Since it first entered the comms market with the launch of Live Communications Server 2005, Microsoft UC solutions have grown rapidly in popularity amongst enterprise customers. The launch of Skype for Business in 2015 confirmed this trend, with adoption of Microsoft’s first comprehensive all-in-one comms solution soaring ever since.
This has created a wealth of opportunities for the channel. For existing Microsoft partners, the availability of a complete end-to-end UC platform adds another string to their bow. For telecoms resellers and tech specialists, it offers the chance to work with one of the world’s true technology giants, leveraging the strength of the Microsoft brand for their own business.
But how easy is it to plan, build and optimise Skype for Business deployments that meet the demands of the modern enterprise? What support is there for Microsoft business solutions partners to make the leap into unified communications, and how can established channel operators be sure of adding value using the Microsoft UC architecture?
Nuvias UC sets out to provide the channel with all the professional consultancy, engineering and product support needed to deliver world-class Skype for Business deployments to enterprise clients. Formerly SIPHON Networks, the company was founded in 2009, specialising in helping cloud telephony service providers build integrated systems from multiple products and services.
After buying out UK distributor VCOMM in 2012, SIPHON extended its portfolio to include a range of professional services and products specifically for Microsoft Lync / Skype for Business. It earned Gold Communications accreditation as a Microsoft Partner, before being taken over by global tech distribution conglomerate Nuvias and rebranded Nuvias UC.
Operating across Europe, Nuvias UC states its goal is to provide high-value consultancy and technical services alongside product and software delivery to UC service providers and tech resellers. Through a combination of sourcing world-class products from the biggest vendors, and its own range of bespoke consultancy and service packages, it aims to help channel partners increase revenues, improve efficiencies, and reduce costs.
Skype for Business is a key strategic market for Nuvias UC. In this review, will give a top level overview of exactly what those products and services entail.
What can it do?
Nuvias UC solutions for Skype for Business fall into four categories – pre-deployment consultancy, deployment engineering, support services and product sourcing. The central aim across all is to assist channel partners in achieving rapid, sustained adoption of Microsoft UC products in large-scale deployments.
All services are offered as white label, allowing resellers and service providers to benefit from Nuvias UC’s accredited expertise under their own brand.
Pre-deployment consultancy services for Skype for Business
Nuvias UC consultancy services focus on organizational readiness, change management and planning to optimise user experience ahead of a Skype for Business roll out. Nuvias UC specialists deliver assessment, planning, scoping, feasibility and network auditing on behalf of resellers and service providers.
Nuvias UC Discovery is a specialised assessment and planning service designed for Microsoft UC, and covers envisioning how Skype for Business fits in with wider business objectives, scoping the deployment, and drawing up different deployment options which fit the wider goals.
Nuvias UC POC On Demand is a dedicated proof of concept service aimed at channel partners. It provides a cloud-hosted Skype for Business platform which can be accessed by resellers to offer trials to clients.
Deployment engineering for Skype for Business
Nuvias UC specialises in service and network design, installation, commissioning and project management for Skype for Business deployments at enterprise scale. This covers on-premises, cloud and hybrid deployments, as well as installation of telephone, video and enterprise devices.
For hybrid deployments, Nuvias UC engineers are fully qualified in setting up Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition VMs which connect existing on-premises PSTN telephone systems with the Office 365 Cloud PBX. Alternatively, Skype for Business server edition can also be paired with Cloud PBX, to give PSTN access via Enterprise Voice with call control in the cloud.
Phone and video installation services are targeted at ITSPs and include full staging and testing by Nuvias UC engineers of desk phones, conference phones and video conferencing meeting room equipment connected to Skype for Business. Enterprise device installation includes Session Border Controllers (SBCs) and enhanced gateways.
Support services for Skype for Business
Nuvias UC provides a wide range of white label support services for Microsoft resellers, from product replacement and maintenance to system diagnostics and on-site engineering aftercare.
The Nuvias UC Health Check Service has been specifically designed for Lync and Skype for Business 2015 server editions to identify inefficiencies and optimise configuration.
Nuvias UC provides product or component replacement with next-day or four-hour SLAs in the UK, and on-site installation and maintenance support for all hardware sourced through it. In addition to this, Nuvias UC Assure provides overlay engineering support to ITSPs for all Tier 1 and Tier 2 technical work.
These support services link with pre-deployment and deployment operations through Nuvias UC Dovetail, an innovative device lifecycle management solution. Channel partners who source hardware through Nuvias UC and sign up to Dovetail benefit from pre-installation scoping and automated device configuration. Once installed, Dovetail will provide diagnostic logging and quality information throughout the device’s lifespan.
Skype for Business products
Nuvias UC partners with some of the biggest UC hardware vendors to offer a comprehensive range of devices compatible with Skype for Business to the channel. These include the likes of Polycom, Plantronics, Yealink, Lifesize, AudioCodes, Sonus and Oracle, with product ranges covering audio and video endpoints, headsets and peripherals, SBCs, enhanced gateways, network load balancers and more.
UC Today Opinion
In the UC industry we tend to focus on how everything benefits the end user. But the importance of high-quality services aimed at the channel cannot be underestimated, not least for the knock-on advantages these have for customers further down the line.
SIPHON was a highly regarded UC distributor and cloud services specialist in its own right, and Nuvias UC continues that legacy. Its Skype for Business services and solutions play a critical role in helping the channel maximise the potential of Microsoft UC, especially in bringing it to the enterprise market.
Combining impressive buying power with all the world’s biggest vendors with certified expertise made available as white label services, Nuvias UC represents a one-stop shop for all resellers and service providers looking to boost their Skype for Business offer with the best products, deployment and aftercare available.
