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It@Intel: The Business Case For Enterprise Voip
It@Intel: The Business Case For Enterprise Voip
February 2006
IT@Intel
White Paper The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP
Executive Summary
Intel IT collaborated with one of the company’s business units to conduct a pilot
deployment of an open standards, session initiation protocol (SIP)-based voice
over Internet protocol (VoIP) solution at one of its medium-size corporate sites in
Parsippany, New Jersey. More than 50 Intel employees migrated from their existing
digital phones to a combination of VoIP softphones and desk phones to service
their telephony and voice messaging needs. Over a six-month period, the pilot
captured data on technology integration, cost savings, and user productivity.
Participants using We used several Intel building blocks and technologies in the pilot, including Intel
the new VoIP solution NetStructure® Host Media Processing Software, Intel NetStructure® PBX-IP Media
performed tasks faster Gateways, Intel® Xeon® processor-based servers, and lntel® Centrino® mobile
and more efficiently technology-based laptops.
than with the The VoIP pilot demonstrated interoperability between endpoints and tight integration
traditional phone with the production backend messaging system. We also tested an infrastructure
system. migration path during the move from the existing circuit-based telephony system
to an open architecture, packet-based implementation.
The pilot was a success, both in terms of the technology and productivity. Participants
using the new VoIP solution performed tasks faster and more efficiently than with the
traditional phone system. Benefits of an open standards-based VoIP solution include:
• Measurable, real-world user productivity benefits
The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP White Paper
Contents
Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................................. 2
Business Challenge................................................................................................................................................... 4
Industry Landscape................................................................................................................................................ 4
User Benefits.. ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Developing a Pilot..................................................................................................................................................... 5
Converged Communications Devices............................................................................................................. 5
Open Standards Benefits.................................................................................................................................... 5
Phased Migration..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Cost Savings and Productivity.......................................................................................................................... 6
Study Methodology.................................................................................................................................................. 7
User Profile.. ............................................................................................................................................................... 7
Procedure.................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Voice Endpoints ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Data Analysis............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Financial Analysis...................................................................................................................................................... 9
Hard Cost Savings................................................................................................................................................... 9
Productivity Gains.. .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Authors ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Acronyms.. .................................................................................................................................................................... 11
White Paper The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP
Business Challenge
Like many enterprises, Intel considered deploying VoIP to service our telephony
needs. While we conducted many successful lab trials, VoIP business models based
on hard costs alone consistently came up short. Over the course of many years, we
highly optimized our existing voice infrastructure for cost. A combination of factors
(including low cost-per-minute, a self-maintained bridging system, high compression
over a voice over frame relay network, and fully depreciated hardware) made moving
to a VoIP solution a financial challenge.
The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP White Paper
• Measuring the cost savings and productivity impact of using VoIP, 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Use of individual devices depended upon the user group and usage
model. The pilot presented an opportunity to understand how to
maximize the benefits of particular devices based on user needs.
It also allowed us to evaluate the planning and infrastructure Intel NetStructure® PBX-IP Media Gateway
requirements necessary to support each converged communications
device within the solution. Intel NetStructure® PBX-IP Media Gateway is an open-
standards-based, purpose-built device that provides a
Open Standards Benefits cost-effective bridge between legacy telecom equipment
and a managed packet network. It works by converting signals
The migration from circuit-based voice to packet-based voice is an
from existing digital telecom equipment to SIP, an industry-
inflection point in the industry. Rather than deploy a single vendor
standard IP protocol. Using the Intel NetStructure® PBX-IP
solution, we chose to define a new voice architecture based on
Media Gateway allows enterprises to keep their existing
open standards. SIP, in particular, enabled us to design a modular
installed base of desk phones. These appliance gateways
voice architecture using off-the-shelf components. We validated
allow the new IP PBX to communicate with legacy, circuit-
that this architecture was robust enough to operate in a production
based desk phones, granting users the ability to manage
enterprise. The promise of multi-vendor compatibility and low-cost,
voice remotely from their personal computers.
swappable units was an appealing proposal. At the same time, tight
integration with the messaging back-end was essential.
