling directly into Teams with no SBC required by you. Direct Routing connects your SIP trunks or PBX to Teams via an SBC that you host, giving you more control and customisation.

Can I mix Operator Connect and Direct Routing?
Yes. Many organisations use Operator Connect for core users and Direct Routing for specific sites or legacy integrations where survivability or specialised routing is required.

Do I need on‑premises hardware for Teams Phone?
Not if you choose Operator Connect. The SBCs are hosted by Vox and each user can use either their laptop or mobile device as an endpoint.

What is Azure Communication Services (ACS) used for?
ACS is for developers building bespoke voice/video features or embedding calling into apps and CRM systems. It is not in itself a Teams calling solution, but complements OC/DR rather than replaces them.

How does survivability work if the internet fails?
Direct Routing can be paired with a Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) to provide local onsite calling if internet connectivity is lost. Operator Connect relies on cloud availability and can be paired with hybrid designs for resilience.

How long does deployment take?
Deployments vary: Operator Connect implementations can be hours to days for typical rollouts; Direct Routing projects often take weeks to months depending on complexity.

Will Vox support compliance and fraud monitoring?
Yes. Vox provides fraud monitoring and supports emergency calling compliance. We’ll include these requirements in the assessment.

Secure Your Connectivity with our Fibre Plus Firewall Bundle October Special

Posted on 14 October 202521 October 2025 by Audrey Vadival

Secure connectivity is about speed and protection.

South African networks face multiple threats on a daily basis. Recent reporting shows that Interpol detected roughly 230 million cyber threats in South Africa, which is a clear signal that homes and businesses must harden their borders.

Secure connectivity prevents unauthorised access, data loss and downtime, helping you to keep operations and productivity running smoothly within your business.

Sophos Firewalls with Vox

Vox has partnered with Sophos to offer next-generation firewalls to help you better protect your network, quickly and efficiently.

With Sophos firewalls from Vox, you can enjoy no hidden costs – just great security, and you will find that it’s easy to use, even if you’re not technical.

The advanced threat protection blocks viruses, ransomware and hackers, leaving you with peace of mind. You can also block websites and non-work apps so that your employees’ efficiency is boosted, allowing you to boost security and productivity at the same time.

The solution is designed to promote a fast and secure network that continues running at high speed, which serves as another productivity value-add.

Why A Fibre Plus Firewall Bundle Is Crucial

Vox’s Fibre Plus Firewall bundle gives you both speed AND protection.

Our October 2025 special offer combines resilient Vox Fibre with next‑gen Sophos Firewall protection, allowing you to protect your devices, data and productivity with a single, easy solution.

Firewalls: Your First Line of Defence

A Firewall monitors and filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on set rules, creating a perimeter between your trusted network and the internet. Modern, next‑generation Firewalls also:

Detect and block intrusions and malware (IDS/IPS).
Support VPNs for secure remote access.
Log activity for rapid incident response.
Block malicious websites and non‑work apps to protect users and increase productivity.

Why Pairing Fibre with a Firewall is a Great Idea

Fibre delivers fast, symmetrical bandwidth essential for cloud apps, video conferencing and backups. Pairing that connectivity with a dedicated Firewall ensures high performance isn’t offset by exposure to threats. The Fibre plus Firewall bundle gives you:

Speed and security in one purchase.
Simpler billing and deployment with Vox.
Managed support to keep both connectivity and protection performing.

Sophos Firewalls with Vox: What You Get

The key benefits include the following:

Advanced threat protection against viruses, ransomware and hackers.
VPN support for secure remote workers and branch offices.
Centralised logging and reporting for faster incident handling.
Options to block websites and non‑work apps to boost staff productivity.
Backed by Vox 24/7 support and clear pricing with no hidden costs.

October special: Fibre plus Firewall bundle

This October, Vox is running a limited‑time Fibre plus Firewall bundle special. It’s an ideal time to:

Move to faster Fibre connectivity;
Add enterprise‑grade Sophos Firewall protection; and
Consolidate services and simplify billing.

Enquire early to reserve bundle availability and special pricing.

How To Get Started

Assess your needs in terms of the required bandwidth, number of users and remote access requirements. Then:

Choose a Vox Fibre package and Sophos Firewall level.
Book installation and configuration with Vox support.
Activate monitoring and policies with assistance from Vox 24/7 support.

Protect Your Network with Vox and Sophos

By protecting your sensitive data, devices and systems from threats like malware, hackers, denial of service attacks and malicious software, firewalls are a fundamental component of any network security strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Fibre plus Firewall bundle?

