3 Ways to Redesign Your Business Communications System

You’ve already done the legwork to assess your current telecommunications infrastructure and identify your business drivers for a new business communications system.  You know that you want to lower costs, grow sales, increase your remote workforce, and raise the level of customer experience you provide.  Now, you’re ready to think about how you will actually design a new business communications system that is right for you.

We’ve simplified this complex decision by identifying the three choices that may work best for you.

3 Ways to Redesign Your Business Communications System

 1.  Rip and replace

Commonly advised by new equipment vendors, this approach tosses your current infrastructure and replaces it entirely with new technologies.

When should you select rip-and-replace?

• Your current system is not functional.
• Your current system is not scalable to recent company growth.

What are the challenges with rip-and-replace?

• Costs are high.
• Lengthy training for end-users is required to ensure adoption

 2.  Continued maintenance

Continued maintenance puts a new solution on hold for the time being.  Continued maintenance is essentially leaving the system as-is, or making very minimal changes, until a trigger event sparks the next step.

When is it best to wait and continue with maintenance only?

• Your current system supports the business’ objectives.
• You’re waiting for budget approval or other trigger event to invest in new business communications.

What are the challenges with continued maintenance?

• Some “nice to have” features may be out of the capabilities of the current system.

 3.  Reengineer with reuse

New components can be added to your current infrastructure when the existing system doesn’t provide functionality needed to achieve business objectives.

When is it ideal to select reengineer with reuse?

• You need to extend the investment lifetime of your current system to achieve ROI.
• Your current system provides a strong foundation that can support part of an infrastructure change.

What are the challenges with reengineer with reuse?

• Complex multi-vendor environments require the experts in multiple technologies.
• Your competition may be making the move to completely new technologies now, while you wait.

In Closing

Whatever decision you’re leaning toward, consider finding a resource to help guide you.  A trusted partner will look for ways to achieve your company’s business objectives by maximizing the value of your previous investment and incorporating new solutions only when it is necessary to achieve your objectives.