Pgicos Paper
Pgicos Paper
MARCH, 2007
Premiere Global Services (PGI) is a global provider of on-demand communication
technologies-based solutions that automate, simplify and improve communication-centric
business processes. Its end-to-end suite of platform-based applications, called the Premiere
Global Communications Operating System (PGiCOS), helps approximately 60,000 enterprise
customers worldwide increase sales, improve productivity and efficiency, and enhance
customer loyalty and retention, by empowering them with new ways to communicate with,
market to and service their constituents.
The ever increasing rate of change in today’s global economy is driving every business to
continually improve in order to exceed customer needs and to stay ahead of the competition.
Key challenges go beyond simply evolving strategies and deploying new tactics. In order to
excel, companies require:
PGI is committed to turning this vision into a reality for its enterprise customers and
technology partners. The Premiere Global Communications Operating System is an end-to-
end suite of industry-leading applications developed on a single on-demand platform with
secure open access to PGI’s entire suite of applications.
PGiCOS
Unlike traditional operating systems that are installed on a company’s PC or server, PGiCOS is
offered on-demand as a network service.
This flexible platform enables enterprises worldwide to automate their businesses in order to
gain a competitive advantage in sales, service, support and operations. PGiCOS development
has focused on applications that automate manual and paper-intensive business processes.
These processes, which range from customer lifecycle management, to employee
collaboration and career management, to billing and collections, can be automated, simplified
and made more secure with PGiCOS applications. For example:
• Mortgage brokers are required to collect several disparate paper documents for a typical
mortgage application. PGI’s Desktop Fax Solutions can streamline and accelerate the
process by replacing paper documents with electronic files;
• Enterprise communications systems are getting more complex and harder to manage,
with interoperability issues and the integration challenges of combining services from
disparate vendors. As such, IT professionals prefer end-to-end suites of services that
work together seamlessly from the start;
• Companies are looking to augment and enhance the capabilities of their enterprise data
management systems (CRM, ERP, etc.) in order to maximize the returns on their
investments in these systems; and
With open standards access to technology and business applications via the PremiereConnect
API suite, enterprise customers and technology partners are able to integrate PGiCOS
capabilities into their existing ERP, CRM, human resources and other enterprise systems,
resulting in increased functionality and improved business processes.
Open access to PGiCOS also enables companies to combine multiple PGI applications
together to create custom solutions that are tailored to their specific business needs. The
customer-centric development of these composite applications represents the next generation
of highly-targeted innovation, delivering even greater value and illustrating the flexibility and
power of PGiCOS.
In 2006, over 500,000 unique users employed PGiCOS business applications to grow sales, to
increase the productivity of their knowledge workers, to improve corporate efficiency, to
ensure regulatory compliance and to enhance their customer loyalty and retention.
Fundamental elements of PGiCOS are detailed in the following sections.
Enterprise customers and technology partners can access and employ PGiCOS technology
applications by integrating directly to the PGiCOS’s tightly integrated network of platforms via
Web services standards, such as SOAP and XML. Users can select the technology applications
they need to solve their individual communication challenges and embed them directly into
their existing enterprise systems and third party applications.
• Enhanced HTML email delivery with click-through tracking, campaign management services,
relational database functionality, and transactional event triggering;
• Inbound fax capture that converts faxes into electronic documents for delivery to a
recipient’s existing email account as a PDF, encrypted PDF or TIFF attachment;
• Enhanced automated speech, including call pacing, transfer pacing, answering machine
detection, voice scripting, text-to-speech, right-party verification and hot key transfer
capabilities;
• Audio conferencing, including automated TDM and VoIP services and event-based, operator-
attended platforms; and
• Web conferencing that supports integrated audio controls, presentation sharing, application
sharing, video and live IM support.
PGiCOS technology applications are built on the foundation of an enterprise class platform.
The platform’s global network operations center is located in New Jersey and provides real-
time monitoring to ensure reliability. Major facilities around the world include New Jersey,
Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, London, Tokyo and Sydney, with additional delivery infrastructure
in Singapore, Korea, Italy, Spain and Germany.
Fault-tolerant systems are strategically positioned worldwide to provide fail-over and disaster
recovery capabilities. PGI’s global network of servers can move traffic seamlessly from one
center to another in order to deliver traffic in the most expeditious fashion. PGI’s current SIP-
based Conferencing applications provide for real-time fail-over from one center to another by
instantly rerouting packets to a different IP address.