A Fibre plus Firewall bundle combines Vox Fibre internet connectivity with a managed next‑generation Sophos Firewall, to deliver both high performance and network security in a single package.

Why should I buy a Firewall if I already have Fibre?

Fibre gives you speed; a Firewall protects that connection. Without a Firewall, your fast connection can make attacks more damaging. A combined solution ensures both performance and protection.

What protection do Sophos Firewalls provide?

Sophos Firewalls include intrusion detection and prevention, anti‑malware and ransomware protection, VPN support, web and app control, and central logging for incident response.

Who is the Fibre plus Firewall bundle suitable for?

The bundle is ideal for small businesses and larger organisations that need reliable Fibre speeds with enterprise‑grade security and managed support.

When is the Vox October special available?

Vox will run the Fibre plus Firewall bundle special in October 2025 – contact us to confirm availability, exact pricing and terms.

Can Vox manage the Firewall for me?

Yes. Vox offers managed services and 24/7 support to help configure, monitor and maintain your Firewall and connectivity.

Will a Firewall slow down my Fibre connection?

Properly configured next‑gen Firewalls are designed to protect without significant performance impact. Vox matches Firewall capacity to your Fibre speed to preserve throughput.

How do I enquire about the October bundle?

Click here on the Vox website to request details and a tailored quote.

Staying in Touch with Family and Friends

Posted on 15 July 20259 December 2025 by Suhail Dinat

…Remotely with Vox, because the world as we know it has drastically changed.

Back in the day, it was all small communities and big families. Next-door neighbours were basically an extension of your clan. You knew everyone in the neighbourhood (and their business, plus a weird nickname based on some embarrassing life story), and the only people who went overseas generally came back after 6 weeks loaded with gifts.

Today, the world has changed. Times have changed. We’ve become complexly complicit of complexes and apartments with interchangeable neighbours. In a world where families are spread like butter and friends too busy, staying connected isn’t just a convenience – it’s essential. Maybe your parents still live in your hometown. Maybe your sister moved overseas. Maybe you’re in a long-distance relationship, or you’re the one hiding in exile. Whatever the case, modern communication technology bridges the gaps and keeps relationships strong.

Great idea in theory, right? But anyone who’s actually tried maintaining a long-distance anything knows this: it’s one thing to have the phone or the tech… it’s another thing to actually use it correctly.

But enough exposition – let’s get into the meat and potatoes.
Here’s how technology is turning “long-distance” into shorter distances, or at least making them a whole lot more bearable.

A picture beats a thousand words

True, texting has its merits. Who doesn’t love thumbs-up emojis and those broadcast messages from Gran that somehow reach every contact you’ve ever met? Although it’s endlessly comforting, nothing beats the feeling of seeing a loved one’s face. Video calls bring conversations and energy to life. Real-time laughter, micro-expressions, hiding tears – what’s not to love?

Beyond calls, connection is built on the everyday moments. Whether it’s photos from a family trip, snippets of your kid’s first steps, or even a quick voice note while driving home, these digital touchpoints make people feel part of your life no matter where they reside. It’s technology doing what it does best: shrinking emotional distance.

And when it comes to special occasions, the right tools can turn any milestone into an all-inclusive experience. You can dial into birthdays and weddings, host video-call dinners, sync up for online movie nights, or play games together for genuine bonding. Distance stops being a wall and becomes a mild inconvenience – like buffering, but for relationships.

Introducing Vobi – making keeping in touch as simple as 1,2,3

Stay Connected Without Burning Through Minutes or Data

The fact is, not everyone has unlimited minutes or wants to torch their mobile Data just to stay in touch. That’s where Vobi comes in – Vox’s easy-to-use calling app that gives you affordable, reliable local and international calling over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

With the Vobi App, you can:

Make affordable local and international calls using Wi-Fi or Data.
Keep your personal number (or route it) so family always knows it’s you.
Save costs compared to regular airtime and mobile carrier rates.
Manage one predictable monthly cost instead of endless top-ups and overpriced bundles.
Stay connected with minimal buffering, even when mobile signal isn’t exactly vibing.

Vobi is perfect for your daily check-ins, those long overdue catch-ups, or late-night crush calls without being yelled at by the “one minute remaining” lady (who, for the record, always sounds unnecessarily angry).

Reliable Calling Needs Reliable Connectivity – Enter Vox

Everything you use to stay connected – from Vobi VoIP calls to video chats, shared moments, high-quality voice notes and online bonding sessions – relies on one thing: solid, high-speed Internet.