White Paper The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP
The pilot utilized many components employing cost benefits of deploying VoIP. Hard costs included
Intel building blocks that were SIP-compliant: hardware, software, head count, and expenses.
We identified soft cost savings by comparing
• Intel® Centrino® mobile technology-based laptops
common tasks performed using the existing digital
• Intel NetStructure® PBX-IP Media Gateways telephony system to the VoIP solution.
• Intel NetStructure® Host Media Processing We then calculated a five-year ROI for an enterprise
Software site consisting of 650 users using the hard and
• Intel® Xeon® processor-based servers soft cost data.
Converged
Communications Devices Data Center Rack
Wi-Fi* SIP
Production LAN
Mobile Handsets Switch
Router
VoIP Desk Phones
Microsoft Live
Communication Server*
Microsoft SQL Server* TDM PBX
Microsoft Exchange*
VoIP Softphones Microsoft Active Directory*
Authentication Server
IP Internet protocol
PBX private branch exchange
IP PBX Media Server with
Digital Telephones SIP session initiation protocol
Intel NetStructure® Host SQL Structured Query Language
Intel NetStructure® Media Processing Software TDM time-division multiplexing
PBX-IP Media Gateway Wi-Fi* wireless fidelity
The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP White Paper
was prioritized and converged onto the standard production local Table 1. Features
area network (LAN) with the data traffic. Voice trunks remained
Traditional Features VoIP-enabled Features
connected to the public telephone network through a traditional
Hold Fax
PBX, which acted as a gateway to the carrier. This approach Transfer Follow me
allowed us to conduct the pilot with minimal disruption to the Mute Unified messaging
existing telecom and network infrastructure. We did not require Conference Remote call management
Redial Inbox voicemail
expensive upgrades to existing PBX software or hardware and Forward Automated attendant
we did not need to replace users’ existing phones. Presence information
Directory access
VoIP endpoints ultimately connected to the LAN. Existing Click to call
Click to conference
digital desk phones connected to the LAN through the Intel
Screen pop
NetStructure® PBX-IP Media Gateways. We implemented Wi-Fi
handsets on our wireless network and will fully test them at a
later date.
The pilot provided the traditional telephony feature sets in Figure 3. Pilot participants by job function
addition to new features made possible by VoIP and a SIP-
3% Information Technology
based IP PBX with Intel NetStructure® Host Media Processing
Software, as shown in Table 1. 19% Front-Line/Middle Manager
Study Methodology
More than fifty people representing various user groups and job
functions participated in the VoIP pilot over a six-month period. 25% Marketing
13% Business Development
In order to measure productivity, a human factors engineer (HFE)
6% Senior Manager
conducted timed studies of participants in a lab that duplicated
an office environment. Testing occurred using the different types
of VoIP endpoints listed earlier. With user profile information, we
calculated productivity savings using VoIP and then compared this
with the legacy voice solution. Savings were then extrapolated
over a 650 user site. Figure 4. Pilot participants by segmentation
20% Cube Captains
User Profile 13% Functionalists
We conducted the pilot at an Intel facility in Parsippany, New 54% Global Collaborators
Jersey. As shown in Figure 3, the study included participants
from front-line, middle, and senior management, engineering,
marketing, operations, IT, and business development.
White Paper The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP
• Functionalists. Workers who are frustrated tasks in order to minimize the effect of task
with and have a low reliance on office sequence on the results.
technology in general
To allow for the fact that all users had many
• Global Collaborators. Geographically more years of experience with a standard
dispersed team workers and travelers who are telephone than with a VoIP system, productivity
heavy users of asynchronous and synchronous times included only those actions that led to
collaboration tools successful task completion. We captured data
• Tech Individualists. The most technically on incorrect user actions on tasks to provide
savvy group, often seen as technology opinion usability design recommendations and to
leaders improve help files and training materials.
The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP White Paper
Productivity results were captured across all to a new location and plug them in. Moves and
phones and features. changes are all handled in software, and in some
cases a telephony technician is not involved in the
Data Analysis process at all.
