Insights

Switch Connect bolsters leadership team with top industry talent to support AI growth and expansion, joins Dicker Data's Telco business unit

matt.krosch@switchconnect.com.au (Matt Krosch) — Mon, 11 May 2026 01:24:07 GMT

Australian-owned technology and communications provider has drawn senior talent from across the telco and Microsoft partner ecosystem to support customer demand and further international expansion.

BRISBANE, 11 May 2026 - Switch Connect, the Australian-owned technology and communications provider, today announced 30% year-on-year growth and six recent senior hires along with an expanded solution offering and a deepened relationship with ASX-listed distributor Dicker Data.

The growth comes as Switch Connect scales its team to more than 30 staff across Australia, the United States and Asia, now servicing more than 400 customers. Customer demand continues to build as organisations integrate Microsoft Teams voice, modern workplace, cybersecurity, and AI solutions into a single connected stack.

Rohan Milne, Switch Connect CEO, said "This growth reflects what our customers are asking for - real outcomes with truly integrated AI, delivered into their workplace environments without added complexity. The current conversation in the market is too often about AI replacing headcount. We’re doubling down on hiring experienced people and equipping them with the best in AI tooling in order to stay ahead of that demand and continue scaling both here and overseas."

Six new hires, four into senior leadership

Switch Connect has welcomed six new hires in recent months, bringing senior experience from across the telecommunications and Microsoft partner ecosystem. Four have joined the expanded leadership team:

Derek Nathan as Chief Technology Officer, previously at Cloud Vitality
Matt Crippa as Head of Voice Operations, previously at Vocus
Matt Krosch as Chief Marketing Officer, previously solution Baret
Manny Christophidis as Carrier Sales Manager, previously at Ribbon Communications

They are joined by Warwick Abrams as Project Manager and Joshua Eason as Partner Success Manager coming across from Optus, strengthening delivery and channel outcomes across the business.

The appointments bring decades of combined experience into Switch Connect at a time when enterprise demand for Microsoft Teams voice and managed services is accelerating.

Dicker Data expands Telco unit with Switch Connect capabilities

Dicker Data has recently expanded its Telco business unit to include capabilities from Switch Connect, giving resellers across Australia and New Zealand access to enterprise-grade voice, modern workplace, and managed services solutions through the Dicker Data channel.

Expanded solution set across six pillars

Switch Connect now delivers across six solution pillars: converged communications, modern workplace, cybersecurity, cloud and connectivity, agentic AI and data, and managed services.

The expansion gives customers a single partner across the technology areas that matter most for AI-enabled productivity. It comes as organisations increasingly treat telephony as a strategic platform - not just a utility - with growing demand for integration into Copilot and Microsoft's broader AI stack. That shift is also driving demand for the reporting, compliance and customer experience capabilities that sit alongside it.

As a certified Microsoft Teams Operator Connect migration partner, Switch Connect is helping organisations move off legacy PBX systems and modernise their voice environments - one of the fastest-growing segments in enterprise communications today.

Jaco Kriel, Switch Connect CIO, said "Teams Phone is changing how organisations think about voice. Our job is to make that migration straight forward and the outcome valuable - cleaner operations, better user experience, and a platform ready for what's next."

About Switch Connect

Switch Connect is a leading Australian-owned technology and telecommunications provider, established in 2015, delivering enterprise-grade solutions across communications, modern workplace collaboration, cybersecurity, connectivity, data and AI, and managed services. Trusted by more than 400 organisations globally, we specialise in complex cloud, voice, and digital transformation environments, including Microsoft Teams and modern workplace solutions.

Our approach is grounded in a simple belief: technology should empower people, not overwhelm them. Through our "Tech Made Human" philosophy, we simplify complexity and focus on delivering practical, outcome-driven solutions that improve productivity, reduce risk, and support business growth.

Media contact: news@switchconnect.com.au

Why Microsoft Teams Rollouts Stall (And How to Fix Them)

sales@switchconnect.com.au (Manny Christophidis) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:49:11 GMT

Buying Microsoft licences is easy. Getting real business value from Microsoft Teams is not. Switch Connect Carrier Sales Manager Manny Christophidis shares some insights from the field.

Many organisations roll out Teams, assign licences, and switch it on - only to find six months later that little has actually changed. Staff are still using mobiles. Calling isn’t consistent. Collaboration feels fragmented. The issue isn’t the technology. It’s everything around it.

The opportunity is huge, but often undelivered.

