Lync IM Case Study

Executive Summary

The client’s core business revolves around the grain and transportation industries in the Midwest, including the handling and transportation of bulk commodities and logistics operations domestically and around the world. To remain competitive and add real value to clients, the client needed a strategic partner to integrate a corporate IM solution for its 95 locations, 1,500 employees and thousands of customers located worldwide.

CHALLENGE

The client’s Grain & Barge Division required real-time data to trade stock on behalf of its customers. With staff using multiple IM platforms like Google, Yahoo and AOL, it faced challenges maintaining constant communications around trade data. With a dispersed workforce traveling around the world, the client needed a strategic partner to help implement a solution that could: Seamlessly federate with client IM platforms and provide Group Chat capabilities Store historical business data for up to two years 

SOLUTION

After demonstrating Microsoft Lync’s capabilities to the client’s Corporate and IT Division, Sparkhound developed a phased approach for the configuration of Lync 2010 Environment: Configured Lync for IM and presence and Group Chat for all internal staff in phase I Integrate external access and public connectivity and add reliancy to the environment in phase II and phase III, respectively  

IMPACT

Upon the completion of phase I, the client received immediate user buy-in. Microsoft Lync’s group chat feature greatly improved collaboration and resulted in instant cost savings for the company -- which no longer had to support multiple IM solutions. In addition, Sparkhound’s Project Management Team continues to keep the project on track and under budget, saving the company thousands of dollars.