The future of voice: how to successfully transform your legacy voice estate

All over the world, voice networks are going through a massive transformation.

Organisations are increasingly having to replace their legacy voice infrastructure as traditional analogue and ISDN lines are being phased out.

But when voice is a critical communications channel, what alternatives are out there and how will they preserve quality and increase flexibility to meet the demands of the future?

The impending demise of the Private Branch Exchange (PBX), gives businesses the opportunity to refresh and transform their unified communications (UC) strategy. At a time when reducing costs and increasing efficiencies are at the heart of every organisation’s business goals, SIP trunks - which can be delivered over MPLS or the internet - provide an IP alternative which can do both.

Painting the bigger picture

We recently partnered with a global manufacturer to help transform and simplify their network infrastructure.

Over the years and thanks to numerous mergers and acquisitions, they’d accumulated over 100 WAN providers across the globe. This resulted in a complex, legacy infrastructure with different parts owned by different divisions of the business. These complexities came with reduced network performance, troubleshooting issues and difficulties with fault resolution. They needed a partner who could help them mitigate these variables before even considering evolving their UC strategy.

Together, we discussed their initial network requirements and the pertinence of the upcoming retirement of traditional analogue and ISDN lines. What if they could combine a refresh of both their legacy network infrastructure and their legacy ISDN infrastructure into one strategy?

This was a game changer for our customer. Our ability to work with them, not just on their immediate requirement, but also the bigger picture for their organisation promised to deliver multiple benefits.

With this consideration taken on board, our customer was able to produce a set of voice transformation goals that we could work towards. They wanted to be proactive - to enjoy the flexibility and reduced costs of moving to IP telephony and replace all of their employees’ desk phones with smart phones.

Alongside these targets, the organisation also aimed to increase sustainability and see a marked uplift in their end user experience and productivity, whilst reducing their total cost of ownership (TCO) and achieving better cost predictability. These goals were considered alongside their commitment to reduce their carbon footprint and increase overall sustainability. 

One Voice: an inclusive IP solution

To meet their targets and simplify their network, our customer opted to invest in our One Voice global SIP trunking solution: an IP alternative to the traditional PTSN, implemented over MPLS or the internet. Using our price per user, per month structuring, they were able to make this transformation whilst delivering on cost predictability requirements.

Not only did our solution take on the bigger picture by combining network and voice requirements into one service, but it also increased flexible working opportunities which resulted in enhanced productivity and increased efficiency. As well as meeting their TCO reduction target of 20 per cent a year, our customer also reduced their carbon footprint and took a step towards meeting their sustainability goals.

Beyond a provider: the value of partnership

Successful and large-scale transformations such as these are only possible if businesses are sure they are taking on providers that can understand their bigger picture. Value comes from increased benefits and economies of scale, and this can only come from a consultative approach to transformation.

Updating legacy systems is one thing, but working alongside a company to truly understand their unique goals and provide the most comprehensive service, marks the difference between an IT provider and an IT partner. It’s in these consultative strategies that we find customers additional solutions, such as transferring ownership of their DDIs to us as part of their voice transformation, allowing for better systems control and management.

Find out how we can build a partnership and transform your legacy voice estate for the future - speak to an expert.