Microsoft Teams is now used by hundreds of millions of people globally, and the shift to cloud-based communications continues to accelerate - especially in APAC. But simply enabling Teams doesn’t guarantee adoption. Without the right foundations in place, it runs the risk of becoming ‘just another app’ rather than the central hub for communication and collaboration.

Where do Teams rollouts go wrong?

From what we see across our international client base, most Teams deployments stall for fundamentally the same or similar reasons. Not because the platform doesn’t work - but because key elements were under-scoped, rushed, or missed entirely.

1. Adoption Isn’t Designed
If people don’t trust the experience, they won’t change behaviour. Teams needs to feel like the easiest and most reliable way to call, meet, and collaborate. That requires structured change management, not just a “go live” announcement. Without this, Teams sits alongside existing tools instead of replacing them.

2. Calling Isn’t Built Properly
Voice is where confidence is won or lost. In our industry, this has always been the way. Many organisations enable Teams without properly designing their PSTN connectivity. Whether it’s Direct Routing or Operator Connect, the architecture needs to reflect how people actually make and receive calls. If call quality is inconsistent or unreliable, users will immediately fall back to their mobiles - and the big risk is, they will rarely come back.

3. Governance Is an Afterthought
Teams enables collaboration at scale - but without the right controls, it can introduce risk. Clear policies around guest access, data retention, Teams provisioning, and conditional access are essential. The goal isn’t to restrict users - it’s to enable collaboration safely and sustainably.

4. Training Is Too Generic
A one-size-fits-all training approach doesn’t work. Different roles use Teams in different ways. Effective training needs to be practical, relevant, and embedded into day-to-day workflows - not delivered as a one-off document or generic session. This is what drives real adoption, and the kind of success that improves business.

5. There’s No Ongoing Ownership
Teams isn’t a “set and forget” platform. Performance, usage, and configuration need to be continuously monitored and optimised. Small issues - especially around call quality as mentioned earlier - can quickly erode trust if they aren’t addressed early. The organisations that succeed treat Teams as an ongoing operational service, not a completed project.

What do successful organisations do differently?

The organisations that get the most value from Microsoft Teams aren’t the ones with the most licences or biggest budgets. They’re the ones that treat deployment as a managed program - with clear ownership before, during, and after go live.

They focus on:
• Designing the right calling and collaboration experience upfront
• Driving adoption through structured change and training
• Embedding governance from day one
• Continuously monitoring and improving performance

The bottom line.

Microsoft Teams has the potential to replace legacy phone systems, streamline collaboration, and unlock significant productivity gains. But that only happens when the rollout is treated as more than a technical deployment. It’s about execution, ownership, and ongoing optimisation.

A final thought. If you’re rolling out (or re-baselining) Teams Phone, the key question is simple: Is your technology partner set up to deliver outcomes, or simply provision licences? Switch Connect goes beyond just licensing. We partner across the full communications technology lifecycle, from strategy and network integration to adoption, governance, and ongoing optimisation. Backed by deep technical expertise and strong vendor alignment, we work with leading carriers and telcos to deliver end-to-end customer outcomes that drive positive usage, retention, and long-term value.

Feel free to reach out to me today - if you have questions, i'd love to hear from you.

Manny Christophidis is a telecommunications leader with 20+ years’ experience delivering complex UCaaS and cloud communications solutions across global enterprise and carrier environments.

How Telcos Can Adapt To The Rise Of OTT Platforms

rohan.milne@switchconnect.com.au (Rohan Milne) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:16:08 GMT

Understanding the Impact of OTT Platforms on Traditional Telecom Services

The proliferation of over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom has fundamentally shifted enterprise voice traffic away from traditional, circuit-switched telecom networks. As these platforms enable calls and collaboration to traverse the internet rather than the carrier’s voice infrastructure, telcos are witnessing an erosion of their core revenue streams. This shift challenges long-standing business models and puts legacy voice services under unprecedented pressure.

Enterprise customers now perceive 'voice service' not as a standalone offering but as an integrated component within their broader collaboration and productivity ecosystems. This change in expectations has left many traditional telcos grappling with declining ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and increased churn as customers migrate to providers who can deliver a unified digital experience.

Embracing Digital Transformation to Enhance Customer Experience

To remain relevant, telcos must embark on a journey of digital transformation focused on customer-centricity and agility. This means moving beyond traditional voice offerings and investing in modern communication solutions such as Microsoft Teams Phone, Operator Connect, and managed collaboration services. These capabilities are no longer optional—they are essential to meet enterprise demand for seamless, flexible, and integrated communications.

