SIEMENS HiPATH 4000
HiPath 4000 is an IP convergence platform that allows medium to large-sized enterprises to leverage on all the advantages of IP without sacrificing the customer-orientation, rich features and reliability of traditional platforms. It offers a number of mobility solutions such as hot-desking and wireless working while also providing choice as to how remote sites can be integrated with the host system.
HiPath 4000 allows organisations to adopt a ‘mix and match’ approach to convergence. This means businesses can roll-out new technology to those knowledge workers, who are most likely to experience real benefits, while other users retain existing levels of service. In spite of the underlying technology, users can be assured of a consistent telephony interface, regardless of device and location.
The increased mobility and flexibility of workforces has driven businesses to adopt more flexible working practices. Services like homeworking and hot¬desking have been developed to support these demands. These allow users to obtain network and voice services regardless of their location.
Increased mobility and multiple work locations often lead to a significant increase in support overheads. However, central configuration and central applications in a HiPath 4000 network reduce the need for remote support. It allows portability of licenses between sites, and the deployment of applications, across multiple sites such as central skills¬based routing to create a virtual call centre.
HiPath 4000’s IP Distributed Architecture (IPDA) allows the full integration of remote offices in both campus and satellite environments. A high degree of resilience can be designed into the remote sites, but only where it is needed. Whether it be through the use of hot standby¬cards or survivable gateways, features and applications can be maintained even in fallback or component failure situation. Security of service is paramount. HiPath 4000 delivers current and future services on a secure, hardened¬Unix platform.
Most converged voice solutions are totally reliant on the underlying infrastructure. Siemens HiPath architecture is infrastructure independent and relies only on the availability of industry standard interfaces and protocols. This eliminates the possibility of being locked into one data infrastructure vendor, providing organisations with the freedom to integrate with existing, or invest in best¬of¬breed, equipment.
Improving responsiveness to customers is crucial in many businesses. Being available to answer customer calls can sometimes be the difference between winning new business and not winning it. Improving contactability of staff is key. HiPath 4000 offers a number of solutions for mobile staff from integral cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone (DECT) through wireless (WiFi) to lap¬top clients. All solutions ensure that critical customer communication lines are always open.
Business impact
HiPath 4000 delivers true business value through:
- improved contactability of mobile staff leads to better customer service
- freedom of choice when delivering workpoints to the user community. It ensures the right type of device is provided to the right person for a specific job.
- lower cost of implementation using the HiPath ‘mix and match’ approach
- lower operational costs due to central management. Moves and changes cost 68% less and system administration is reduced by 55%.
- further operational cost reductions with the use of hot¬desking. Routine phone moves are reduced by up to 40%.
- improved communications for homeworkers. The introduction of a homeworker solution can have a dramatic effect upon the business, improving staff retention by up to a 20% and reducing homeworker support costs by £7,000 a year.
- better and more effective use of a distributed workforce can be achieved with the single system image on HiPath 4000 IPDA. A multi¬site network appears as one virtual system.
- much lower mobile phone bills. These can be slashed with the use of integral DECT and WiFi solutions. The cost of returning missed calls can be removed altogether.
Who can benefit?
HiPath 4000 addresses the issues faced by a number of company managers including:
- Financial Director - benefits from cost savings and making a wise investment for the future
- Telecoms Manager - can make life easier for users and ensures a more customer friendly service
- IT Manager - gets to use the latest technology at minimal risk
Conclusion
HiPath 4000 offers business benefits to a range of organisations including large companies with up to 12,000 users, companies with an international presence, those that require a high degree of functionality and companies with distributed workforces. The number of sites is rarely an issue with the solution being deployable on single and multi¬site networks of up to 83 locations.
The solution offers the latest in Voice over IP solutions, workpoints and applications, providing a range of business benefits including reduced telephony and technology costs, as well as increased staff productivity. Moreover, HiPath 4000 spreads the cost of implementation by enabling organisations to roll out the new solution at a pace that suits them, which also mitigates risk.
