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: can identify high-priority voice messages without having to listen to every message like in a traditional voice-mail.

Presence is one of the key advantages Beekay has reaped, which shows the current status of employee availability—if they are on calls, in a meeting, or on travel assignments, and connection through the click of a mouse—using instant messaging, phone or video conference. This saves time as well as cost on trying to reach people who are not readily present.

The implementation of Office Communications Server 2007 took place in the company’s New Delhi office, which connects to all branches, and this was done in three calendar months, including the telephony and exchange integration.

Gupta asserts, “With the use of IM, unified messaging, IP telephony, presence functionality of OCS, we have seen considerable reduction in communication and travel costs, especially between Delhi and Kolkata offices. We have been able to reduce travel and communication costs by 10%-15%. We further expect this to come down by 40%-50%.”

He adds, “For us, the benefits also go beyond better collaboration because we had experience with Linux-based messaging solution (and we had considered Linux based-solution before opting for OCS), but still we chose to go for Microsoft simply because it gives us support and the infrastructure is more manageable. That saves us more cost, time, and efforts.”

A look at the significant benefits in depth:

Simplified administration: Microsoft Unified Communications technologies use the Active Directory service in Windows Server to combine names, private branch exchange (PBX) extensions, email IDs and logons, with a single corporate directory. All this leads to lesser administrative problems and a more controlled IT environment.

Reduced costs: Reducing the traveling time for employees between different office locations and also the high cost associated with it was one of the main aims of Beekay. The company achieved this target by furnishing employees with video-conferencing and file-sharing capabilities, shared desktops and VoIP communication. This has given them a significant saving on finance.

Improved information sharing: The Exchange Server 2007 has made for easier and more flexible ways of communications and also access to voice-mail, email and faxes.

Real-time access to people and information through presence awareness and instant messaging has galvanised the process of searching, finding, collaborating and communicating with local and remote users.