Delivering day-rate and fixed-fee support We have been working with ENGIE’s CIO (formerly GDF Suez) since 2012, providing technical consulting and expertise services focusing on unified communication solutions (video-conferencing in particular). Over the years, we have worked continuously alongside the client's in-house teams and completed one-off assignments to map existing practices and solutions, delivering best practice assessments and carrying out benchmarking exercises in the process. We have also supported the client with strategy, architecture, POC and testing missions, helping to manage and implement a series of projects.
Zooming in on user needs Telephones, videophones, email and calendars are the communication tools of the past. These days, the boundary between personal and business communication is less obvious, and these practices are becoming mutually enriching. This means that organisations need to adopt real-time, user-friendly technologies to drive performance and slash response times. This means they need to bring on board other forms of communication such as instant messaging, presence indicators, enterprise social networks and collaborative document-sharing platforms.
The task of producing a unified network and communications infrastructure master plan was extremely complex, requiring a range of different missions and a deep understanding of a fast-paced sector that has seen remarkable shifts in the last five years.
Building on existing systems and formalising the client’s needs We conducted an extensive assessment of ENGIE’s existing information system and needs at the outset of the project.
Identifying and mapping existing strengths Prior to every project for this client, we have conducted a series of best practice and benchmarking exercises, focusing on the unified communication solutions used by other listed companies in France and abroad, and the features of different providers’ systems (Microsoft and Cisco).
Summarising our findings We have produced a series of executive summaries, setting out a brief overview of our findings and informing the client about existing situations and future needs.
Moving forward with the chosen solution We have assessed potential avenues for integrating new solutions into existing systems, followed by a more hands-on phase during which we compare solutions, look at use cases and produce POCs (proofs of concept).
Supporting the client through change We have delivered training sessions to different business lines to bring everyone on board with the project. We have also monitored and distributed processes internally to secure employee buy-in.