Bank on IT

Experts at IPC Technologies remove obstacles to network convergence while maximizing benefits.

There is no denying the appeal of network convergence. Instead of operating separate networks for voice, video and data, migrating all applications and services to Internet protocol creates a single, unified network backbone through which organizations can improve telecommunications with Voice over IP (VoIP), lower overall network and associated management costs, boost employee performance, streamline customer service and increase business flexibility.

The benefits are unquestionable. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, however. “IP convergence isn’t just a simple matter of grafting voice on top of data,” said Ken Banks, President and CEO, IPC Technologies. “While there is a clear business case for convergence, there are numerous challenges that must be addressed. There’s no cookie-cutter approach to success.”

VoIP tends to be the major driver of convergence — most organizations make the move when their PBX-based telecommunications system nears the end of its life cycle. But the reality is that replacing a phone system and moving to a completely new communications model is an immense undertaking. That’s why it is crucial to engage the services of an outside service provider such as IPC Technologies, which has comprehensive voice/data design, implementation and support capabilities.

“We work as an extension of our clients’ staff to assess the current voice and network environment, define organization-wide communication needs and develop a roadmap for migrating to IP telephony,” said Bill Southers, Senior Vice President Engineering for IPC. “We analyze your infrastructure and recommend solutions that don’t require you to rip everything out and start over. Once we’ve settled on the proper solution, our engineers see to it that everything is configured properly and that the network can handle the calls to ensure you get a successful outcome.”

A Smooth Transition

One of the major challenges most organizations face is how to shift to a converged network while still maintaining existing legacy systems. Even when it has become clear that it is time to cap investments in an older communications system, most organizations can’t afford to just junk it. In many cases, the most practical and cost-effective approach is a hybrid environment that integrates IP solutions into existing circuit-switched networks, providing multiple short-term benefits while setting the stage for the eventual move to a fully converged network.

Even with a hybrid system, delivering circuit-switched voice quality across a packet-switched network that is sharing resources with data presents unique challenges. A widespread myth about VoIP is that it is virtually a “plug and play” technology that works right out of the box.

“It’s true that VoIP is a relatively open technology, but there can still be a lot of interoperability issues to resolve and software tweaks to make everything work,” said Southers. “You also have to ensure there is sufficient quality of service to support dynamic, highly sensitive voice traffic.”

The human ear is intolerant of delays, awkward pauses and interruptions. VoIP calls are susceptible to these performance problems due to lost or delayed packets that contain voice data. Gaining connection quality comparable to a plain old telephone call requires quality of service measures. It requires a thorough examination of network and bandwidth resources to guarantee that voice can be delivered with minimal latency, jitter and packet loss. Stress testing the network is necessary to get a clear picture of VoIP success or failure. While it’s natural to evaluate VoIP systems under limited-load, test-bed conditions, testing under actual and projected loads should be conducted before implementing any system.

Convergence experts such as IPC Technologies can use a variety of tools and techniques to simulate traffic and compare performance to various benchmarks. Load testing will determine if the network — as a whole — is capable of handling VoIP calls, faxes and voice mail and directory services in addition to data traffic. Resiliency testing will determine the ability of the network to handle outages — whether individual devices can pick up extra load should another device fail.

The Big Picture

Another persistent myth about VoIP is that organizations will immediately realize huge cost savings. That isn’t always the case. In addition to the initial capital expenditure associated with VoIP hardware, adopters often face network upgrades, interoperability issues and quality of service challenges that increase deployment costs.

That’s not to say that convergence doesn’t create cost-savings over time. It does. But more and more, organizations are looking beyond price as a justification for convergence and VoIP. The real benefit of the technology lies in business-enabling applications that increase productivity and improve customer service.

“This is another reason why organizations should look to convergence experts such as IPC Technologies,” said Banks. “We can show you how to get the most out of your converged network with advanced applications such as unified messaging and integrated customer relationship management solutions. We can configure your network to handle growing video and wireless applications. It is so much more than a new phone system.”

Experts say the question of voice/data convergence is not a matter of “if” but “when.” That’s because it is about more than just saving money on long distance charges or lowering support costs — it’s about applications, collaboration and new ways of doing business. Companies of all sizes should begin evaluating the benefits of VoIP as well as the challenges of integrating voice and data networks.

Because of the complexity involved with IP convergence, outside expertise is often necessary to lay out a clear migration path and implement the best possible solutions with a focus on achieving essential business results. With its solid track record of successful implementations and deep IP experience, IPC Technologies can provide the insight and assistance necessary to ensure a smooth transition with a high likelihood of success.

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