IVCi Introduces Video Collaboration Cloud (VCC)

Video collaboration has a lot to offer in the context of managing global supply chains and enabling the productivity growth of ever more mobile workforces. But there are roadblocks in the way. Differences in technology, networks, devices and applications must be overcome. IVCi, a global systems integrator and MSP of cloud-based video services, has come up with a novel way of bridging these islands with the ultimate goal of making sure that the individual meeting, itself, is successful. Their secret sauce for success is based on the Cloud Services Brokerage (CSB) model of integrating best of breed services for the management of the people, the processes, and the technology needed to make visual collaboration successful – from virtually any place and any device. This CSB strategy is the underpinning of its recently announced Video Collaboration Cloud (VCC) offering.

Over the last ten years IVCi has served companies across all verticals. Customers have ranged from the Fortune 50 to small shops. However, even a multi-billion dollar company with only 50 rooms would be considered a small to medium business from the perspective of the amount of video that they have, even though they are, themselves, a very large organization. Customers choose from one of three IVCi Operating models. As a traditional SI/VAR, IVCi designs, commissions, installs and trains an enterprise how to operate a video room system. As an MSP, they will supply 24/7 remote management and offer to run the system for the client’s meetings. The customer may also purchase Video as a Service. Here, the customer simply buys the video endpoints and plugs them into IVCi’s private network for full end-to-end operation and support. IVCi leases a global network incorporating data centers both within and outside the US in support of its cloud services.

Over the last year and a half, as a CSB, IVCi has added auxiliary services that are allowing them to extend the reach of video. This progressed in three stages. The first was its partnership with Blue Jeans Network for mobility services. Blue Jeans extends the reach of video conferencing beyond specialized rooms to everyone who can’t be in them. The service offers clients the scalability and security of leveraging their existing infrastructure investment. IVCi’s Mobility Experience via Blue Jeans is device agnostic. It allows consumer desktop video clients, whether H.323, Skype, Microsoft Lync, Google Video Chat and PSTN, to connect with business class offerings from Polycom, Cisco, and LifeSize.

There is a limitation of 25 mobile connections coming in through Blue Jeans. This restriction is strictly on the mobile side and does not impact the managed video conference rooms directly connected to IVCi’s cloud.

The next CSB addition was adding the ability to connect client’s rooms to a large network of public rooms dubbed the Public Room Experience. Public Room Experience provides access to a worldwide network of video conferencing and telepresence rooms. A Web-interface is available for customers to locate, schedule, and pay for a public video room.

Lastly, observing that a number of large customers were going down the path to Microsoft Lync voice, but still 18 to 24 months away from doing that, IVCi partnered with GeniSys Global in order to offer hosted Lync. By taking this approach companies planning to transition over to Lync voice would have the opportunity to get their processes and training in place prior to the move to Lync on-prem. GeniSys Global offers the full suite of Office 365 and some of IVCi’s customers have elected to go with hosted Exchange as well.

The Video Collaboration Cloud brings all these pieces together with the Unified Video Travel Experience. This travel management system automatically checks whether locations requested for travel have video, and notifies the user if the option is available along with the ability to schedule a video conference.

Key IVCi Challenges

IVCi was the first to do a partnership of Blue Jeans. Today there are about another dozen providers that have partnered with them. Being first has paid dividends. Staying in the lead is the biggest challenge given the pace of innovation today. Staying ahead of the pack is requires knowing where innovation is heading and providing the integrations to technologies that customers want before they realize that they want them. And, as a CSB, the biggest challenge is having those capabilities available on standard Polycom or Cisco bridges.

With UC, in general, IVCi is focused on Lync right now. But they do have a strong Cisco relationship. Integrating with those UC services is another big to do.

Thoughts for Customers

This is an interesting solution in and of itself. It demonstrates the ability of IVCi and other similar organizations to offer their customers cloud video/UC services and to extend their footprint to smaller businesses. But, clearly, Web conferencing isn’t going away any time soon. Companies need to consider the business case, including full costs and benefits, for room-based video collaboration and the need to tie in remote participants with other than audio capabilities. Certainly, there will be situations where non-verbal cues will be critical pointing to room-based video. In other situations this will not be the case and Web conferencing and remote audio alone may be sufficient. Only with a business can a definitive answer be reached.