5 Common Problems with InformaCast

Mass notification solutions are essential for keeping your users informed.

When you need to let your users know about an emergency affecting the building, set a bell or alarm schedule, or send weather-related alerts, mass notification software makes this possible.

As you look for the best solution for your organization, you’ll likely come across Singlewire’s InformaCast.

The solution has many capabilities to keep your users in the know and share crucial information. (You can find a more extensive list of these capabilities in “What is InformaCast?“)

The KR Group has walked manufacturers, educators, hospitals, and other organizations through InformaCast’s features. One question that IT managers frequently bring up is if there are any common issues with InformaCast.

We know that when you invest in mass notification software, you want to make sure it does everything you need and there are no surprises. So, we’ve put together this list of common problems:

Compatibility with your VOIP provider
Compatibility with your VOIP devices
Narrowing down your options
Budgeting for additional gear
Understanding pricing

None of these problems are so significant that they should automatically dissuade you from using InformaCast. However, you should be aware of them to anticipate them while deciding if this solution is right for you.

Compatibility with Your VOIP Provider

Compatibility isn’t generally part of the conversation if you only need InformaCast to work with your analog speakers.

However, how well your solutions work together becomes crucial when you’re looking at integration with your VOIP solution.

Singlewire has partnered with Cisco for more than a decade and currently ships InformaCast’s emergency notification system with new Cisco Unified Communications Manager installations.

You can also integrate InformaCast with Webex to send live and recorded audio pages to phones and overhead speakers and deliver text messages to desktop computers, mobile phones, digital signage, and Webex Messaging.

In addition to the tight integration with Cisco’s VOIP solutions, InformaCast’s Fusion licenses allow you to send a notification’s audio to VOIP desk phones. This function is integrated with the following phone vendors:

101Voice
8×8
Fortinet Fortivoice
GoTo
RingCentral
Rival5
Zoom

Microsoft Teams users can also initiate InformaCast alerts that broadcast through the app, mobile phones, digital signage, and other connected devices.

Unfortunately, if your VOIP provider isn’t on InformaCast’s list of integrations, you’ll need to find another mass notification solution or switch your phone system.

Compatibility with Your VOIP Devices

Finding a compatible IP phone provider is only step one.

You’ll also need to look at the VOIP devices you plan on broadcasting over with your InformaCast subscription and check if they’re compatible.

Singlewire has a compatibility matrix to review the various compatible devices for each VOIP provider.

However, this list can still be tedious to go through, so you may want to work with an IT consultant who’s familiar with the integrations and compatibility requirements for InformaCast.

Narrowing Down Your Options

If you plan to implement new IP speakers, the good news is you have multiple options.

Singlewire partners with Advanced Network Devices (ANETD), Algo, Atlas Sound (AtlasIED), Barix, Cyberdata, Digital Acoustics, Talkaphone, Telecor, 2N, Valcom, and Wahsega Labs to provide a variety of hardware for broadcasting your mass notifications.

You can find and purchase standard IP speakers and clocks, as well as more specialized devices from panic buttons, strobes, emergency call stations, and more.

The array of choices is great for meeting your company’s specific needs. However, it can also be time-consuming and even a little overwhelming to find exactly what you need — and as you’ll read next, that fits in your budget.

Budgeting for Additional Components

When you’re thinking about InformaCast, price is on the top of your mind, which is why we wrote an entire article about it.

The subscription isn’t the only expense associated with a new mass notification system.

If you’re set on signing up for InformaCast and using it with your VOIP system, you might have to budget for a new phone system if yours isn’t already compatible.

And any new speakers, displays, panic buttons, etc., that you plan on implementing will need to fit into your project’s budget.

Understanding Pricing

Putting all the pieces together might seem complicated.

The InformaCast subscription alone can take some expert navigation to find the best price for the licenses you need.

As you explore the possibility of a new phone system and/or new devices, it can feel like an impossible puzzle trying to make everything fit into your budget.

But don’t worry; we’re not going to leave you hanging.

Work with an IT Adviser to Get through InformaCast’s Problems

Overcoming the challenges of InformaCast doesn’t have to be complex, and you don’t have to do it alone.

When you’re looking for a mass notification solution that can alert your users in numerous ways and has multiple integrations, InformaCast is unmatched, despite a few problems.

The easiest way to navigate the challenges is to work with an IT consultant who knows the ins and outs of InformaCast licensing, compatibility, and pricing.

If your IT consultant is a Cisco partner – like The KR Group – they’ll be able to go directly through Cisco to purchase your subscription.

Ready to explore more of your options with InformaCast? Check out how the different subscription tiers compare against each other in this free chart.