Case Study 1:

Client Profile: Architecture and construction consulting firm with 18 nationwide locations.

Initial Opportunity: The client wanted a centralized calling system, 4-digit dialing across all locations and for business reasons, they wanted to centralize all applications for speed, efficiency and improved customer experience. The client’s concern wasn’t driven by their current cost structure, but by the business processes that were being hampered because of the limited network capabilities.

Environment: The existing environment was a mix of Internet T1′s and fractional T1′s with VPN’s to connect their locations. With the size of the files the company deals with (100-200MB), combined with their network design (transmitting all information via VPN over the Internet), their bandwidth was crippled every time a large file was emailed or transferred between offices. In addition, centralizing their applications would help business performance, but would require increased quality of service and traffic shaping due to the type of applications and files. Their existing network simply couldn’t handle such centralization and throughput. Also, dialing between offices was cumbersome, with full 10-digit dialing required. They were unable to implement a 4-digit dialing system on the VPN setup without additional quality of service features.

Discovery and analysis: The initial thought would be an MPLS (MultiProtocol Label Switching) network at every site with centralized Internet at two locations. However, after further reviewing the setup, we opted for an enhanced-port product at each site to access the MPLS network as well as the public Internet at the edge (without the two networks ever touching for security purposes).

Addressing their needs: We opted for a Qwest Enhanced MPLS network across all locations to meet their needs today and prepare for the future.

• Calling requirements such as 4-digit dialing and other advanced features were met with the Qwest Enhanced MPLS network combined with a unified Avaya PBX rollout.
• The Enhanced MPLS network would allow for advanced traffic shaping and differing layers of quality of service (i.e. real-time for phone calls, prioritizing phone calls over data, then data services and finally email and Internet would be last).
• Because of the increased bandwidth provided by the Enhanced MPLS network, the client was able to fully centralize all applications, reducing project times, budgets and improving the core of their business.
• Full redundancy was built into the system so that, in the unlikely event that one component of the network goes down, all communications will fail over to their backup site.

Case Study 2:

Client Profile: Small Business Office

Initial Opportunity: The client had been having reliability issues with their DSL service, so they asked their vendor if they had any recommendations. With 3 network outages lasting more than a day over the last 2 months, they were looking for a more reliable, yet cost-effective solution.

Environment: The client’s existing environment consisted of standard POTS lines for voice and a business-class DSL service for data.

Discovery and analysis: They had heavy outbound call volume split between local and long distance service, but usage statistics fluctuated from month-to-month making budgeting a challenge. They had also been looking into different cloud-based services that would help them drive their business, but had decided not to pursue them because of the lack of network reliability.

Addressing their needs:

• Verizon’s IP Flex VoIP service fit their needs nicely from both a functional and cost perspective.
• With the Verizon IP Flex circuit we were about to replace their DSL and POTS lines with a VoIP Dedicated Internet T1, including a SLA(service level agreement) that they did not get with the DSL service.
• The IP Flex offers unlimited domestic local and LD calling so they were able to avoid bill swings from month to month and better budget for the future.
• The IP Flex offers dynamic allocation of bandwidth so when calls are not being made they have a full T1 for Internet, but as calls are dialed or come in, that traffic is prioritized. The advancements in this technology uses only a fraction of the total bandwidth, giving them added reliability.
• This reliability of the dedicated Internet T1 also allowed them to pursue cloud-based services that will directly impact their business efficiency.

Commissions to the agent (referring partner):

The total monthly cost to the customer was just under $800 on a 3-year term (within 5% of what they had been spending): Verizon pays a large portion of it’s commissions up-front so you would see more of the money sooner!