Unified communications and collaboration just became more practical for midsize enterprises. Avaya has announced Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises, a single-server, unified communications solution for businesses as small as 100 employees and scalable up to 2 400 users and 250 locations.
The new solution reduces complexity, saves money and puts advanced unified communications and contact centres within easy reach.
The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises is one of first in the industry to use standards-based virtualisation technology for real-time communications. Virtualisation - the use of software to allow a single piece of hardware to run multiple applications at the same time - will be the de facto method for Avaya to deploy applications going forward.
Called Avaya Aura System Platform, this unique, real-time virtualisation technology enables unmodified versions of Avaya Communication Manager, Voice Messaging, SIP Enablement Services, Application Enablement Services, Utility Services and Media Services to be deployed on a single server. The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises uses System Platform with standard, commercial servers certified by Avaya to deliver the security, scalability and resiliency which businesses need for their mission-critical communications.
The benefits of the Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises include:
* Up to 75% reduction in hardware, power and cooling and maintenance requirements for a low total cost of ownership and a more environmentally friendly approach.
* Simplified installation and ongoing management with integrated services for administrators, powerful wizards and self-use administration enable the entire solution to be remotely deployed in 1-2 hours.
* High resiliency with built-in remote monitoring, no single point of failure and an optional backup server for redundancy.
“When we launched Avaya Aura in May, it provided a breakthrough solution for large enterprises looking to run their unified communications and contact centre systems more efficiently," said Bridget Kelly, country manager, Avaya South Africa. “With the release of Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises, we provide the same, high-performing functionality to even more businesses.”
Customers can also easily add Avaya Contact Center Express (CCE), a multi-channel contact centre solution for mid-size enterprises to deliver sophisticated customer service capabilities using an array of features including a unified desktop display, advanced multimedia tools and integration to CRM software including Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The CCE common administration tool will soon be enhanced to let companies manage the contact centre-related data and capabilities of Avaya Aura Communication Manager from within CCE.
The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises comes in both Standard and Enterprise Editions. Enterprise Edition includes the Avaya Unified Communications All Inclusive end-user package; companies using Standard Edition can purchase the package for $60 per user. Avaya Unified Communications All Inclusive is a single licence that provides easy access to corporate communications from simple, consistent interfaces whether an employee is mobile, at home or remote offices, a hotel or at work.
The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises will be globally available in November.
Customers find wide range of value in Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprise
Located in London, Beaumont Business Centres provides serviced executive offices for companies that need good professional accommodations on a short- or long-term basis. Its centres accommodate all size businesses, from large established firms to individuals just starting out. Their “sweet spot” of tenants are in the financial, legal and media communities and require the highest standard of communications technology in the configuration that suits the business best. The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises was recommended and delivered by Centrix, an Avaya accredited channel partner.
“The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises ensured that our tenants would have the high reliability and modularity they require to conduct their business successfully, without the need for extensive administration and maintenance,” said Christine Walcher, centre manager, Beaumont Business Centres. “Companies that make use of business centres tend to make more use of technology, so the IP and desktop integration features provide extra value and help us to make the centre even more appealing for prospective tenants. Avaya's advanced messaging and 'follow me' features allow these businesses to stay at the top of their games and grow quickly. Additionally, the Avaya Aura System Platform virtualisation technology means that we don't have to run an entire server farm to meet the different needs of each tenant - we can effectively customise communications services to each company's specific needs. Avaya Aura is helping us maintain our solid reputation as a business centre partner of choice in the UK.”
US Helicopter, a subsidiary of Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company, has approximately 300 employees who perform maintenance and modification on its eight-building campus in Alabama. With a two-person IT staff and customers who include multiple civilian and military agencies, the need for simplicity, security and dependability is critical. Working with Avaya channel partner, Pruitt Communications, US Helicopter installed the Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises Avaya Aura System Platform virtualisation technology.
“We installed the Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises with telephony, messaging and other applications up and running in a matter of hours with the single server - about a tenth of the time it used to take for traditional implementations,” said Bill Hull, IT supervisor, US Helicopter. “The solution is so easy to use and administer, we won't have to add more IT staff to support a new facility we're building on the other side of town. Users love the messaging and phones, plus if they move to a different building to work on a different project, they just take their phone with them and plug in.”
IDC Whitepaper: Virtualising UC: Reaping the Benefits and Understanding the Issues for Real-Time Communications http://bit.ly/15m4TH
Video Overview: Avaya Aura System Platform Technology http://bit.ly/2YrC5e
Podcast: Avaya Aura - Innovation for Midsize Enterprises - http://bit.ly/8uESA
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