Go BackDimension Data outlines seven steps to successfully deploy unified communications solutions
Dimension Data, a $3.8 billion leading IT solutions and services provider, today announced seven steps a business can take to effectively select and institute a unified communications (UC) strategy.
Companies are always looking for better, more effective ways for their staff to communicate and collaborate, especially when workers are not housed in the same physical office. One of the biggest challenges companies face is integrating their disparate communications channels. Integrating all forms of communication from telephony to e-mail, Web conferencing to instant messaging (IM)helps employees to communicate more efficiently, using the right medium for the right situation. This ultimately results in cost savings, increased problem solving and fewer work cycles to complete projects.
"Most companies have a heterogeneous network environment and therefore need to integrate multiple vendor technologies across platforms and architectures," said Mark Slaga, CTO, Dimension Data Americas. "Before embarking on this potentially complex journey, organizations should take a holistic look at all the moving parts involved. Doing so will help organizations optimize investments already made and allow employees to better serve customers and solve business problems faster."
Based on their experience in planning and building communications environments for major organizations around the world, unified communications experts at Dimension Data have identified the following seven tips for deploying UC solutions.
1. Don't underestimate your company culture. Before beginning any unified communications project, understand the communication methods used by your company for getting work done. Some target the key employees who will benefit the most or who seem excited to embrace change. Companies should ensure the corporate culture is suited to interactive communication. Combine this with a well-planned and articulated change management process, and the stage is set for a successful deployment.
2. Prepare your environment. Spend time assessing and preparing the environment for deployment of the new technology. Create a single authoritative directory as a source of contact details:
Establish a single user identity to ensure accurate interaction between systems. Prepare the directory to support corporate IM, and ensure that phone numbers are normalized in a standard format and that users understand how to enter numbers to their personal contacts.
Configure the PBX or IP PBX to accept the new numbering scheme. Some form of computer telephony integration is required to enable telephony presence and call control.
If required, deploy client software to desktops. Desktops will also need to meet the minimum hardware and software requirements for these applications. If extending rich communications to video, prepare the network with appropriate bandwidth and quality of service.
3. Define the architecture. Decide on a distributed or centralized architecture. Assess the impact on the underlying infrastructure, as many collaboration technologies rely on real-time protocols that put new demands on IP networks in terms of minimizing latency and jitter.
4. Assess security up front and leverage existing functionality. Unified communications implementations present many security considerations. Take advantage of the capabilities that already exist within your network equipment and the encryption capabilities in the UC devices themselves.
5. Maximize enterprise integration. Once the initial implementation is deployed, explore opportunities to extend the system to deliver deeper integration and increased value through application integration, conferencing and customization.
6. Ask about solid project management. Choose an implementation partner that will base its deployment on a structured project management methodology not just at a framework level. The partner should demonstrate specific sets of processes, tools, templates and guidelines that are customized for unified communications environments and also based on industry best practices.
7. Implement ongoing support. A successful deployment depends on an organization's ability to focus on all the disciplines required and maintain the stability of the environment daily.
The world of corporate communications is experiencing a revolution. A successful unified communications deployment comes from careful planning and an architecture that takes security and ongoing support into consideration. Most of all, organizations should choose to work with an integrator that has the skills and experience to integrate multi-vendor technologies, follows a transparent and strict project management discipline, and offers ongoing support and maintenance throughout the solution's lifecycle.
About Dimension Data
Dimension Data , a specialist IT services and solutions provider, helps clients plan, build and support their network and IT infrastructures. Dimension Data applies its expertise in networking, security, operating environments, storage and contact center technologies and its unique skills in consulting, integration and managed services to create customized client services. For more information: Call 866-DIDATA-US or visit http://www.dimensiondata.com/na.
Date - 16/01/2008