However, building these capabilities internally is resource intensive, requiring significant CAPEX, extended time to market, and specialized technical expertise. By the time a telco develops such solutions, the competitive landscape may have shifted even further, making rapid adaptation critical.

Building Strategic Alliances with OTT Providers

Rather than viewing OTT platforms solely as competitors, telcos can unlock new growth opportunities by forming strategic alliances and embracing an OPEX-funded partnership model. Collaboration with certified specialists who have established deployment infrastructure and proven expertise in Modern Work solutions enables telcos to accelerate go-to-market timelines and deliver advanced offerings without the associated capital risks.

At Switch Connect, we empower telcos with turnkey solutions that integrate directly with Microsoft Teams and other leading platforms, allowing them to deliver value-added services that align with contemporary enterprise needs. Such partnerships can help retain existing customers and attract new ones by delivering comprehensive voice connectivity and management from a single provider.

Leveraging Advanced Network Infrastructure for Seamless Content Delivery

A robust, scalable, and secure network infrastructure is foundational for telcos aiming to support the high-performance requirements of modern OTT applications. By optimizing network architecture for low latency, high availability, and intelligent routing, carriers can ensure seamless content delivery across collaboration platforms, video conferencing, and cloud-based telephony.

Investments in SD-WAN, advanced network management, and real-time analytics enable telcos to proactively manage quality of service and adapt to dynamic traffic patterns, further enhancing the customer experience and reinforcing their value proposition in a digital-first landscape.

Innovative Monetisation Models for Sustained Growth

In response to shrinking traditional voice revenue and rising international SMS termination rates, telcos must pursue innovative monetisation models. This includes bundling managed collaboration services, offering integrated cloud communications, and leveraging analytics-driven insights to tailor solutions to specific customer segments.

Transitioning to OPEX-driven, partnership-based models allows telcos to increase ARPU without the financial risks of heavy up-front investment. By working with partners like Switch Connect, carriers can rapidly deploy new services, capture emerging market opportunities, and ensure sustained growth in a rapidly evolving industry.

Rohan Milne - CEO, Switch Connect.

Switch Connect and PCI Pal partner to enhance secure payments in contact centres

rohan.milne@switchconnect.com.au (Rohan Milne) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Switch Connect, a leading global voice platform provider, has announced a strategic partnership with PCI Pal, a trusted provider of secure payment solutions. This collaboration transforms the customer and agent payment experience across any communication channel over a variety of contact centre platforms.

This partnership will empower Switch Connect partners and customers to offer a seamless and secure payment experience, particularly benefiting those who utilise Microsoft Teams Operator Connect, Direct Routing, Dynamics 365 Contact Centre, and Cisco Webex Contact Centre platforms. By integrating PCI Pal’s cutting-edge secure payment technology with Switch Connect’s robust global voice platform, businesses can ensure compliance with PCI DSS standards while enhancing customer satisfaction and trust.

This strategic collaboration ensures businesses can take payments seamlessly while maintaining compliance with PCI DSS standards. Through Switch Connect’s advanced voice platform integration with PCI Pal’s security-first technology, customers and agents both benefit from a frictionless, secure, and compliant payment process.

Rohan Milne, CEO of Switch Connect, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are excited to join forces with PCI Pal to deliver unparalleled secure payment solutions to our customers. This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing innovative and reliable services that meet the evolving needs of our clients. Together, we will set a new standard for secure and efficient payment processing in the contact centre industry.”

Matt Carter, Partners and Alliances APAC at PCI Pal adds, “Partnering with Switch Connect is an impactful step forward in our mission to provide secure and frictionless payment experiences to organizations across the globe. Our combined expertise and technology will enable businesses to confidently handle payments, ensuring both security and superior experience for their customers. We look forward to a successful collaboration that will drive positive outcomes for businesses worldwide.”

The integration of Switch Connect’s global voice platform with PCI Pal’s secure payment solutions delivers a comprehensive, secure, and customer-focused payment experience that keeps the customer and agent in communication through the payment journey. Businesses will now have an optimized solution for payments over any business communications channel, safeguarding sensitive payment information at all times.

About Switch Connect

Switch Connect is a leading provider of global voice platforms, specialising in delivering high-quality communication solutions for businesses. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Switch Connect offers a range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of its clients.

