Unified communications (UC) enables multiple communication channels to be fully co-ordinated. Technologies such as voice communication, videoconferencing, email, voice-mail and instant messaging can be integrated into key business applications using unified communications solutions to improve how individuals, groups and companies interact and perform.
Wayne Gratton, Director at Avnet Technology Solutions said, “By its very nature unified communications can appear to be complex, however, it doesn’t need to be and taking the time to understand the technology can pay dividends particularly as this is one of the few areas in IT to see continued growth. Avnet has gathered together the industry’s leading group of vendors to allow Business Partners to enhance their customer’s existing infrastructures and give new life to existing investments through a standards based modular open architecture approach. Our aim is for Business Partners to guide customers through a unified communications roadmap with return on investment (ROI) goals at each step of the way.”
Grant Watson, Sales Manager at nuVIDEO, an audio-visual solutions provider specialising in integrated AV and videoconferencing technologies said, “This event helped nuVIDEO to have a greater understanding of the business opportunities available for unified communications in terms of the products available and how Avnet can help us further. In addition, our sister companies SRS Telecom and Exactive are also working with Avnet to offer UC products and services for example from ShoreTel, Samsung and Audiocodes. We look forward to building on our business partnership.”
Avnet’s vendor partners Audicodes, IBM, Microsoft, Nortel, Samsung, ShoreTel and TANDBERG presented their different approaches and how their offerings fit into Avnet’s standards based modular open architecture for unified communications.
Geoff Taylor, Partner and Alliances Director at TANDBERG said, “Avnet and its Business Partners provide TANDBERG with a shop window for its unified communications offerings. For the last two years we have had a very close and successful working relationship. Avnet provides vision in the market place and we would like to thank them for holding this seminar and giving us the opportunity to meet so many Avnet Business Partners.”
Wayne Gratton explained, “With so many vendors investing in this growth area it can be a challenge for Business Partners to decide how best to advise customers when investing in new UC technology. There are some compelling end-to-end and integrated unified communications strategies, however, most end user companies want to implement a solution that will build on existing hardware equipment and infrastructure. Avnet understands that, therefore we have introduced our standards based modular open architecture to provide a choice to both Business Partners and their customers.”
The Avnet unified communications seminar demonstrated the full breadth and depth of Avnet’s product portfolio. The presentations were educational and illustrated to Business Partners the opportunities presented by collaboration within the unified communications market.
Wayne Gratton concluded, “Unified communications is a great opportunity for Business Partners to add value to their existing customers. Avnet is here to provide the support required in training, pre- and post-sales technical advice, marketing consultancy and lead generation, customised financial services and creating alliances between our Business Partners and vendors to ensure everyone benefits from the growth in demand for fully integrated voice, email, video conferencing and instant messaging. The lid is about to come off unified communications and we are ready for it.”