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The transformation and efficiency benefits on offer to organisations are well rehearsed and clearly argued by every unified communications (UC) vendor. What may be overlooked is an explanation of the network challenges that accompany the decision to unify wide swathes of infrastructure.

Connected communications can certainly improve staff productivity and collaboration as well as improve financial performance. However, the network must be carefully managed to control costs and to make sure that bandwidth heavy applications do not create a performance bottleneck.

Separating applications using clear profiling is step one. Every application, whether mission critical, back office, communicative or cloud-based, needs to have availability, latency and a return on investment profile. This classification helps management by assigning classes of service and highlighting where problems may arise. Prevention is far more effective than firefighting.

Specialist considerations are also important. For example, organisations that rely on visual communication (media for instance) a smooth-running, tuned network is absolutely critical and delivery of high performance global communications needs to be flawless. Yes reduce jitter, lag and latency - but not at the expense of other critical applications.

THE BIG PICTURE
In every case, real-time management is the most valuable tool for a smooth UC experience, especially for global organisations. A detailed overview is critical in ensuring that applications deliver their expected benefits. Enterprise-wide visibility provides actionable feedback and insight otherwise not available.

The larger the global scale, the greater the potential for difficulties. A single unwieldy application is amplified by the numbers of sites under a manager's control. Without full network understanding, complication-causing applications can remain a mystery and wreak network havoc.

This can often occur when enterprises embrace an approach that allows every UC application into their IT strategy. Another example is when departments exercise an unexpected influence over IT strategy: their choice of applications can be problematic. Without fully considering the real business requirement and the possible network strain, IT professionals can find themselves accountable for the negatives that may arise and involved in a losing game.

Adequate evaluation and testing is vital. Objectively challenging the request from the sales team for that new cloud application and why the accounts team is making implementation decisions without fully consulting IT is good for business.

The network manager must ensure the satisfaction of each department, but specialist IT knowledge must combine with the business requirement to avoid exposing an enterprise to risk.

BUILDING THE FUTURE
This is a constant balancing act. If clarity and long-term value considerations can come together, network sustainability can be achieved. For example, bandwidth flexing and automated scheduling will help to improve cost-effectiveness and performance. Multiple QoS levels can protect core services from visual and audio communications and avoid a fragmented approach.

Managed services are another option and consolidating UC platforms with a single cloud telecoms provider could be a viable choice. If well executed this can simplify budget management, reduce support queries, strengthen network performance and liberate management time to focus on important business objectives.

Irrespective of the network management platforms deployed, collaborative communications need to be bespoke and attempting to replicate strategies learned from other companies is unwise. It is possible to take trending successes and implement them, but realistically the network is business specific.

If organisations are to fully benefit from IP based UC, it must be built with an organisation's objectives, applications and budget in mind. Without this the business will be vulnerable to security risks, performance spikes, downtime, disruption and a compromised return on investment. By planning for every consideration, if necessary with the help of a specialist network consultant, and carefully implementing the solution, the process of ongoing management will be well founded and fully in tune with the business. NC