AXA Group has improved the method through which top-level executives communicate and collaborate following unplanned events with a new communications system based on Microsoft Office Communications Server, Exchange Server and Office Communicator.

The global insurer wanted top executives to be able to deliver faster responses to major events, like hurricanes and floods, and wanted to improve the speed of communication at the firm overall.

AXA Tech, the entity responsible for delivering IT services to the group, built an integrated environment for global collaboration that gave AXA employees presence awareness, so they could see if members of their teams were available and determine the best channel for contacting them from several choices, including: instant messaging (IM), e-mail, voice over IP (VoIP) calls, or audio, video, and Web conferencing. AXA Group executives can also escalate IM conversations to voice calls, Web conferences, or video conferences if needed.

“Poor integration between communications channels made it impossible for AXA Group employees to see if colleagues were available to take calls or respond to e-mail requests in real-time,” says Jacky Surut, head of the innovation program at AXA Tech.

All IM traffic is routed to an Office Communications Server 2007 Archiving and Call Detail Record (CDR) Server to help the AXA Group comply with relevant financial services regulations. In addition, unified messaging lets users access their Exchange Server 2007 mailbox over any telephone for their e-mail, voice mail, fax messages, calendar information, and contact information.

AXA Tech has also connected Office Communications Server 2007 to an existing Alcatel PBX by using a Genesys Enterprise Telephony Software (GETS) media gateway. Users can initiate software-based VoIP calls or conferences with colleagues with a single mouse click within the Office Communicator 2007 client interface.

By using VoIP, AXA will be able to reduce the cost of international calls within the company. New audio conferencing features free the firm from the cost of having to pay for conferencing services from third-party providers. The firm also expects to see significant cost savings from reduced travel.

“We will achieve a number of benefits from bringing people together in real-time,” says Surut. “As well as reducing the time we wait for colleagues to return e-mail or voice-mail messages, Office Communications Server 2007 will help us share ideas globally and escalate instant messaging discussions to conferences to address complex business issues.”