PGI has deployed more than 142,000 conferencing and delivery ports. The amount of
bandwidth consumed on a global basis by the platform is significant – major facilities have
numerous OC-48 circuits that provide both TDM capacity and data capacity for IP traffic at
major meet-me points for carriers. Over 60% of PGI’s voice terminating traffic today is
handed-off to carriers in VoIP via SIP and converted to TDM for termination into the PSTN
network at the edge. Today, nearly 50 million conferencing minutes a month traverse PGiCOS
media server platform in pure SIP.
PGiCOS platform architecture and scale enable high throughput, with the ability to process
and deliver greater than 20,000 communications a minute. In total, PGiCOS processes and
delivers 25-30 million communications every business day and greater than six billion
communications annually.
PGI’s data delivery platforms successfully completed the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants' Statement on Auditing Standards No.70 (SAS 70) Type II audit. This audit of
controls related to the processing of automated data management and delivery solutions, and
related general computer controls, in its data processing locations in the U.S. (New Jersey),
U.K. (York), Japan (Tokyo) and Korea (Seoul). PGI also conforms to ITIL best practices
procedures.
PremiereConnect API
The communications industry is in the midst of a fundamental shift, as providers move from
closed TDM networks to open IP networks. Along with this technology shift, the industry is
witnessing a migration from legacy applications based on proprietary hardware and software
to new, more powerful applications based on off-the-shelf components, open-source software
and industry standards. Together, these trends are enabling the development of more robust
applications and giving customers more purchasing power, as purchasing decisions are no
longer driven solely by service access and delivery coverage.
The same dynamics which have fostered the move to “software as a service” for IT
applications are now impacting the market for communications applications, resulting in
greater application value, faster speed-to-service and lower cost to implementation.
While the ability to provide applications across the broadest range of communications
technologies sets PGI apart from its competitors today, a contributor to its long-term
competitive advantage includes its extensible product architecture and its open, Web
services-based application platform. Using Web services, businesses can integrate their
existing enterprise applications directly into PGiCOS’s highly-available, global platform.
Access to the PGiCOS platform is provided via a comprehensive software development kit
(SDK) called PremiereConnect. This SDK and related support programs enable PGI’s
technology partners, systems integrators and enterprise IT departments to integrate PGiCOS
into their unique products and applications. PremiereConnect offers a set of open APIs based
on XML, SOAP, HTTPS, and other common Web technologies.
Composite Applications: The open nature of PGI's platform enables its customers and
technology partners to create custom, next generation applications by combining multiple PGI
applications together - resulting in mashups that address specific customer needs, no matter
how specialized.
Increased Channel Revenues: In a competitive environment where greater application
value is paramount, PGiCOS users benefit from an ecosystem of PGI technology partners and
systems integrators who can fashion new solutions based on their expertise, their technology
and the power of PGI’s platform. This third party development increases the breadth of
PGiCOS solutions, offering new features, functionality and capabilities that benefit all users.
Premiere Global delivers industry-specific applications within six solution sets: Conferencing,
Desktop Fax, Document Delivery, Accounts Receivable Management, Notifications &
Reminders, and eMarketing.
Conferencing Solutions
Manufacturing:
• Sales meetings;
• Web seminars;
• Focus groups;
• Product rollouts and training;
• Public relations calls; and
• Employee training
Transportation:
• Travel promotions;
• Benefits rollout;
• Town hall meetings;
• Investor relations calls;
• Executive team meetings;
• Business continuity; and
• Disaster recovery
Development:
The Desktop Fax Solutions include an easy-to-use, automated electronic fax application, PGi
Fax2Mail, which enables subscribers to send and receive faxes using their computer and
existing email account instead of a traditional fax machine. To send a fax, PGiCOS converts
email attachments into fax documents and delivers them to the recipient’s fax machine. To
receive a fax, the sender faxes the document to a user’s personal fax number where it is
converted into an email attachment and delivered to their email inbox. The application is
managed through an easy-to-use Web interface. Additionally, PGI’s PGi PremiereAnywhere
application enables mobile users to send documents and email attachments from their mobile
device to any fax machine in the world to be printed. In 2006, PGiCOS converted more than
50 million documents on behalf of its customers.
Financial services:
• Mortgage application processing;
• Rate lock confirmations and authorizations;
• Price quotes;
• Insurance claims processing; and
• Accident reports receipt and delivery
Healthcare:
• Insurance claims;
• Confidential documents;
• Patient records; and
• Medical test results
Financial Services:
• Research report distribution;
• Cash management settlements;
• Sweep accounts;
• Rate sheets delivery;
• Securities and investment statements; and
• Stock trade confirmations
Technology:
• Inventory reports;
• Purchase orders;
• Pricing quotes;
• Order processing receipts; and
• Engineering change notices
Accounts Receivable Management Solutions
The Accounts Receivable Management Solutions enable businesses to contact their past-due
accounts and collect payments in a fast, automated and cost-effective manner, without the
need for live agents. These solutions offer customizable features, including automated
payment, recipient authentication, personalized messages with text-to-speech, hot key
transfer to a live operator for assistance, call throttling and transfer pacing to match available
call center resources, and customizable reporting.
