UC Network Management Featured Article
UC Device Management Addresses Business Communications Complexity
Business communications has traditionally involved one person using an ugly old desk phone to interact with another individual on a similar device. These conversations tended to be supported by “nailed up” – or dedicated – connections. And there was much less room for error.
Today, however, business communications and collaboration is far more complex. It entails a mix of voice and video traffic. End users may be connecting with a wide array of devices – including various types of wireless and wireline handsets, headsets, videoconferencing systems, computers, and more.
So there’s a lot more complexity involved. It can be tough to keep track of various resources and to manage updates. And when there’s a problem, it can be much more difficult to discern whether it’s caused by an issue with the application, an endpoint, the network, or some other factor.
But UC device management can help businesses to understand, update, keep track of, and support unified communications environments and all they entail. UCDM solutions can inventory endpoints, help with troubleshooting and support, lower IT helpdesk costs and demand, allow for centralized configuration and software updates, and just generally enable organizations to manage today’s complex UC&C mix.
“Silicon Valley-based communications solution provider Ooma recently conducted a survey and found that over half of respondents typically have at least one conference call a week,” Unify Square reported in its blog earlier this month. “With all these conference calls taking place, it’s time to ask what the root of the conference call problems may be. Are these issues really just dropped calls and poor audio, or do they stem from network interference, inadequate or outdated hardware, poor system architecture, end-user errors or lack of systems training, or perhaps even old or bad endpoint device performance?”
UCDM can help provide clarity and closure on such issues.
And in an interview last year with UC Network Management, Avotus CEO James Martino commented: “Enterprise mobility is redefining long-standing rules for end user support, device management, acceptable use, risk management, and data protection. As a result, mobility is creating significant new challenges for enterprise IT departments. With the proliferation of mobile devices, rising expectations of end users, and the velocity with which uninvited devices are entering the network, these challenges need to be addressed sooner rather than later. CIOs need to seize the initiative and start to align business strategy and needs, IT capabilities, and user expectations. By doing so, the enterprise can cost effectively and securely satisfy end users, streamline and reduce IT support costs, and ideally position the enterprise to embrace and reap the rewards of increasingly sophisticated mobile devices and mobile applications. Conversely, failure to act may lead to the IT organization being perceived as tone deaf by end users, including executive management, and may significantly increase the security, privacy and regulatory risks to your organization.”
Edited by Maurice Nagle