About PCI Pal

PCI Pal is a leading global provider of SaaS solutions that empower companies to take payments securely, adhere to strict industry governance, and remove their business from the significant risks posed by non-compliance and data loss. Using patented technology, its mission is to safeguard reputation and trust by providing customers with secure payment solutions for any business communications environment including voice, chat, social, email, and contact center.PCI Pal is integrated to, and resold by, some of the world’s leading business communications vendors, as well as major payment service providers. PCI Pal products can be used by any size organization globally, and it is proud to work with some of the largest and most respected brands in the world.

For more information on this partnership and its benefits, visit www.switchconnect.com.au and www.pcipal.com.

Switch Connect shortlisted for best digital platform in 2024 ACOMM Awards

rohan.milne@switchconnect.com.au (Rohan Milne) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 03:00:00 GMT

Switch Connect has been shortlisted for the Best Digital Platform category of the prestigious ACOMM Awards, 2024. The national awards for excellence in telecommunications are now in their 18th year and celebrate Australia’s finest across the telco industry. Switch Connect are finalists in the Best Digital Platform Category for their product Microsoft’ Teams Calling with 99.999 High Available Redundant Backup.

Trusted by more than 400 companies worldwide, Switch Connect delivers market-leading secure communication solutions that empower customers to be more productive through cutting-edge technology. The company has evolved from a communications solutions provider to become a global leader in technology solutions ranging from cloud-native solutions delivering intelligent and secure real-time communications for the cloud, network, and enterprise edge. The company excels through innovative technology and strategic partners in line with their internally developed intellectual property.

The 2024 annual ACOMM Awards Dinner was held at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth last night, Thursday July 18 at a sold-out event. This Australian showcase of the industry’s achievements saw Switch Connect become finalists for the first time among leading providers including NBN, NSW Telco Authority and Next DC.

“We are so excited to be a finalist among such esteemed company at the ACOMM Awards,” says Switch Connect CEO, Rohan Milne. “This is timely as the company expands into new territory including our game-changing product, Microsoft Teams Calling. It’s an honour for us, being a smaller-scale enterprise to be named among international leaders as we venture into new technology and service lines and continue to develop products & services that allow our customers to experience advanced technology solutions that simplify the way they do business.”

The Australian awards ceremony is presented by Communications Alliance and offers a rare opportunity for industry to gather and applaud innovative excellence across Australia’s communications ecosystem.

Switch Connect announced as a finalist in the 2024 CRN Impact Awards

rohan.milne@switchconnect.com.au (Rohan Milne) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Switch Connect has been selected as a finalist for the Workforce Empowerment partner category of the prestigious 2024 CRN Impact Awards. The awards, sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS), recognise the impact of Australian IT channel-led projects, innovation, ESG initiatives and leaders. Switch Connect are finalists for their work the Australian Electoral Commission and deploying Microsoft Teams Calling with 99.999 High Available Redundant Backup.

The Workforce Empowerment category recognises Australian partner projects that made an end-user customer’s staff more productive.

The Workforce Empowerment partner finalists are:

Lindentech migrates HelpingMinds to Access4: this project modernised telephony for HelpingMinds’ workforce, which delivers free mental health education and other services and carer support across Western Australia, reducing costs and improving calling flexibility.
Arinco and D6 deliver ChatGPT-based Maroondah City Council Chatbot: These two partners dealt with governance, accountability and security requirements to stand up this solution, built within the Council’s Azure environment. • AltTab’s mobile app for Ok Tedi Mining: This app connects the company’s workforce, which includes fly in fly out miners, engineers, managers and administrators in multiple countries, including at remote mining sites. • BroadConnect’s cloud telephony deployment for Sydney BMW: BroadConnect helped the Sydney BMW team deal with a large number of incoming calls by using Access4, Cisco WebEx and integration with Microsoft Dynamics.
Engage Squared’s eCabinet solution for the Tasmanian Department of Premier & Cabinet: The Department has saved dozens of hours a week and improved its ability to managed and report on Cabinet briefings, by digitising the briefing management process using Engage Squared‘s eCabinet solution.
Switch Connect’s telephony deployment for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC): Ahead of the 2023 referendum, Switch Connect migrated AEC’s office Australia’-wide from legacy on-premise telephony solutions to Microsoft Teams, enabling staff members to work from anywhere.

The CRN Impact Award winners will be announced at the gala awards dinner on Thursday 15th August on the final night of the CRN Pipeline conference at the Sheraton Grand Mirage on the Gold Coast.