Vox ensures your connection is strong enough for:

Crystal-clear VoIP calling
Uninterrupted video chats
Smooth streaming and sharing
Stable performance across all devices

There’s a reason we’re the #1 VoIP provider in South Africa.
Your connection is our whole personality.

Connection Keeps Us Human

Life moves fast – but relationships are what keep us grounded. With Vox’s high-speed Connectivity and the Vobi App, staying in touch (and keeping your people close, even when they’re far) is no longer a schlep.
It’s as simple as picking up the device already semi-grafted to your hand.

We’ll handle the rest.

Stay connected, stay human, and stay in touch with Vox today.

Vox Fibre Frenzy!

Posted on 7 July 202521 October 2025 by Suhail Dinat

The Fibre deal that actually makes sense

William Shakespeare once said, “what’s in a Frenzy?”

(Spoiler – he didn’t. But, then again, we hardly know what he’s saying most of the time anyway.)

Question, though – what IS in a frenzy?

Is it the frenzied breakdown when you told your boss you completed a presentation (you didn’t) and they ask for a copy (which you don’t have) and you’re trying to ChatGPT your way to success? Or is it that random Teams request from the CEO with no context (and the three days of nail biting preceding it)? Or is it being late, not connecting to a meeting, rushing for a deadline or just streaming your favourite season finale when, BOOM, Murphy invokes his Law and you meet the dreaded cry of dead Wi-Fi?

Actually; it’s none of the above. At least not today. So let’s step back from the fearmongering for a second.

You see, at Vox, Fibre Frenzy isn’t Fibre Inducing Frenzy situations – but rather getting caught up in a promo so crazy, it can’t be anything BUT a Frenzy.

What You Get with Vox Fibre Frenzy

Let’s break it down:

With the Vox Fibre Frenzy, you enjoy:

High-Speed, Uncapped Fibre (because who has time for loading screens?
Prices dropped to as little as R400pm* (previously? It was R490)
Free installation? You got it (another saving. May as well be a superhero).
Month-to-month options available.
Smart support – so you’re never left wanting when your router gives you the stink eye.

How it Works (Three Easy Steps)

Pick your FNO (Fibre Network Operator) — check which networks cover your area.
Choose your line speed — from everyday browsing to heavy streaming and gaming.
Sign up, wait for installation, and get connected.

The catch? There is none – just solid internet and a good deal.

What hiccoughs can I expect?

Other than the risk of struggling to keep up with your line speed (it can be THAT fast if you want it to), the promo is FNO/Line Speed Dependent (in non-tech terms: depends on which Fibre Network Operator is available in your area). Oh, and of course, Ts & Cs Apply (don’t they always?).

Naturally, it’s a limited time offer – so make fast (unlike your old ADSL line). That being said, if your area is covered and you’ve even given a spare thought to upgrading your line, now’s your time to shine.

Who Is This For?

If you work from home, binge-watch without shame, run a small business, game competitively, or simply refuse to watch a single spinning wheel, then this is for you. Vox Fibre Frenzy fits households and businesses wanting fast, flexible Fibre internet that South Africa trusts.

The long and short…

We live in a world where even buffering can feel like a personal attack. Whether working, playing, gaming, binge-watching, side hustling or juggling a house full of Internet demon-kids, you never DON’T need fast and stable Internet.

And with the price of everything (except, strangely, the Rand) going up lately, these huge savings aren’t just nice – they’re necessary.

And did we mention free installation? We meant it.

So, why sign with Vox?

Every ISP promises you Fibre. One step further – they all promise the same keywords (super-fast, reliable, uncapped, blah blah blah). Vox, however, actually delivers it (plus adds world class support and a multitude of option add-ons – think failovers, voice, and more). Plus, our team won’t ghost you once your Router is plugged in.

One could even say that the Frenzy isn’t just about the price – but rather about finally having Internet that’s *worth it*.

Call us Greta Thunberg, because we’re right royal philanthropists.

Our Fibre Frenzy Promo is one of those sweet, unscripted moments where everything just feels right. It’s cheaper. It’s faster. It has all the support you could need. And it’s just so worth it. Remember, though, this deal isn’t here forever. It’s a promo. And, as promos do, it will end. Probably right as you decide to sign up – so maybe try not losing out instead?

Check availability and sign up at vox.co.za — or call our Fibre Specialists on 087 805 5050 for personalised help.

Peace.