White Paper The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP
pre-existing cable runs. Cost savings can occur because of recent competition in the marketplace
on contractor costs and on the materials needed that has already lowered cost per minute.
to wire a separate voice network such as wire,
Calling card savings will also be significant. For
phone jacks, outlets, spare parts, and crash kits.
example, Nomads can reduce charges by using
We conducted our VoIP pilot at an existing wired
a softphone from a hotel, airport, or public Wi-Fi
site, therefore we did not itemize these costs in
hotspot. They can also attend lengthy meetings
the financial analysis.
on an audio bridge while on the road. This usage
Monthly Usage Costs model provides inherent cost savings from remote
We expect to reduce the costs of local and IP calling. Home office workers have a similar
international calling by moving to VoIP. work profile.
International call savings will be significant,
especially if calls from the site are not routed over Productivity Gains
a private voice network or heavily compressed. The human factors engineering study of
Long distance savings will probably be negligible specific voice tasks documented significant user
Figure 5. VoIP task performance vs. traditional voice solution per employee
VoIP vs TDM (%)
3200%
3000
VoIP Task (% Faster than TDM)
2800
2600
600%
400
200
0
Place call Forward Camp Record Access Set-up Transfer Send fax Forward Look up Setup Receive
on hold voicemail office voicemail three-way call calls phone number audio fax
greeting conferencing and call bridge
Productivity Savings
Figure 6. Annual productivity savings per task (Employee
per employee
VoiceTask Dollars per Year)
$170
150
$80
Real Dollars
60
40
20
0
Place call Forward Camp Record Access Set-up Transfer Send fax Forward Look up Setup Receive
on hold voicemail office voicemail three-way call calls phone number audio fax
greeting conferencing and call bridge
10
The Business Case for Enterprise VoIP White Paper
productivity gains for a typical employee (see Figure 5). Performance Table 2. Estimated annual productivity gains
generally increased between 134 to 500 percent using the VoIP and
Productivity Metric Gains
unified messaging solution. We saw significant time savings over
the legacy phone system on two tasks: scheduling a conference Time gain per user 2.7 days per year
bridge at 27 times faster and receiving a fax at 31 times faster.
Productivity gain per user $480
While these two time savings are remarkable, the overall productivity
savings were more in line with the other tasks due to the low Productivity gain at a 650-user site $312,000
frequency of these two events (see Figure 6). Repetitive tasks, like
accessing voicemail or looking up a contact’s phone number and
then placing a call were two and four times faster, respectively, than
using the non-VoIP solution. Users achieved the most substantial
productivity benefits from these tasks. Acronyms
We calculated time saved on the full range of repetitive voice tasks HFE human factors engineer
for each user across a medium-size 650 user site. We applied a IP Internet protocol
50 percent discount on the time savings to obtain the productivity
LAN local area network
calculation.
MAC move, add, and change
Net productivity gains using VoIP and unified messaging added up
PBX private branch exchange
to significant cost savings, as shown in Table 2.
QoS quality of service
Data gathered in the pilot highlights a VoIP benefit that is often
under-represented: VoIP systems greatly enhance user productivity. ROI return on investment
We found that the advanced features of unified messaging make SIP session initiation protocol
regular voice tasks far more efficient in comparison to TDM systems
TCO total cost of ownership
available today.
TDM time-division multiplexing
Authors
Stephen M. Sacker is a strategic marketing engineer with Intel IT.
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www.intel.com/IT
This paper is for informational purposes only. THIS DOCUMENT Intel, the Intel logo, Intel. Leap ahead., the Intel. Leap ahead. logo,
IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, Intel ® Xeon®, Intel ® Centrino ®, Intel NetStructure® PBX-IP Media
INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, Gateway, and Intel NetStructure® Host Media Processing Software
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PROPOSAL, SPECIFICATION OR SAMPLE. Intel disclaims all liability, * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
including liability for infringement of any proprietary rights, relating
Copyright © 2006, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
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