Spectrum Enterprise

Reliable unified communications (UC) solutions have become even more critical as the workforce has evolved into a blend of on-site, remote and hybrid workers – 97 percent of employees now say access to cloud-based collaboration and software tools is essential to their jobs. Cloud-based unified communications solutions provide access to essential communication features, such as voice calling, video conferencing, instant messaging, file sharing and virtual meetings. Features are integrated into a single platform, making it easier for businesses to manage while allowing employees to work together efficiently.

But not every solution is built to meet the demands of organizations with sophisticated use cases. An enterprise-grade UC solution can integrate into your network infrastructure while minimizing overall system complexity. It provides more visibility and control of individual apps, settings and user permissions. An enterprise-grade solution is also engineered to make support more manageable as organizations scale while meeting security and regulatory requirements.

Evaluating a UC solution

Integrating and managing a modern UC solution can come with challenges, and there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. The deployment model will depend on the organization’s specific requirements, industry regulations, in-house network engineering and IT expertise, budget and risk tolerance.

For many businesses, partnering with a trusted network provider for a fully managed and supported UC solution can assist limited IT resources, while offering the highest level of reliability, security and performance. With no hardware to manage, the benefits include freeing up resources and budget while eliminating the need to maintain telecommunications equipment across an organization.

"An enterprise-grade UC solution can integrate into your network infrastructure while minimizing overall system complexity. It provides more visibility and control of individual apps, settings and user permissions"

To ensure a reliable cloud-based UC implementation, explicitly require a high level of availability in service level agreements (SLAs) for communications services critical to your business. An in-depth SLA should specifically outline the availability rate, response time and demonstrable remedies.

Benefits of a managed service

Whether opting for a fully- or co-managed solution, organizations will realize many benefits from a managed network-based unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solution. When deployed with the reliability of a secure fiber network, users experience means dependable communications, perfectly tuned for real-time voice and video collaboration.

For example, a K-12 private school had an aging telephone system break down right before a holiday season. They urgently needed a flexible communications network to connect staff in multiple locations to avoid disruption to its school community. With fiber internet access already in place, a network-based UC solution was employed to connect the entire campus and administrative offices with voice, video and messaging. Our Spectrum Enterprise team provided quick implementation and full support, resulting in delivery over a week-long school recess. And the school realized unexpected benefits. Dependent upon enrollment and donations for its funding, the new UC solution helped the school better connect with new families and potential donors. It also freed up school resources by eliminating the need for IT to manage additional third-party vendors.

In another example, a restaurant chain was upgrading its outdated point-of sale (POS) system and worked with our Spectrum Enterprise managed network team to develop a solution with a dedicated, high-performance fiber network. While it had previously struggled with the complexity of multiple phone systems and separate invoices, the chain moved to an integrated unified communications solution – simplifying its communications, reducing work for IT and improving reliability. The SLA also covers its fully managed phone service – from hostess’s IP phones to the company’s call centers.

Going beyond

If your organization requires enterprise-grade unified communications, a vendor partner can reduce the complexity for IT teams with limited resources by providing a single resource for multiple business needs. At Spectrum Enterprise, both the UC solution and the fiber connectivity that delivers it include 24/7/365 U.S.-based support. This incorporates critical communications services into a larger, integrated solution that adds value at all stages of a UC implementation: developing a solution strategy, designing an appropriate network, deployment, managing services -- including cloud-based UC solutions -- and providing ongoing support. This results in exceptionally resilient enterprise-grade security, flexibility and reliability as your organization continues to evolve.

Joseph DeLotto serves as Vice President of Voice and Unified Communications Products at Spectrum Enterprise. In this role he is responsible for the roadmap and lifecycle management of telephony and UC products for medium and large enterprise customers. He has more than 25 years of technology development and product management experience at telecommunications service providers.