Make it happen

The key to delivering against business-user demands while simultaneously pleasing employees lies in identifying and implementing an end-to-end IP communications architecture, one that securely connects users and customers across multiple devices, applications and systems while ensuring enterprise control over the flow of information. To begin implementing this new architecture, enterprises must advance their communications networks toward an all-IP edge.

While we’ve already seen core elements like PBX (private branch exchange) systems and desk phones move to IP, not to mention UC solutions, the access services that link communications systems, mobile devices and customers generally depend on plain old telephone service, otherwise known as POTS, or time-division multiplexing (TDM). By shifting from TDM to IP-based services, enterprises can begin connecting devices, systems and applications from end to end.

The key enabling technologies for the all-IP edge are session initiation protocol (SIP) trunking and an enterprise session border controller (E-SBC). Once the edge is established, businesses can begin to focus on the “user layer,” which is comprised of devices and tools that end users need in order to communicate and that will continue to evolve as telecommunications evolve.

The next area of focus is the communications core. Most of the critical communications services an enterprise relies on today are tightly bound to a PBX system or UC platform, preventing it from centrally managing and easily extending those services to all the devices, applications or systems that need them throughout the organization. With enterprise session management and E-SBC solutions, however, the communications core can abstract and aggregate these vital services: a session manager cures protocol interoperability differences that can make it difficult to condense services, and the E-SBC easily handles media incompatibilities between disparate PBX and UC systems. 

The final layer of the architecture is the application layer, made up of an open API (application programming interface) framework that exposes the services aggregated in the communications core to applications; communications services can be embedded in business applications such as CRM (customer relationship management) or ERP (enterprise resource planning), or leveraged in specialized applications. In addition to the API framework, UC platforms, voicemail and audio conferencing applications are easily accessible by end users across any device, location or network connected to the communications core.

By implementing innovative communications technology in the workplace, enterprises can deliver against the changing needs of their employees and customers, allowing them to operate an efficient, secure and reliable business.