Who Should Be on the Strategy Team
When Purchasing VoIP
There are a number of key staff members who should be involved in the strategy team for a specific purchase for an enterprise, particularly one which involves communications or significant hardware and software such as various computer and telephony equipment. As the strategy for such purchases often requires a substantial amount of research, organizations should look to involve various members of human resources, information technology, and financial operations departments, as well as a wide selection of staff members who will be utilizing the particular product to be procured. A synthesis of all of these disparate entities is needed to produce an effective strategy.
Financial Operations
Representatives from the department of financial operations provide key input during the formulation of strategy for a particular organization wide system, as they are the ones to determine exactly how much funds may be dedicated to the various costs associated with the purchase. Costs to be considered outside of the immediate purchase itself include those for training, additional hardware and software, as well as for system upgrades. Additionally, this department will determine projections for ROI, capital outlay, and other important financial implications that enable organizations to know what their limits are for the purchase.
Information Technology
It is crucial for an organization’s IT department to research concerns related to integration of a prospective purchase with previous and current system components that will be expected to work with the particular product. The IT team will need to identify existing capabilities and limits in terms of technology, and gauge potential upgrades in areas of hardware or software that will be needed for successful implementation of the product. Additionally, IT personnel need to be well versed in the operation of the particular product, so they will be able to install, maintain, and use it if needed.
Human Resources
The HR department will be largely responsible for any training associated with the new purchase, particularly that which exceeds any provided by the product provider. Furthermore, the HR department can contribute to the strategy team by researching particular features or capabilities of the proposed solution, and should also assist in determining any logistical practicalities that will have to be employed to use the new product.
Staff Users
Naturally, staff users will be expected to be a part of the strategy team since they’ll have the majority of hands-on use with the impending purchase. The influence of staff users is valuable in determining which capabilities or features are required for the product. Additionally, staff members can work with human resource personnel in researching which features are available for any sort of solution, and then ascertaining which ones will be most applicable for the particular enterprise.
Before it became a necessity during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, many companies had already begun realizing the benefits inherent in embracing remote work. These benefits are substantial and signal that (even when the pandemic is but a memory) remote work will continue to flourish and become a mainstay in the redefined workplace - particularly when it comes to VoIP. This guide will demonstrate how the workforce is changing and leaning toward remote work as a permanent business choice, explain the critical role VoIP will continue to play in supporting remote work, and highlight some of the new trends and innovations coming in 2021 for VoIP. more
