For example, buzz about Boeing's plans to improve collaboration among its design teams around the world shouldn't compel other companies to jump headfirst on the VoIP bandwagon, cautions DiamondCluster executive Joe Bonocore, author of Commanding Communications: Navigating Emerging Trends in Telecommunications (John Wiley and Sons, 2002).
"Voice over IP, if done correctly, may enable new applications and new functionality that companies can deploy to increase revenue, reduce costs and improve efficiencies. What's exciting is that, because it is a data-based system, voice over IP has the potential to integrate your communications with your internal information systems to create customer-centric, supplier-centric and employee-centric operations," Bonocore said.
"Boeing is counting on their investments to improve collaboration internally but the real potential may also lie outside the enterprise," Bonocore said.
"Unfortunately, however, many companies may look at voice over IP simply as a way to replace old communications systems with a new and cheaper alternative. Instead, they should also explore this technology as a fundamental building block to restructure the way the corporation processes its work and delivers its products and services."
However, Bonocore advises caution. Because of the large-scale complexity and multidisciplinary nature of these efforts, the following common mistakes must be avoided:
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