The global Unified Communication market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 14 percent by 2019, largely driven by the need for affordable enterprise communication solutions. Infrastructure costs are surging due to the increased employee base, compelling enterprises to seek a solution for unified communication and collaboration to reduce their operational costs and improve customer experiences. However, one of the major challenges that the market faces today is the requirement of some solutions for a high initial investment for the deployment and installation of a full-fledged UC system. Although cloud computing is emerging as one of the efficient delivery models for UC solutions, there are still concerns for security, compliance, and integration of legacy systems with cloud applications.
Germany based Unify Inc., with widespread global offices, addresses these issues and synchronizes the communication and collaboration functions to enhance business performance of enterprises. Its solutions unify multiple networks, devices and applications into one easy-to-use platform that allows teams to engage in rich and meaningful conversations. Born out of the engineering DNA of Siemens, Unify - a joint venture of the Gores Group and Siemens AG - builds on this heritage of product reliability, innovation, open standards and security to provide integrated communications solutions for approximately 75 percent of the Fortune Global 500 across 90 countries. Having pioneered the concept of an open UC platform, Unify offers applications that can integrate seamlessly with existing applications of an enterprise to create a broader and more unified solution.
“We are going through a transformation from the previous hardware solutions to software solutions. It is a monumental change from hardware to software for communications and collaboration solutions in the web place. This is the new wave of collaboration solutions,” says Stephan Neumeier, SVP Channels Asia Pacific, Unify Inc. With a history of deploying proven UC solutions for a wide range of capabilities spanning voice, mobility, audio conferencing, messaging, video and web collaboration under the brand name of OpenScape, the latest addition to the company’s portfolio of solutions is Circuit, a cloud based collaboration solution. It is an enterprise WebRTC-based team communication and collaboration cloud service provided by Unify.

A Single-Pane-of-Glass Solution
Circuit brings voice, video, screen sharing, messaging and file sharing into a single view. It provides instantaneous access to files and information shared within conversations over time and gives the freedom to work in a secure and reliable meeting space that moves with you wherever you go. “We call it a ‘single-pane-of-glass solution’ that is capable of improving the productivity of workforce multifold. In a day, a person uses several applications to do his/her work. What we want to achieve from creating this solution is to make it possible to work on one solution and complete a majority of daily tasks,” adds Stephan.
Unify is the only vendor in the market with rich functionality and a ready-to-sell solution leveraging WebRTC – Circuit. The solution uses WebRTC to provide a quality HD video, screen sharing and voice experience from the browser, converting any device with a web browser into a sophisticated communications device. The collaboration application allows any mobile worker with an internet connection with a Chrome browser to access the complete Circuit experience. With Circuit, a single click leads to secure voice, video and web conferences without annoying links or PINs. In addition, it is also possible to readily establish communication with non-Circuit users.
To take care of the confidentiality, integrity and availability of users’ data, Unify has deployed a security management framework as per ISO27001, making all the conversations with other Circuit users encrypted and secure. Multiple layers of security protect access to Circuit. This includes firewalls, complemented by built-in security to the Circuit application which protects information and restricts access to intruders.

Affordability of Unified Communication
Adopting new technology like a unified communication and collaboration solution has always been a daunting task, especially for small and medium enterprises. “When a new technology is introduced, employees are hesitant to get out of their comfort zone and switch from the existing application to a new solution. So, we are focused on integrating our solution with our customers’ processes,” shares Stephan. Implementation of Circuit helps in reducing costs. Companies that had huge operational costs previously reported a strong reduction in costs from using Unify solutions, including reduced call costs, the cost for third party maintenance and other operational costs.
In many cases, small and medium businesses either do not have the resources to manage complex solutions or the budget. Unify has built single, affordable and manageable solutions to provide them full cutting edge UC functionalities. These IP and hybrid communication solutions - OpenScape Business and OpenScape Office deliver voice and conference services, voice mail, messaging, mobility, multi-media contact center and presence functionality, all in an easy-to-use and flexible system.
“Smaller companies always look for a solution which can integrate with their existing applications and processes. We integrate our solutions with their existing systems so they can use their current solutions and maximize their investments. With our software applications, which offer all UC functionalities for mobile devices, it becomes a huge cost saving factor for smaller businesses,” explains Stephan.
Stephan believes that in order to be competitive today, one must have solutions across all verticals. Unify therefore studies the footprint of its partners from various verticals and provides solutions accordingly. “We are looking at all verticals but there are a few specific ones that we are looking closely at. Healthcare is one of them and we have some innovative solutions which are designed specifically for hospitals. We have been selling our solutions actively in Australia and now we are expanding their reach to Asia Pacific market,” envisions Stephan.
Unify is committed to transform itself globally into a more engaged channel centric company. “It is crucial and necessary that we build a proper channel landscape. We need to engage partners and train them in order to sell our solutions. We are transforming the company from a mainly direct selling organization to an indirect selling organization. Owing to our commitment in the channel, we are signing leading partners and distributers to invest in their channel and with the success of Circuit they see we are going in the right direction,” concludes Stephan.

Panel: Diminishing Cost and Operational Complexities
In 2008, Pall Corporation, a global leader in fluid and gas filtration products, saw an opportunity to improve efficiency and capture savings by streamlining its intercontinental communications infrastructure. The company had been grappling with rising costs and operational complexities associated with the infrastructure, which provides voice, messaging and collaboration services to its thousands of employees worldwide. At the core of the challenge was the system’s outmoded technology and fragmented design, with each location separately managing and maintaining its own phone system and related services. The original architecture included a multi-vendor mix of voice, messaging, and collaboration services that relied on older-generation PBX technology and lacked useful features such as one-number call routing, voice messages to email, and interoperability with mobile phone services.
After a thorough review of the latest communications technologies, Pall Corporation decided to migrate its mix of PBX systems to a single, globally standardized SIP-based unified communications platform from Unify. The initiative consolidated more than 75 offices on a global wide area network (WAN), deployed more than 8,000 new IP phones, and implemented new communications applications, including OpenScape Voice, OpenScape UC Application and OpenScape Xpressions. This brought Pall on track to realize net benefits totaling $5.5M over five years from its investment in OpenScape Voice and UC. The savings which average 32 percent across the board including telephony costs encompass significant reductions in phone toll charges, staffing costs, and third-party maintenance fees.