Quick FAQ
Is the R400pm price available everywhere?
No, the offer hinges on FNO-dependent availability, meaning that pricing and package options depend on FNO coverage in your area. Use our availability check.

Can I add failover or voice later?
Yes, failover and voice add‑ons are available so you can scale your service as needed.

Are there contracts?
We offer month‑to‑month options. Specific terms vary by package, so please read the Ts & Cs.

Treat your Customers Like Royalty with Vox and Smartz Solutions

Posted on 12 March 202512 March 2025 by Natalie van der Merwe

A partnership designed to revolutionise customer engagement in SA

Poor customer service can have a serious impact on the overall health of your business. In the short term, it can affect sales, and over the longer term, it can lose your business some of its existing clients, as well as harming your reputation and your brand overall. When your employees don’t universally treat your customers like royalty, cracks in your brand loyalty will quickly begin to show.

There’s a little mantra right there: ‘Treat like royalty to ensure brand loyalty.’

For larger organisations, your contact centre is a critical part of offering excellent customer service, being a central point from which your company can manage all customer interactions across various channels. Its primary purpose is to offer customers efficient and effective technical support, customer service and sales assistance.

In this article, we look at how Vox has partnered with Smartz Solutions to offer advanced, cloud-based contact centre solutions that cater to the dynamic needs of the modern market.

From Call Centre to Contact Centre

You could think of a contact centre as being an upgrade of the original call centre, which traditionally relied on phone lines for both inbound and outbound calls. Today, contact centre technology – which encompasses the software and hardware used in contact centres for digital customer service and support – extends beyond phone systems, although the use of phone systems still has an important role to play.

The customer contact digital channels that are used by contact centre technology include email communications, text messages, web-based live chats, and social media interactions including WhatsApp and video chats.

Integration of the contact centre software with applications such as customer relationship management (CRM) software and workforce optimisation software (WFO) adds deeper understanding and analytics to the contact centre’s operations.

These integrated tools enhance efficiency, improve customer service and allow for better data analysis. With the increasing demand from customers for organisations to be consistently available on various channels, and not only over the phone, contact centres are embracing multichannel (or omnichannel) approaches to enable them to refine their customer service, increase efficiency and improve insights into customers’ behaviours and needs, in a holistic virtuous circle to create better customer experiences overall.

Adding to this virtuous circle is the importance of retaining top talent in your contact centre. High attrition rates cost businesses, both in recruitment and training expenses, as well as the quality and consistency of their customer service. By empowering the agent with the right tools, organisations can build contact centres where agents thrive and want to work, which is essential for building long-term customer relationships and trust.

Vox and Smartz Solutions: Ensuring that the Customer is King

Contact centre technology shapes a customer’s journey by supporting interactions across channels. It ensures that interactions reach agents, and facilitates seamless communication between customers and the brand, regardless of the channel used.

The partnership between Vox and Smartz Solutions – an omnichannel communications solutions specialist – is designed to offer advanced, cloud-based contact centre solutions in a collaboration aimed at enhancing customer engagement solutions across South Africa.

Terminology note: Omni-channel means an integrated customer service experience across all possible channels that a customer uses to engage with a business. These channels could include Voice, video, SMS, WhatsApp, e-mail, web chat and social media.

Smartz Solutions’s feature-rich, cloud-based contact centre technology is designed to reduce your total cost of ownership (TCO) and increase your return on investment (ROI), while improving both client and employee experience at the same time. Vox is able to tailor-make a Smartz Solutions offering for your business.

Smartz Solutions features and benefits include the following:

Completely local and Rand-based: Buying in Rands helps customers avoid unfavourable, fluctuating exchange rates, which can double or triple the costs of these platforms, wreaking havoc with budgets.
Omni-channel integration: Unified customer experience across all channels with seamless transitions.
AI-Powered analytics: Real-time insights into customer behaviour for data-driven decision-making.
Intelligent routing: Efficient call handling and prioritised issue resolution based on customer needs.
Predictive customer support: Anticipates customer needs for proactive problem resolution.
Scalability and flexibility: Easily adaptable to growing business demands, reducing total cost of ownership.

Redefining Customer Experience

Nobody likes having an issue with a company that’s providing a service, but then being unable to get hold of anyone to assist them. The days of being on hold indefinitely belong to the dark ages of customer service.

By maximising Smartz Solutions’ innovative platform, Vox is set to redefine customer experience for businesses of all sizes. The partnership aims to deliver exceptional experiences and support businesses in their growth and customer engagement strategies.

