IP Telephony

Sberbank Banks on Cisco (News - Alert) Unified Communications for New Services and Enhanced Productivity

One of Russia’s largest commercial banks, Sberbank, announced today that it’s deployed the 17 millionth Cisco Unified IP device sold worldwide, Cisco announced today.

 

Sberbank officials say their company is using Cisco IP Telephony as part of a broader Cisco Unified Communications (News - Alert) and converged voice, video and data network solution to help enable new customer services such as mobile and Internet banking, improve employee collaboration and save money.

 

Sberbank has a country-wide network of more than 20,000 branches operating in 11 time zones and servicing 1.3 million corporate customers and 250 million retail accounts, according to the company. Sberbank has already deployed more than 2,000 Cisco Unified IP phones along with Cisco voice mail, desktop video, presence and instant messaging capabilities, company officials say.

 

Sberbank says it’s adopted an infrastructure that integrates devices and software to enhance its existing operational efficiency, while also being able to provide customers with even more advanced services across its branch network.

 

Future applications planned for deployment include interactive voice response, customer care, electronic marketing and wireless mobility, company officials say.

 

Sberbank officals say they also expect to save more money with integrated IP video surveillance, real-time compliance and risk management, and a self-defending network infrastructure.

 

“The ability to connect and collaborate with customers and employees anytime, anywhere on any device is key to winning in a highly competitive local and global banking environment,” said Victor Orlovsky, Sberbank’s chief information officer. “Cisco’s unified communications solution plays a strategic role in our ability to maintain our current leadership and competitive advantage in local markets.”

 

Cisco Unified Communications is expected to help the bank create a collaborative workspace across devices, operating systems, wired and wireless networks, and business applications, company officials say.

 

The bank says its network is able to adapt and offer a variety of interactive banking services for customers such as online banking.

 

“Cisco and Sberbank have enjoyed a successful and highly collaborative business relationship, and we’re pleased to celebrate the milestone of our 17th million IP device with such an innovative leader that is known for driving new technology for financial applications,” said Paul Mountford, president of Cisco Emerging Markets. “With Cisco unified communications, Sberbank takes one step further toward being able to expand its global footprint to better compete in new countries with world class customer services and collaborate across borders and cultures.”