Unified Communications and Collaboration can provide significant benefits to organizations of any size, including the ability for IT to manage all communications as a single entity, the ability for users to have a single interface into all of their communications functions, the ability for organizations to make faster decisions, and reduce overall costs because of the integration of today’s distinct communication silos into a single communications platform.

To create a consistent, seamless Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) experience across your organization, you must first examine your existing infrastructure and business processes to determine what components will work best for your business.  Get an overview of the potential benefits of UC, including key considerations for mapping out your UC strategy.

• What processes are you trying to streamline or simplify? 
• How can UC make your business run more smoothly and your workers be more productive? 
• Do you have the right infrastructure in place to accommodate the applications and services that will benefit your business the most?

The promise of UC&C is powerful, but implementing UC&C across your enterprise requires flexibility and alot of forethought.  For example, you may need to accommodate a range of hardware and a wide variety of applications and services.  While some services can be provided on-premise, particularly in larger companies where IT resources are plentiful, others need to be hosted.

In short, what works best for one business may not work best for yours! It is critical to first examine your existing infrastructure and business processes to determine what components will work best for your business before you execute your UC&C implementation.

Deploying Unified Communications sets the stage for businesses to improve processes, increase collaboration and productivity, and simplify communications.  The concept of UC is gaining wide acceptance — Key drivers include the need to minimize the communications latency and the need to maximize effectiveness and efficiencies in business transactions.  Users want a consistent look and feel across their communications software — whether they’re emailing, instant messaging or looking up contact information for a co-worker or colleague.  Services may be customized and those offered may include:

• Needs Analysis to determine the functionality required by different user groups.
• Assess opportunities for communication, collaboration, and business process improvement.
• Identify critical success factors and constraints.
• Define a compelling case for change.
• Obtain buy-in from line of business sponsors and IT.
• Develop a comprehensive strategy and implementation roadmap.

VDN believes a collaborative approach achieves the best outcome.  VDN will work closely with your key business and IT stakeholders throughout the process to learn about your environment and objectives, provide education on the “art of the possible” with UC&C, and jointly develop a project plan and business case.  By working collaboratively, much of the needed socialization and buy-in are accomplished throughout the process, thereby accelerating the time to move forward and realize the anticipated benefits.

VDN conducts the UC&C Business Case and Planning Engagement in three integrated phases of work:

Analysis of Current Environment

VDN will work with key business and IT stakeholders to develop a clear understanding of your current communications and collaboration environment, including:

• Communication tools and usage, processes, and any challenges, bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
• Business process performance challenges and improvement opportunities.
• Historical challenges rolling out new technologies.
• Budgetary / Technology considerations and restraints.
• Organizational structure and characteristics of different user groups.
• Communications and collaboration priorities, opportunities, and desired pace of change.

Architecture

Using its proven methodology, VDN will engage with user groups and project stakeholders within your enterprise to define and prioritize UC&C benefit opportunities that will form the basis for your Unified Communications and Collaboration strategy, plan, and business case:

• Communicate industry “best practices” and use case examples to provide as a basis for your Unified Communications and Collaboration initiative. 
• Analyze business processes and prioritize opportunities where communications-based improvements can be achieved.
• Convene focus groups of users to identify adoption opportunities, challenges, techniques, and priorities.
• Determine key metrics and quantify business opportunities.
• Prioritize opportunities where unified communications capabilities can further organizational goals and return profitability and efficiencies to the enterprise.
• Engage decision-makers to identify barriers to adoption.
• Prioritize the introduction of UC&C capabilities.

Business Case