Nortel Implements Unified Communications to Enhance Business Performance & Reduce Operating Costs
Many companies today face the challenge of a highly distributed workforce that must work together more effectively than ever before. Teams rely on time-sensitive communications using a variety of user devices across multiple networks and services to keep pace with competition. Often, this growing complexity results in increased administrative and support costs along with missed business opportunities. Unified communications addresses this challenge by simplifying how people interact with each other and with applications. Workers adopt a common user interface and leverage IP network technology to collaborate in real-time using the most appropriate voice, video or data channel. Tight integration between enterprise applications and communications allows users to reach each other and share information within seconds. And real-time communication requirements for an increasingly mobile workforce are met through such rich applications as video and web conferencing across roaming and fixed devices.
With one of the largest and most robust enterprise network infrastructures in the world, Nortel connects over 30,000 employees in more than 255 locations across 60 countries, along with over 20,000 external partners from 800 companies. During a typical month, the network handles approximately 2,000 terabytes of data traffic (including millions of emails and secure instant messages), 30 million minutes of voice and video calls, 20 million minutes of audio conferencing and 100 live web casts.
Look at the results that Nortel had from unifying their communications. Overall, IP telephony and unified communications implementation yields over $12 million annual savings with a 10-month return on investment.
- 55 percent reduction in calling card, long distance and other telephony charges
- $5 million annual savings from on-premises audio conferencing
- Estimated $5 million travel savings annually from multimedia conferencing
- Estimated new site cabling cost reduction of 60 to 75 percent, MAC savings potential of 40 to 70 percent, and 30 to 65 percent reduced communications room footprint
- Estimated 12-month payback for implementation of secure instant messaging
Nortel has been its own best customer for IP telephony and unified communications solutions. The business case for unified communications implementation within Nortel has been based on lower total cost of ownership and improved business performance through enhanced employee productivity and business process efficiency. As the unified communications market matures, Nortel employees, customers and partners will continue to benefit from a cost-effective solution that drives innovation and competitive advantage.
