Unified Communications Excellence: Microsoft Teams Unleashed
Ryan Carter
Technology Thought Leader | Trusted Advisor for Technology Leaders | Portfolio of 350+ Cloud Native Solutions and Technology Partners & 14+ Agnostic Solution Experts for Cybersecurity, Network Connectivity, and CX
The need for effective communication tools has become more crucial than ever. Microsoft Teams has emerged as a leading platform that integrates the full breadth of Office 365 to provide a comprehensive unified communications solution.
In this edition, we will delve into how Microsoft Teams enables seamless communication and collaboration in the modern workspace.
What is Unified Communications (UCaaS)?
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is a managed PBX environment in the cloud that provides phone services to end users.?It replaces on-prem PBXs as well as SIP, PRIs, and POTS lines.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is a workstream collaboration tool bundled with Microsoft/Office 365 licensing. Its features include persistent individual/group instant messaging, presence, audio/web/video meetings, file sharing, and (optionally) Cloud PBX to replace or augment an existing phone system.?
Microsoft partners with a large ecosystem of service providers who offer multiple ways to enable PSTN dialing, as alternatives to the basic Calling Plans available directly from Microsoft.?
The Role of Microsoft Teams in Unified Communications
Microsoft Teams is at the forefront of unified communications, offering a centralized platform where users can meet, chat, call, and collaborate all in one place. Leveraging the power of Office 365, Teams combines chat, video, calling, and document collaboration into a unified interface, reducing the need for multiple disparate tools and fostering a more connected digital workplace.
Key Features of Microsoft Teams
How Teams Fosters a Digital Workplace
Choosing the Right Unified Communications and Microsoft Teams Provider
Key requirements to consider…
Key Providers for Microsoft Teams
Top UCaaS Providers for Microsoft Teams and Contact Center
Top Providers with Microsoft Teams and Providing Headsets
Leveraging a Trusted Technology Partner for Provider Selection
A Trusted Technology Partner assists technology leaders with their digital transformation initiatives in the technology and cloud space.
Whether it be migrating legacy platforms to the cloud, or leveraging technology as a service, a Trusted Advisor is your best resource for accomplishing your objectives.
Here are a few ways a Trusted Technology Partner can help you:
1) Provider Portfolio: Leveraging a Trusted Advisor that has a robust provider portfolio over 350+ cloud providers is essential.? This allows them to easily dive into their key differentiators, marketing materials, and direct contacts.
The Provider Portfolio ensures the most up-to-date information and resources are available at your fingertips.
2) Provider Evaluation: Understanding your business goals and easily connecting you with the vendors or solutions that can satisfy your needs sets you apart from your competition.
3) Provider Comparison: Together with customers, Trusted Advisors can employ a Dynamic Matrix to quickly and systematically narrow down vendor options based on specific criteria, simplifying the decision-making process and speeding up opportunity timelines.
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4) Agnostic Engineers: The most important aspect of a Trusted Technology Partner is our engineers. They work with you to design the right solution and find the right provider based on YOUR unique needs and desired outcomes, without dealing with sales reps who are biased.
The engineering team is agnostic and well versed and specialized in next-generation technologies including cloud, data center/colocation, Unified Communications, Cloud Contact Center (CCaaS), Backup & Recovery, network including SDWAN, SASE, and Cybersecurity to enhance security and competitiveness.
Their guidance and expertise can help businesses leverage technology to achieve their goals and stay ahead in today's competitive mark?leverage technology to achieve your goals and stay ahead in today's competitive market.
Microsoft Teams Case Study
The Breakdown
The Details
What were the drivers for the client?
The customer’s aging Avaya infrastructure required them to explore alternative options. In the RFP written by the Trusted Advisor, the customer noted that they needed a solution that integrates with Microsoft Teams and provides lightweight contact center functionality.?
How did the Trusted Advisor help?
The Trusted Advisor led the process from the beginning.?
They researched technologies and managed the process through to the final presentation. The partner leveraged AVANT Communications agnostic Engineers and the online Pathfinder tools to assist in documenting the current state challenges and future state requirements.?
This helped to narrow the list of providers and the Trusted Advisor consulted with AVANT Engineering for the review and scoring, resulting in the customer’s choice of RingCentral.
8x8 Unified Communications and Microsoft Teams Case Study
Client: Manufacturer with 130 locations and 10,000 employees
Client Challenges: Large global workforce requires a global, scalable, seamless communication and collaboration platform. Not to mention over 60 disparate PBX systems. Needed to integrate with existing Microsoft Teams environment.
The Solution: One Single Platform for UCaaS and CCaaS with Microsoft Teams
The company evaluated several leading providers with a focus on three key criteria: a single platform solution with global flexibility and analytics, simplified administration and maintenance, and Microsoft Teams integration capabilities.
The Results: Increased Productivity and Savings
Consolidating 60 different systems onto a single, unified platform has brought significant productivity gains across the company. Users can collaborate seamlessly with colleagues and customers around the world from the same interface. The IT team now has one communications system that anyone on their team can administer.
Infrastructure cost savings have also been significant (over 30%).
They no longer need dedicated telephony staff to administer the disparate systems, nor does it need to buy and maintain servers, phones, cabling, and software.
As the organization grows, nVent can easily add new users and employees can move between locations as needed with just their laptop and mobile phone.
Conclusion
Unified communications in Microsoft Teams is transforming the digital workplace by enabling better collaboration, enhancing productivity, and simplifying the way we work. By leveraging the power of Office 365, Teams is not just a tool for communication—it's a comprehensive platform that supports the diverse needs of modern businesses.
As organizations continue to adapt to the evolving demands of the digital age, Microsoft Teams stands out as an indispensable ally, empowering teams to achieve more together, no matter where they are.
The integration of Microsoft Teams into your business's communication strategy is more than just a step toward digital transformation—it's a leap toward creating a more connected, efficient, and productive workplace.
For more information contact me at [email protected] or complete our Quick Interactive Assessment for a FREE analysis.