Utilities:
• Service disruption or cancellation alerts;
• Agent or call center productivity;
• Payment verification; and
• Payment due reminders
Healthcare:
• Payment processing;
• Automated collections;
• Dunning notifications; and
• Late payment notifications
The Notifications & Reminders Solutions enable clear and compelling communications between
businesses and their constituents via automated speech, email, fax and SMS. Customers can
select the best delivery method based on message content, urgency, required recipient
action, and recipient preferences. PGI's multi-channel platform provides the global scale
required for the most demanding applications. This suite of on-demand applications provides
customizable features, including recipient authentication, personalized messages with text-to-
speech, hot key transfer for interactive messaging, data collection, and real-time, online
summary reports.
Examples of PGiCOS industry-specific Notifications & Reminders applications are listed below:
Retail:
• Account balance notifications;
• Back order notifications;
• Inventory and out-of-stock notifications;
• Voice or email coupons;
• Shipping confirmations; and
• Rebate notifications
The eMarketing Solutions leverage event and customer data in real time to create highly
relevant, personalized email marketing campaigns that result in increased response rates and
improved customer relationships. With an open standards platform, PGI's full suite of email
campaign management tools and intuitive user interface empower enterprise customers to
unlock the value of their customer data by translating it into actionable email marketing
campaigns. PGI's eMarketing solutions enable enterprises to deliver dynamic content that is
tailored to the individual customer with trigger-based emails at every stage of the customer
lifecycle. PGI led email marketing vendors in its category for market suitability in a 2006
JupiterResearch report.
Retail
• Behavioral marketing;
• Customer loyalty programs;
• Customer re-activation;
• Lead-conversion automation;
• Lead generation; and
• Lifecycle relationship programs
Technology
• Market research;
• New product introductions;
• Product upsell programs;
• Shopping cart management; and
• Subscription management
Today, next generation applications are also being developed by PGI's enterprise customers
and technology partners, as they utilize PGiCOS's open access to create custom applications
comprised of multiple PGI applications used together. These next generation applications,
known as composite applications or mashups, offer features and functionality tailored to the
specific needs of PGI’s enterprise customers. For example:
• Retail pharmacies can use PGiCOS to remind customers to refill their prescriptions, notify
and secure approval from doctors, and send automated alerts when the prescriptions are
ready to pick-up;
• Companies can use PGI's automated alerts capabilities to notify and inform employees in the
event of a disaster, provide live instructional seminars via PGI’s Web and audio
conferencing platform and follow-up with automated delivery of critical business continuity
and recovery instructions;
• Enterprises can facilitate training on-line rather than in a classroom environment, notifying
employees of requisite training, facilitate sign-ups, host the training session in a virtual
environment and distribute post-seminar surveys and certifications; and
• Drug companies can use PGiCOS eMarketing applications to register patients, including their
communication preferences, for subsequent automated daily compliance reminders.
The ability to readily create composite applications is a unique benefit of PGiCOS. While other
providers may offer similar services through discrete channels, only PGI offers the entire
spectrum of corporate communications through a single interface – this puts enterprise
customers in direct control of PGiCOS applications, providing greater flexibility and value.
Composite applications increase the depth and breadth of PGiCOS’s business application suite
as well. With PGiConnect.com, PGI will create an online community for its enterprise
customers and technology partners to share and enhance successful composite applications,
further augmenting the PGiCOS application suite.
Enterprise Customers
Today, nearly 80% of the Fortune 500, including leading commercial and investment banks,
retailers, travel and hospitality firms, and technology companies, utilize PGiCOS to automate
and improve their communication-centric business processes. Additionally, thousands of
smaller enterprise customers, ranging from law firms, to regional pharmacy chains, to local
school districts and PTAs, use PGI’s many applications daily.
In 2006, PGiCOS had more than half-a-million unique users, spanning the range of job
descriptions and responsibilities. For instance, marketing professionals use PGI’s eMarketing
solutions to attract, retain and upsell customers. Finance professionals use PGI's Document
Delivery solutions to distribute financial statements and invoices in a cost-effective manner
and then employ PGI’s suite of Accounts Receivable Management solutions to facilitate the
collections process. And IT professionals at companies of all sizes employ PGiCOS to improve
regulatory compliance, workflow management and business process automation. Whatever
the user's discipline, PGI offers applications that are powerful and easy-to-use, with a goal of
providing a first rate user experience and compelling ROI for the enterprise customer.
