IBM Sametime - Unified Communication and Collaboration

IBM Sametime

IBM shared the same issue as many other companies, how to best communicate, collaborate and share knowledge across the organization in a cost and time efficient manner. To solve this issue IBM released a solution called IBM Sametime in 2007, which is also licensed out to other enterprises.

IBM Sametime is an award-winning middleware platform and also utilizes client-server architecture for unified communication and collaboration. It provides real-time social communication with features like instant messages, online presence indicators and community collaboration. It additionally supports online meetings with voice and videos, and is available for mobile phones. IBM is constantly improving and developing Sametime, and the features available depends on the version chosen. To support the needs of the enterprises IBM have three versions available,entry software, standard software and advanced software.

Features and benefits of the advanced software

Instant message (IM)

Waiting for the response of a mail or a phone call often takes time. IM is often the first point of contact when contacting colleagues, specially if its regarding minor questions, need of immediate help, or just to check if a person is available for a phone call. It is also used for more complex questions and longer conversations, especially with colleagues that are not in the same location or country. Through IM, knowledge gets shared quickly and easy across the organization, and doubts get solved immediately. Files can be shared, chats can be saved and it is possible to create a contact list with the most frequent contacts and easily search for new contacts. Connection through IM can significantly reduce the ongoing conversations that typically occur through email, helping to reduce the amount of emails.

Mobile

The mobile features that are available for Apple iOS, Google Android, BlackBerry®, Nokia Symbian and Microsoft Windows Mobile handheld devices, extends many of the capabilities from the desktop Sametime to the mobile device. This helps the people to stay connected and informed wherever they are working from, making availability even better. This helps improving the commitment and engagement and encourage ownership of the projects.

Online meetings

It is possible to easily move from a text chat to a voice/video chat and online meeting. Screens can be shared, as well as files and applications. Meeting material can be uploaded in advance, and no meeting room with space to a large group is needed to be reserved. Expensive travels are avoided to bring people together despite geographical distances.

Telephony

Telephone expenses can be reduced substantially as the feature is integrated into the unified communication and collaboration platform, and calls can be made directly from the computer via integrated VoIP systems.

Voice and video

By using videos and voice communications a lot of confusions can be avoided. It can also provide a richer communication experience, as tone and emotions are transmitted, which can help to engage, create a relationship and trust among the colleagues.  

Rich presence awareness

The presence awareness is the cornerstone of any unified communication solution as it allows you to see who’s logged on and available, so you spend less time searching to find a professional who can clarify questions or help speed up the business process. You can choose the status yourself like for example  “available”, “in a meeting”, or “do not disturb” if you are very busy. You can even customize the status message to what you are doing exactly in that moment. It is also possible to get alerts when people become available, if there is someone you really need to speak to urgently, but are logged off or have a status of “do not disturb”.

Community collaboration

This feature helps to get organizational knowledge and connect the people. It allows you to have group chats and to contact people you don't know and build a substantial network with clients, business partners and suppliers.

Platform

Sametime supports multiple servers, e-mail platforms and directories like Microsoft office productivity software, Lotus collaboration products, portal and web applications. It is not needed to rip and replace. It is also possible to start small and then upgrade gradually, adjusting to the company’s need. It has extensive security features and constant available support. It can be integrated as an IBM Sametime plug-in or through a third-party application.

There is no doubt that this kind of collaboration tools benefits the companies, making collaboration easier across geographically dispersed locations, however it is important that companies educate the users, and create a code of conduct of usage otherwise it might serve against its purpose. 




Source: IBM.com

Working Outside the Box: GE Colab

How is GE solving its problems faster? As of 2012, GE has 325,000 employees worldwide operating under its 8 different divisions. Divisions that operate in different regions typically experience similar problems or are confronted with similar obstacles that they ultimately need to tackle. In many offices, pantry conversations have long since been the way by which employees share know-how, experiences, and ideas. So the question that GE faces is: ‘How can a company as large and spread out as GE get its employees to quickly connect with who they need, find internal expertise and share knowledge?’

Solution: GE Colab!

Colab is GE’s new digital collaboration platform. It allows users to connect with other teammates globally in real-time, combines applications and tools in a single platform, and provides access to a global pool of experts and information. It is intended to help every GE employee work more collaboratively. The design of this platform was based on employee feedback to help them in their daily tasks and to connect them to other professionals on a global scale. The platform contains the following features:

1.      Profile A page to access self-populated contact information, professional areas of expertise, previous work experience, education, training, skills etc.

2.      Apps A personalized dashboard that consolidates the preferred apps onto a single page.

3.      Sites A link to bookmarked pages.

4.      Docs A tool to store and share documents in accordance with GE guidelines.

5.      Canvas A group sharing tool that facilitates global and real time collaboration.

6.      Stream An easy access to all information the user deems important. Similar to Facebook’s Newsfeed, Stream provides live, personalized multimedia feed of news and information of the people followed on the net.

Source: http://goo.gl/ewglSP

This tool can be used on Window PCs, Macs, iPads and smartphones; hence, is accessible at all times.

Keep tuned for our next review of how collaboration tools are implemented successfully at the workplace!