Problem: Too many PBX / Communication Systems
As organizations expand via acquisitions and merges or from their own expansions into other sites, cities or countries, the accumulation of multiple PBXs or Communication Systems start to occur within that organization. To complicate things, while most enterprises have deployed IP private branch exchanges (IP PBXs) and communications servers, many still rely on conventional TDM circuits for site-to-site connectivity and to connect to the PSTN. Incumbent TDM-based telephony networks are costly and inefficient.
Limitations include:
Siloed telephony environment. Each site acts as an independent telephony island with its own PBX, dial plan and PSTN trunks. Small offices and teleworkers typically are not tied into the corporate telephony network and rely on the PSTN to communicate with coworkers.
Redundant communications infrastructure. IT is forced to maintain parallel communications networks—a TDM-based voice network and an IP-based data network—with extra equipment and operational overhead.
Costly recurring telecommunications charges. Site-to-site calls flow over leased primary rate interface (PRI) circuits with high monthly fees. Calls to remote offices and home workers are terminated over the PSTN at an additional expense.
Lack of flexibility. Adding PRI circuits can take weeks or even months in certain parts of the world. IT is challenged to meet the needs of the business in a timely fashion.
Solution: Use Skype for Business to consolidate multiple PBXs and transform how an organization communicates, collaborates and become efficient in capital spending. The dependency for this solution is to consolidate multiple PSTN connectivities into a single SIP Trunking connectivity to get an end-to-end SIP and IP network.
Advantages of SIP Trunking
Many service providers now offer SIP trunking services—flexible, cost-effective alternatives to conventional PRI trunks for PSTN origination/termination. Enterprises can reduce long distance and international calling fees and improve service agility by using a SIP trunk service provider for PSTN access. SIP trunking advantages include:
Lower facility costs. SIP trunks cost less than PRI trunks with comparable throughput. Although a PRI is capable of carrying 23 voice channels over a T-1 line (and 30 over an E-1), SIP trunks can support many more sessions on a single T-1 line, depending on the codec used.
Cost-effective scalability. PRIs must be leased in increments of 23 (or 30) channels. With SIP trunking, businesses only pay for the capacity they need. In addition, many SIP trunk service providers support a “bursting” option to temporarily accommodate intermittent traffic spikes.
Converged infrastructure. By carrying voice and data over the same trunks, businesses can consolidate T-1s and E-1s and reduce recurring telecommunications charges.
Cost-effective access to hosted services. SIP trunks can be used to provide efficient, low-cost access to cloud-based communications services, including audio conferencing and videoconferencing services.
Advantages of an End-to-End SIP Network
An end-to-end SIP network reduces cost and complexity and improves communications. By converging real-time voice, video, and UC onto a common SIP-based infrastructure, enterprises can reduce CapEx and OpEx while delivering richer end user experiences.
Advantages of Network Consolidation
Businesses can reduce equipment expenses and simplify ongoing administration and maintenance by consolidating PBXs, UC servers, and trunks into central data centers. SIP traffic can be backhauled across the private IP network and handed off to central trunk pools or to hosted IP communications service providers.
Advantages of Converged IP Network
Enterprises can reduce CapEx and OpEx by leveraging the IP data network for real-time communications. They can retire legacy voice equipment, eliminate site-to-site TDM circuits, bypass the PSTN, and utilize the private IP network for toll-free internal calls anywhere in the world.
Advantages of Using Skype for Business to Consolidate Multiple PBXs
The critical piece of this solution is consolidating various PBXs into a single platform, enabling unified communications and collaboration for people and businesses.
With that, businesses can tap into the large and growing Skype for Business solution ecosystem to exploit the latest advancements in communications and collaboration technology. Skype for Business ecosystem provides SIP based features and functions, video-conferencing, wide range of end user devices, and room and personal productivity collaboration products such as Surface Hub, as well as hardphones, softphones, instant messaging clients, and mobility devices such as smart phones and tablets.
Key Benefits of Using Skype for Business for Consolidating PBXs
Internet-facing services. Skype for Business leverages the internet to extend corporate communications services to small offices, remote workers, and mobile professionals. Implement cost effective business continuity plans in the event of site closings.
Business-to-business connectivity. “Federate” with suppliers and partners to improve communications and streamline business procedures.
Contact center modernization. Eliminate costly carrier take-back and transfer fees by redirecting calls over the corporate IP network using SfB as the base telephony system. Incorporate home-based agents and offshore employees over the internet.
Cloud services. Leverage Microsoft’s Cloud PBX and other communication services offered by hosted service providers to reduce onsite equipment expenses and hassles. Free up critical IT resources to focus on strategic business initiatives. Outsource telephony, contact center, or conferencing functions.
Communications-enabled business processes. Add interactive communications to software applications and business processes to eliminate inefficiencies and boost worker productivity. This can be achieved by Skype for Business’ SDK and application integration platform. One example is the integration of voice support with Cortana and also building of intelligent chat bots using the wide array of Azure based services such as Machine Learning and Business Intelligence.
Do you have a requirement to consolidate your PBXs? Drop us an email at info@gilltechnologies.com or call us at +65 3159 1122 to discuss about your requirement.