Unified communications are coming back

Nov. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- The trend: integrating voice, data, messaging, conferencing and the other services at the same network infrastructure is being used by the companies as a creative solution to refresh business ways.

While many IT companies tighten their budgets in the recent recession, more and more organizations deploy the solutions for unified communications (UC) which are all integrated at the same network infrastructure.
These have ever considered as expensive solutions that just were used by huge organizations with large IT budgets, the UC solutions are now within reach of organizations with all sizes, including many small and medium company (SMB).

The companies have said that thank to UC solutions, they can increase organizational productivity and reduce operating costs. UC not only provide reliable and multifunction media but also strengthen relationships and intimate feelings among employees working from remote or mobile.
However, getting the UC platform that make us have to consider and plan carefully.

The definition of "unified communications" is as diversified as companies that supply technology components. Thus, there is no solution that is suitable for all. We must admit that the available technology with specified advantages that can make you confused to select one UC. There are many things to consider when deciding what is suitable for your company. Anyway we still have some generalized points to reach UC based on a sole platform.

Despite having some industry standards for UC, the range of solutions and available strategies for design solutions allow to design the most suitable solutions for each organization’s needs.

We have to meet difficulties in implementing UC that arise from at least one of the following:

1.   Urgent period of survey: solving the challenges before implementing is easier, so this period should take consider to all applications and potential systems which related to communications platform or may be affected by communication traffic’s changes.

2.   Assume that the devices / applications that can be transferred as the current system: to clarify this before investing is important.

3.   Lack of participation of partners in this process: since UC is not just an IT decision, you will only achieve the maximum benefit when you make sure to keep input data of the user in the process confidential, plan and implement process

4.   The failure to set a target and involve in it: this is where UC solutions can become unnecessarily complicated and lead to unexpected costs

5.   Do not understand the contract and its implementation: this may waste a long time

6.   Wait to make everything perfect after changing to the newer system rather than before. This will make your user unsatisfied and they do not use platform and your applications.
Applying your UC options in changing process

Many companies save the costs that related to the UC implementation by shaking hands with other changes of organizations or communication networks. Many customers have found that they usually do at least one of the followings with planning and implementing UC solutions:

1. Set up a new call center (which receives their customers’ complaints by telephone) or broaden the old system

2. Integrating two or more available network of organizations (such as merger / acquisition or reorganization of company)

3. Expand or develop a remote program for a large amount of the company’s workforce

4. Change the current outdated network or unsuitable

5. Implement a succession project (recovery disaster) and the supportive abilities

6. Integrating distributed branch (such as sales locations, the bank branches ...).

The important thing for IT managers is finding some kinds of change in an organization, and convincing executives about how to use innovation the communication systems to make them more effective with a reasonable cost.

Identify the weakest link in the chain, focus on training

If your network is not strong enough to solve the increase of transferring information from UC, you no longer receive the results as you want.

Review the business environment and available networks and have comments about the current needs and future to design and implement.

Remember that UC is not a solution suitable for all cases. It is a process through each stage, leading to the final result suitable for the target media businesses / organizations.

The best solutions for your company network are a strong network that can operate although weakest links nearly reach the maximum capacity. Finally, training members to maintain and using the UC components is also important.

Many economists said that several enterprises still hold the money instead of spending it, while they are waiting that the economic recovery will continue. However, once management understands the benefits of UC, they will be ready to release their money.

Currently there are many companies considering the investment in UC, according to CDW’s 2010 unified communication tracking poll – the leading provider of technology solutions, ranked No. 41 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies.

The most common concerns in many organizations planning to implement the UC are how it will affect network security, equipment and investment cost requirements and operating cost. However, many organizations have successfully implemented. There is no worth to be worry about such concerns.

While unified communications is a complicated field with many challenges, it can certainly help change an organization and bring impressive operating productivity. That is the reason why UC is on the rise as a creative method to change the way many companies do business.

# # #

Depending on customer preferences, we offer various services to optimize their business with state of the art Information Technology solutions: Business Intelligence system, Customer relationship management, searching engines, e-commerce solutions, website development, web and graphic designs.. Visit http://www.softwareoutsourcing.biz to know how we can handle your work.