Contact Center Solutions Featured Article

October 14, 2008

Aspect Intros New Professional Services Practice for UC Planning and Implementation

By Susan J. Campbell

Aspect, a Unified Communications (News - Alert) (UC)  and contact center software and services provider, has announced the launch of a new professional services and systems integration practice. This program is designed to assist organizations with the planning, implementation and support of Unified Communications products across their enterprises and into their contact centers.

This new practice within Aspect (News - Alert) Professional Services is in place to support the Aspect strategy to provide services and software that turn the potential of unified communications into real business results.
 
Earlier this year, Aspect and Microsoft (News - Alert) announced a strategic alliance. To support this new alliance, the UC services practice will assist organizations in deploying Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) and other Microsoft UC applications from planning through implementation. 

"With UC continuously evolving, Aspect keenly understands that both IT and business leaders have questions around how and when to deploy it across the enterprise to reap the greatest results," said Kevin Schwartz, executive vice president of Aspect Global Professional Services, in a Tuesday statement.
 
"Our new services practice is designed to help companies create and execute a logical UC rollout strategy, from basic infrastructure through business process enablement, which will improve enterprise productivity and enhance customer-facing business processes,” added Schwartz.

The capabilities that will be delivered by a team of Aspect Professional Services experts trained and certified by Microsoft will include UC Strategy, Planning and Architecture to address the right UC opportunities and avoid pitfalls; and implementation and integration services to help ensure successful implementation of UC technologies and applications, including custom application development and integration for complete solutions.

"Customers globally are embracing software-powered communications as a means to extend the life of existing infrastructure, improve productivity and reduce costs," said Roger Murff, director of unified communications partner marketing at Microsoft, in the Tuesday statement.
 
"Today's announcement from Aspect validates the strong customer interest we are seeing and will enable more customers to take advantage of the benefits of unified communications,” Murff added.

For this strategy, Aspect will be relying on many of the capabilities of the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2. This newest Microsoft release includes the voice features that support remote and mobile workers, full-featured audio conferencing capabilities and comprehensive developer tools to improve implementation and integration with other applications.
 
"Our alliance with Microsoft, coupled with our 35 years of successfully deploying mission-critical voice applications, makes Aspect unique in its ability to provide OCS implementation and integration services across the enterprise," added Schwartz. "We are anxious to show our customers and prospects how UC can improve their operations and how, in doing so, can allow IT to become an even more strategic asset to the business."

Aspect is in a prime position to not only extend the value of its own unified communications and contact center solutions, but to promote the strategic integration with Microsoft solutions in order to drive adoption throughout the global market.
 
The company has done well to recognize that its client companies can benefit from UC implementations, but they do not always know where to start. By launching a Professional Services Practice, Aspect can provide that added value to its already robust offerings to help build loyalty and extend the base for sustainable growth.
 
Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is Fixed Service Strategies for Mobile Network Operators, brought to you by Comverse (News - Alert).

Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Michelle Robart


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