PGI is a truly global company, with more than a third of its revenues coming from outside
North America. PGI’s commitment to its international customers extends beyond the sale to
include local language service and support, as well as local-currency billing.
PGI understands that enterprise customer needs often vary by size, and it differentiates itself
in the market by not following a “one size fits all” approach. Rather, PGI’s sales, development
and support teams work together to ensure product features, functionality and service and
support are tailored to meet or exceed the requirements of each and every enterprise
customer.
As PGI brings its capabilities online with PGiConnect.com, PGiCOS solutions will be available to
enterprise customers that were previously beyond its geographic footprint. As part of this
initiative, PGI is further empowering users with self-provisioning, self-service and account
management tools. Many of these capabilities are already available at PGI’s enterprise sites:
MyRCPlus.com, MyPortal.PremiereGlobal.com, Fax2Mail.com and iRgent.com.
Technology Partners
PGI’s technology partners include leading enterprise software companies, award winning
system integrators, global business process outsource firms, wireless carriers and niche
software solution providers and vendors. PGI’s dedicated partner support infrastructure and
technical resources provide the ability for technology partners to quickly become certified on
and gain access to PGiCOS via PremiereConnect. Once certified, partners are able to create,
test and deliver integrated communication solutions for their customers or develop new
composite applications for new emerging markets and industries.
Through PGIConnect.com, technology partners will be able to access the Partner Resource
pages to share valuable insight and gain an understanding of the many ways in which they
can leverage PGiCOS capabilities. PGiCOS SDK reference material, technical documentation,
success stories and white papers are provided to share and exchange ideas for developing
unique applications that can create additional revenue streams for partners and improved
user experiences for their customers. As new applications are created leveraging PGiCOS,
partners will be able to showcase their integrated solutions through the PGiCOS partner
marketplace.
PGI’s partner teams work with the world's leading technology companies to comply with
development protocols and software enhancements to assist partners with more consistent
capabilities in accounting, customer support, CRM, HR, ERP and other enterprise systems.
Integrating the scalable PGiCOS with these enterprise systems allows technology partners to
offer their customers solutions with minimum capital expenditure and low total cost of
ownership.
PGI's technology partners most often leverage the PGiCOS as a Systems Integrator (SI) or
Reseller of PGI's solutions.
Systems Integrators that are looking to deliver additional value to their clients, create new
products and services, or develop new revenue streams, can provide their customers the
same global enhanced communications system PGI provides its enterprise customers, through
PGI’s SI partner program. Once certified to use PGI's standard development kits, SI partners
can integrate PGiCOS with their customers' enterprise systems to deliver rules-based
enhanced communications. SIs can leverage PGI's global infrastructure to deliver automated
communications via multiple channels.
Examples of opportunities for Systems Integrators to harness the power of PGiCOS include:
• Retail pharmacies can save time and money by automatically notifying their customers when
their prescriptions are ready for pick-up by enabling their customer data base with a
series of trigger-based messages;
• Collection of past due receivables can be improved and Days Sales Outstanding reduced
using by integrating PGiCOS’s automated speech capabilities into enterprise accounts
receivable systems.
Reseller partners can customize PGI's many applications, allowing them to market unique,
private-labeled solutions quickly and cost-effectively, while at the same time benefiting from
PGiCOS's global infrastructure and delivery capabilities. PGI provides Resellers portal access
points to offer these services through their channels.
• Continuing education and learning management system providers can utilize PGiCOS
collaboration tools to deliver on-line training and education, generating additional revenue
opportunities for themselves and an enhanced experience for their customers.
PGI's enterprise customers benefit from the added speed and reliability PGiCOS brings to their
high-volume, mission-critical business communications. Enterprise customers also typically
incur a lower total cost of ownership than alternatives like premise-based equipment, as
they benefit from PGI's multi-tenant architecture and the economies it garners from delivering
more than six billion communications annually.
Finally, PGI’s enterprise customers forego worries of technology obsolescence and version
upgrade and control, while still operating in an enterprise class, fault-tolerant, globally-
redundant environment.
PGiCOS solutions offer significant value and returns on investment to enterprise users:
• For instance, according to Frost & Sullivan, using Web conferencing tools like PGI’s Netspoke
application, saves companies an average of $1,220 per user per year due to decreased
business travel expense. Their research further indicates that a VP of Sales can increase
the productivity of their sales professionals by 10% by utilizing Web collaboration tools.
• PGI’s Collections Accelerator enables CFOs and finance departments to increase payment
rates, decrease collections costs and shortens DSOs – while at the same time improving
customer satisfaction. These benefits are detailed in PGI’s Collections Accelerator
Whitepaper.