It’s hard to argue with the fact that Microsoft has been a dominant vendor in unified communications for around a decade. However, most customers use the service for presence and chat solutions, alongside web sharing and desktop-related needs. As popular as Skype for Business can be for desktop UC, it often struggles as a platform for enterprise voice. However, it seems that Microsoft is starting to turn a corner, as Skype for Business Voice becomes more mainstream.
As the market for voice begins to decline, Skype for Business has taken the attention away from many vendors, according to the Synergy Research group. Recent data from Synergy shows the revenue for all major vendors, and the voice market has declined, except for with Microsoft. The chances are that in the future, many Microsoft customers using Skype for Business will begin to focus on using the system for enterprise voice too.
Before you Deploy Skype for Business Solutions
Deploying Skype for Business solutions and Office 365 is a different experience to using voice services from other vendors. While traditional voice systems are typically more turnkey, Microsoft provides call control and some applications, while everything else is purchased from Skype for Business partners.
When deploying voice services used by Skype for Business, the network for pre-deployment is particularly important. Many larger companies with huge deployments have no problems. However, if you’re considering using Skype for Business, you should follow the right steps, including:
- Conducting a network assessment: With any on-premise deployment, it’s crucial for companies to consider the WiFi network and local area network. With Office 365, organisations will need to assess the wide area network and internet connection for traffic going to and from the cloud
- Start with a pilot: Deploying Skype for Business voice isn’t too difficult, but you might need to adjust infrastructure and network. Using a small pilot to begin will allow you to remove any kinks in deployment, and measure benefits. Once the pilot group has successfully migrated, larger groups can be considered
- Use due diligence when selecting partners: Many technology partners work alongside Skype for Business and Office 365, but they’re not all equal. Some partners require custom gateways and software to work alongside Microsoft. Additionally, quality of video and voice can vary from one vendor to the next, making due diligence essential
- Keep your handset: Microsoft often pushes customers to give up deskphones and make calls directly with a headset. However, this isn’t appropriate for all sessions, and deskphones may be more effective for speakerphone calls, allowing workers to make calls when they don’t have a computer. Additionally, most handsets offer better audio quality compared to PCs
- Think about Video: Finally, video is becoming more popular among today’s workers, specifically millennials, who make up 24% of the workforce. Video offers more for collaboration, by allowing workers to read facial queues and body language. Organisations using Skype for Business should at least think about including video in their deployment
