CARE Ratings Integrates Communication technologies

CARE Ratings is the second-largest credit rating agency in India. With the rating volume of debt of around Rs.45,901 bn (as on December 31, 2012) , CARE Ratings has a pre-eminent place in the Indian capital market built around investor confidence. CARE Ratings has also emerged as the leading agency for covering many rating segments like that for banks, sub-sovereigns and IPO gradings.
In order to leverage technology to cater to the expectations of an increasingly mobile and geographically widespread team, CARE under the leadership of Mr. Umesh Ikhe, Group CTO decided to implement an Integrated Unified Communications solution based out of their spanking new HO at Mumbai with benefits across the enterprise. The key components of the UC were to be IP Telephony with presence management, Telepresence and Videoconference, Audio Video Integration and Mobility
After evaluating several offerings in the UC space, CARE selected Siemens Enterprise Communications (SEN) as their preferred vendor due to the following key differentiators:
Tightly Integrated Best In Breed Solutions in telepresence from Polycom and IP Telephony and UC from Siemens Enterprise Communications, both established global giants
Unique positioning of SEN as both OEM and Global Partner for Polycom
Countrywide direct Sales and service presence of SEN in over 20 cities including the 9 locations where CAREâ??s Unified communications solution was to be deployed

Key Attributes of the Solution:

SEN implemented a state-of-the-art Telepresence room at the Mumbai HO with customized acoustics, lighting, furniture and background to give the video participants a High Definition, Immersive experience. At each regional office, the Polycom® HDX® Media Center with dual large screen LED Monitors were installed, to provide a complete video conferencing experience right out of the box. In order to implement mobility, Polycom® RealPresence� Mobile video clients were also deployed on the smart-phones and tablets of the executives securely extending the use of HD video collaboration beyond the conference rooms and easily connecting with other standards-based video systems, thus enabling them to concentrate on their core business, even when on a video call. To ensure the highest compliance and records a RSS 4000 recording server for the VC sessions was also implemented.
In addition to the Room based VC and Mobile Clients, deskbound executives were provided with Polycom VVX 1500 Videophones which could participate in VC calls with the others.

The IP Telephony and UC solution was provided by SEN from their own portfolio centred around the OpenScape Office UC Solution. Each branch was connected to HO for Voice and UC via IP telephones. The UC application provided features like presence management, one number service, Unified voice, email and fax box, Instant Messaging, Common directory, Dialling from any device etc. Tight integration between SEN products and Polycom meant that intercalling between Polycom VVX 1500 videophones and SEN UC users was easily implemented.

The Key Business Benefits of the Solution included:
Increased Productivity among the teams
Video communication helps in focused meeting between teams both within the organization, and also between company and customers resulting in quicker decision and business transactions . Multi point Video conferencing enables teams to attend meetings from multiple locations at one go thus increasing productivity.
Reduced Travel Costs & Saves Time
Video conferencing helps in reduction of travel costs; an additional tangible effect of using video is that you start saving substantial money due to reduced travel. Apart from cost benefits, productive time utilization increases multifold.
Support for Environmental Initiatives
By communicating over video, organizations can also substantially reduce their carbon footprint and help ensure a basis for regulatory compliance.
Adopting a video conferencing program is a great way to promote â??GOING GREENâ??.
Improves Communication & Reinforce Relationships
Allows Multi-point Meetings across Time Zones & International Boundaries.
Increasing business effectiveness
Share presentations, data and media
Commenting on the solution, Mr. Umesh Ikhe said â?? Unified Communication which is the combination of Polycom VC solution and SEN voice network has enabled seamless interaction between teams across locations , ease of meetings and discussions which has greatly helped to increase productivity within company. We take our standing as a visionary and customer centric company seriously and implementation of this solution is one more step by CARE Ratings in that direction.â??
With the Mumbai HO and Regional Offices all tightly integrated for Voice, Video and Unified Communications, this is one solution that will surely send the ratings of CARE zooming even among the early adopters of technology. Kudos to Mr. Ikhe and team.