NEC broke new ground when it first started back in 1899 as Japan’s first joint venture with western business. Over a hundred years later, with the rapid industrialization of East Asia long since complete, NEC has evolved into a telephony provider offering international UC solutions.
In bygone years, NEC’s on-premises systems like the UNIVERGE SV9000 series were the best NEC had to offer. As the world moves more digital, NEC’s made the bold decision to shutter its on-premises systems outside of Japan, replacing them with the cloud-based UCaaS platform UNVIERGE BLUE.
UNIVERGE BLUE opens up a range of new possibilities for NEC’s users, but there are still options available for those looking to keep their legacy NEC systems working.
A company like NEC doesn’t stick around for more than a hundred years without making some changes. While its on-premises phone systems have been indispensable for many customers, particularly enterprises, the rise in prominence of cloud-based solutions can’t go unaddressed.
It’s common knowledge now that a cloud-based solution is better in terms of flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Organizations all over the world are looking to replace their legacy communication systems with UCaaS and CCaaS to achieve greater success. NEC is just one of many companies looking to capitalize on this change.
For current users of systems like the NEC SL2100 and SV9100, a big change is coming. December 31, 2024, marks the end of new deliveries, while March 31, 2026, is the end of technical support date for these devices. Companies still relying on them must decide to either go to the cloud now or find a new way to keep their legacy NEC environment running.
For many organizations, the most attractive option going forward will be a full-scale cloud migration. Of course, this won’t be as easy as flipping a switch. The change will involve a massive data migration, integration with systems such as CRM applications and electronic databases, and a comprehensive user adoption program.
It’s all worth it in the end. Cloud solutions are the best way an organization can stay on top of the rapid changes in the world of communications, and there are many options available. NEC, of course, has its own cloud solution, UNIVERGE BLUE, which is a very solid option for enterprises currently using NEC systems.
Alternatively, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, and Zoom are solutions relied on by organizations across the country. Each one provides the benefits of a complex communication system in either a cloud or hybrid environment, with lower costs and much greater flexibility.
Some organizations, especially larger ones with more complex environments, may still not be ready for a full-scale migration just yet. Luckily for them, there’s a way to extend the life of a legacy NEC system to make the transition as seamless as possible.
Several deadlines for NEC’s on-premises systems are fast approaching, but that doesn’t mean their lives are over.
This is a situation almost all legacy telephony users find themselves in. When the system’s provider won’t support it, there are others who will. Third party maintenance from companies like Continuant includes all the services needed to keep a legacy system running even well past end of technical support.
Continuant, for one, offers industry-leading service-level agreements and high access to spare parts. This type of maintenance provides similar or better call quality at a much more affordable price in the short term. Meanwhile, it protects your organization’s investment long-term and can make a future cloud migration much easier.
A great example of this can be found in our contract with our friends at Valero.
Valero is a Fortune 100 energy company located in the heart of Texas that had to get its legacy environment sorted out. While its systems came from Avaya and not NEC, the situation is the same either way. Continuant helped Valero extend the life of its systems, dramatically reducing maintenance costs and giving the company a much easier time migrating to a new UC solution.
Whether it’s Avaya or NEC, we’re ready and willing to support any legacy systems your organization still relies on. Connect with us today to get started.