By choosing Vox as your Smartz Solutions provider, customers can benefit from Vox’s market-leading expertise and commitment to service excellence, combined with Smartz Solutions’ innovative and customer-centric communication platform.

Affordable High-Speed Broadband, Plus Value-Adds, for Every South African

Posted on 11 October 2024 by Vivienne Fouche

Is that all? The importance of offering ‘more’ in a saturated environment

Today’s world is defined by Connectivity in ways that seemed unimaginable when the clock first ticked over into the current millennium. Whether it’s WhatsApp, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, Snapchat or TikTok, people love being connected, and online is here to stay.

Here at Vox, Connectivity lies at the heart of everything we do.

As a leading South African Internet Service Provider (ISP), we are all about connection, communication and conversation – but we also know that we’re not alone. The local telecoms landscape has more than 20 ISPs in operation – you could call it a saturated market.

And so Vox goes above and beyond to offer our customers more than the competition – you definitely won’t hear the phrase: ‘Is that all?’ about any of our offerings! At the heart of our multiple solutions is the goal of being able to offer every South African access to affordable high-speed broadband.

Let’s take a look at how we can get our customers connected.

Dealing With Market Saturation

In addition to high-speed broadband, Vox provides many excellent value-adds. As well as lightning-fast Internet, we offer Wi-Fi solutions to keep you connected; cost-effective and quality Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offerings; energy back-up products for power outages; and even cell boosters to enhance your mobile phone experience – no more ‘dead’ zones in the house!

You can look to Vox for the following:

Our connectivity solutions begin with Vox Fibre, which comes with value-added extras upon sign-up, like free installation and a free-to-use router.
When Fibre is unavailable, other options are provided:
- Vox Wireless presents high-speed, fixed Microwave Data Connectivity that uses the most innovative microwave technology on the market. It comes with free installation, meaning more money to invest in your business.
- Consumers and businesses also have the option of choosing Fixed LTE, 5G, and satellite, depending on factors such as their needs and budget, and geographic location.
To ensure that our customers get the most out of their Internet solution, we supply best-of-breed Wi-Fi devices, which allow you to maximise your Wi-Fi experience. We also offer managed Wi-Fi network solutions, which enable remote software, firmware updates and reduced technician callouts with remote troubleshooting and fault remediation. Additionally, our expert advice is always available to enhance your overall network experience.
We also provide excellent access to power solutions for those times when the power goes down, to keep your Wi-Fi running even in an energy outage.
Vox’s shared Mobile Data offering is an ideal mobile wireless solution for a family with multiple SIM-enabled devices, to keep everyone connected while maintaining control over your mobile data bill using our simple online portal.

What Sets Our Connectivity Options Apart?

Vox offers our clients high network availability and an extensive national footprint, as follows:

We have a huge range of subscription and pricing solutions, and our sales agents will help you choose the best package for your needs, rather than upselling you on the most expensive.
Vox subscribers, both consumers and businesses, have the option of adding backup Internet solutions to their Fibre packages (like LTE or Wireless) to ensure they stay online all the time.
Our Proactive Network Monitoring offers safer, more secure Internet access and lower latency.
A 24/7/365 in-house Service Centre is available for troubleshooting and incident response for all our customers, across any product.
As far as Voice offerings are concerned, we believe that we’re the number 1 VoIP provider in the country.
- Individual consumers and SMEs can make use of our Vobi softphone application, which is unique to Vox, and allows customers to make and receive high quality Voice and Video calls over Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G-LTE and 5G on the Vox network.
- Organisations can make use of our Titanium partnership (the highest status possible) with global cloud PBX leader 3CX, to experience a comprehensive communication platform that includes Live Chat, WhatsApp, Facebook, SMS and Video Conferencing.

Vox teams are situated in multiple locations across the country, supported by our extensive footprint of over 1 000 business partners to ensure that our customers receive fast, efficient service wherever they are, whenever needed.

Value-Added Service Offerings

We take full responsibility for all our technical implementations and systems, from concept to installation.

The Vox Service Centre offers immediate support to all our customers.
The Service Centre also continuously monitors all of Vox’s networks and infrastructure, to ensure that quality of service is always maintained.
Specialist product managers are assigned to oversee each portfolio, for continuous research and development to ensure each product is always of the highest standard.
An extensive team of account managers and technical engineers offers convenient customer service and solution implementation.
If you’ve decided to upscale your business with better Connectivity, don’t stop there! Vox can also organise a customised domain and email address for you, to turbocharge your professionalism, as well as taking care of your email archiving needs with the most comprehensive and hassle-free cloud email and compliancy solution on the market.
There’s always a good time to sign up with us – you could win with our ‘Refer a friend’ campaign, and there’s always a fabulous promo running that allows you to sign up and save.

