Microsoft Skype for Business represent a transformational shift across every level of business communications. This shift will change how IT teams support and manage business communication technologies. A successful UC deployment starts with understanding the overall value of the solution as a broader productivity stack.
More than 50% of enterprise voice is ending up on a conferencing asset, on a mixing plan.
If your PBX is sending all of your traffic to a conferencing bridge, maybe you should flip your architecture and make your meeting asset the center of the UC deployment discussion.
Voice is a complex type of deployment, whether it is for a multi-location office or single office. Microsoft is just entering into the PBX and PSTN space and relies on strategic hosted partners to manage this feature and to provide those complex designs. Microsoft adds the core product and voice super-sizes it gives a full business-ready solution. The UC voice component is more than making and receiving calls, it’s unified messaging, speech to text, call recording, auto attendant, CRM integration, contact center and other custom feature integrations.
For companies looking to implement a Microsoft unified communications Office 365 phone solution (Skype for Business) there are several deployment options
This plan utilizes Microsoft E5 + Calling Plan or step up plan to add Cloud PBX and Calling Plan. Microsoft Skype for Business Online is hosted Skype for Business through Office 365. It delivers a core set of features in a simple to use single portal that controls email and phone system infrastructure. Skype for Business Online is missing several key enterprise voice features that are available through on premise and partner hosted options. Besides missing features, it gives you the least amount of control over customizations on how the phone system works.
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What type of company does It work best for? Smaller companies that desires a highly collaborative workforce, and doesn’t have a current PBX system and/or conferencing solution in place, and does not require customization, integration, or enterprise voice features.
An on premise deployment, requires a higher capital expenditure on infrastructure and expertise in server configuration, maintenance and telephony and will require a greater total cost of ownership than a hosted solution. With this deployment the company retains total control over the platform, its settings and customization within the confines of Microsoft licensing and features. It also gives companies the freedom to implement changes and upgrade more rapidly, or slow the change management if needed. This level of control is generally only needed in niche scenarios, and the cost of the hardware and a full time Skype specialist generally doesn’t justify the benefits.
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What type of company does It work best for? Companies with high requirements on security and customization who can afford the setup and maintenance costs and staff.
This plan utilizes Microsoft E3 License + Skype4B Hosting Provider plan including features and usage with a Multi-Tenant and V-Dedicated Solution. In a hosted Skype for Business environment, you have minimal capital expenditure in initial setup. The only infrastructure required is a fast, stable internet connection, and the only hardware to be purchased is telephone handsets/headsets. The configuration, customization, training and support are managed by the hosted partner.
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What type of company does It work best for? Medium to large companies with high monthly telecommunication requirements who are looking for a completely hosted solution, need customizations and currently have none to very little infrastructure.
Hybrid deployments were created for companies with on premise and partner hosted requirements, like security, for some users and public cloud requirements for others. It is a seamless connection for all users to collaborate with one another with all feature requirements fully met. Hybrid deployments adds a higher level of complexity. There must be connectivity between two systems to maintain a seamless experience for the users. Deployment, configuration and on-going support of that takes an experienced group of engineers.
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What type of company does It work best for? Mid-sized to Enterprise businesses that wish to leverage Office 365 Cloud PBX with required custom dialing plans, rates, and restrictions
The companies that receive the highest level of adoption and satisfaction have a thorough understanding of their current infrastructure and network requirements, their workforce needs, identified key feature sets, chose a vendor to partner with and together selected the best deployment plan to exceed expectations for short term and long term objectives.
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