What is a single image system?

A single image system is the conversion of multiple remote communication systems into a single platform. This is accomplished by utilizing VoIP technology to run voice traffic over the existing WAN infastructure.

Some of the advantages of a single image system:

• Centralized Licensing..…One pool of licenses supports all sites, as you move people to/from sites you do not need to be concerned with the number of licenses at any one site - or over buy licenses at a site.  ( lower TCO)

• Lower Maintenance cost …..lower Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO). By centralizing all the core applications and servers, and using survivable processing remotely, we reduce the hardware/software requirements and support costs at the remote sites.

• Cost Effective Upgrades/software support…..  System updates and patches can be applied at the core site, and have less impact on availability and after hours upgrades as opposed to multiple events and associated down time.

• Lower Upgrade costs….. by centralizing the software licenses, a single upgrade cost covers all sites vs. buying upgrades multiple times.

• Complete Business Continuity / DR support…..  (unique to Avaya) each survivable processor (LSP or ESS) has a full copy of the translations for all sites.  In the event of an outage or disaster, employees can move to any remote site and log in an IP set (or softphone) and make and receive their calls; all you need to do is redirect inbound calls from your provider....automatic DR!

• Lower Admin time/costs and record keeping…...  As people move from site to site no change is required on a single image switch, they just log in and are up and running, with multiple switches. If a person logs in at a remote site to their home site, it will often use resources (e.g. bandwidth) from their home site to make calls vs. using local resources and preserving bandwidth. Additionally, you do not need to keep track of moves/changes between sites. and if a person moves to another site, it requires two admin events vs. none on the single image system.

• Simplified Application deployment….. It is lower cost and more rapid to deploy  applications only at the core site vs. duplicated at each remote site (e.g. call logging).

• Feature Transparency across the enterprise….…by centralizing applications and distributing them across the network, now even the most sophisticated applications and productivity tools are available to even your smallest remote locations. 

• Diluting the cost of applications across your enterprise….…having the ability to roll out applications companywide to all employees (versus limited rollout to specific locations due to cost concerns) may help cost justify needed tools that would otherwise be cost prohibitive.   

• Reduced Trunking Costs.....centralizing and sharing trunking at the main site may help reduce trunking costs at your remote sites.  You may be able eliminate T1’s at your remotes by redirecting inbound/outbound thru the main site.  These would be hard dollar savings. 

• Call Center Efficiencies….. centralizing call center software and administration allows reduced ownership costs, as well as allowing agents to log into any skill/queue from any site and eliminating many of the requirements for Look Ahead and Pre-Route/Re-Route services and software. 

What is VoIP?

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a protocol optimized for transmission of voice through the Internet or other packet switched networks. VoIP is often used abstractly to refer to the actual transmission of voice (rather than the protocol implementing it). VoIP is also known as IP Telephony, Internet telephony, Broadband telephony, Broadband Phone and Voice over Broadband

What are the benefits of VoIP?

Lower Costs - as you're utilizing existing data networks

Simplify Infrastructure - one data cabling network

Scalable - simply extend the existing data network as your needs grow

Reduce Operating Costs - manage one system instead of multiple systems

Enhance Customer Service - "Click to Talk" web services and easy role out of applications like call centers

Flexibility - Remote or home workers can work as if in the office