Expertise, innovation and superior quality products are at the heart of Vox. Ultimately, we have everything required to meet our customers’ needs at every stage of their journey – both now, and in the future – and that’s how we keep South Africans staying connected together.

With us, there’s always more.

Stay Connected with Vox Email Solutions

Posted on 11 June 20241 August 2024 by Vivienne Fouche

When people think of Vox, they probably think of us as being a market-leading Internet Service Provider (ISP). But did you know that we offer many more additional solutions to connect South Africans to the world?

One of these is our range of email products, to help keep you continuously in contact and running your life and your work affairs easily, efficiently and cost-effectively.

We’ve created solutions that will meet your requirements to keep you communicating safely and continuously.

Snail-Mail? What Snail-Mail?

In addition to email’s speed advantages (when compared to the original postal offering), it also provides a written record of communication that has taken place. It’s a powerful tool for business as well as personal use, helping with clarity, accountability and references, for future communication and decision-making.

The invention of electronic mail is generally credited to an ARPANET engineer named Ray Tomlinson, who, in 1971, successfully sent a short message to himself from one computer to another in the same room. After that, though, email took a while to kick off, and was initially used almost exclusively in academic and research circles.

When people still used the post office as their only option, written communications were limited by time and distance. Today, our default expectation is that email messages can be sent and received instantly from anywhere in the world, which changes both the speed as well as the reach of text-based interactions, across borders as well as time zones.

The arrival of email – which originally stood for ‘electronic mail’ to distinguish it from the paper kind – provided a faster, more efficient and more convenient way to communicate with others in a written format. Email first began transforming communication on a global scale in the 1990s, when it became increasingly accessible to the public. At its height, Hotmail, the world’s first free internet-based email service, had over 400 million users.

(Fun fact: Hotmail was bought in 1997 by Microsoft and became the basis for what we today know as Outlook.)

Email Changes Communications

Unsurprisingly, email has forever changed the way we send and receive written communications. Most people have all their bills and statements – which used to be sent via traditional mail – now delivered in a paperless manner through email. Letters have become less common, as it’s more convenient to send an email message – on your smartphone as well as a computer.

In a business context, email serves as an effective way to communicate with colleagues or customers – a communication can still be sent without requiring all parties to be ‘present’ at the same time to receive it, phasing out the need for an in-person or phone-based meeting in real-time.

Vox Enhances Local Email Offerings

Vox POPMail is a Cloud-based email offering that provides solutions for both business and family purposes, including the option of owning your own domain. We aim to ensure that your data is kept safely and not shared with any other entities – and it’s incredibly cost-effective also, with different options to suit your pocket.

As a specialist email solution, Vox POPMail also brings you upgradeable storage and features such as Calendar, Contacts and Tasks.

Vox POPMail is based in South Africa and offers all the features you need from email, at a fraction of the price. The key functionality includes:

A choice between using your own domain name or our shared domain: A domain is a tool used to establish a unique Online presence, and a domain name that relates to your business or organisation can help to improve your ranking on top search engines like Bing, Google and Yahoo.
Anti-spam and anti-virus to enhance your email security and keep unwanted marketers away: At Vox, we ensure that your data is kept safely and not shared with any other entities, to keep your information, home and loved ones safe.
Mail options, including Calendar and Tasks, with access via web browser and/or Outlook.
Mailing list functionality: Bringing you the option to create and manage mailing lists.
Flexibility: Create up to three different alias email addresses.
Admin that works: An easy-to-use admin interface to create and manage your email.

We also offer three flexible mailbox sizes to choose from, built to accommodate your budget and business needs.

The Domain Game

Do you have an entrepreneur inside you? If so, another positive from Vox POPMail is being able to start an online business by establishing your own domain and website to promote your company. A website portrays your business, whether it’s a startup or a well-established company – it’s the first place that anyone will go to when looking for general information, products and services.

A website helps to establish your business identity or brand image. It builds credibility, and can also be used for lead generation.

With a domain from Vox, you can give your organisation a professional look and feel. Find out more here.

Why Vox POPMail?

There’s no denying that there are a number of email offerings out there. Vox is pleased to bring you personalised email solutions, with advantages that include convenience, choice, flexibility, security and excellent cost offerings.

It’s all part of what Vox does best: ‘Staying Connected – Together’.

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