Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), one of the world's largest container transport and logistics companies, is seeking to build its industry's most extensive internet-based, unified communications infrastructure by adopting technologies from networking equipment supplier Cisco Systems.
Hong Kong-based OOCL, held by the family of Tung Chee-hwa, has invested more than US$8 million to roll out an integrated communications system across its 160 offices worldwide by year-end.
Cisco applications will help streamline OOCL's business processes by integrating the firm's communications and collaboration systems including messaging, voice, video, web conferencing and communications links to clients.
These applications integrate with business tools that OOCL and its customers use daily, such as Microsoft Outlook and IBM Lotus Notes.
OOCL chief technology officer Steve Siu Kai-ho said the project with Cisco started last year and was aimed at replacing more than 100 voice-only, private branch exchange telephone systems with a centralised, internet-protocol-based PBX platform that handles both voice and data traffic.
Some 4,000 wireless IP phones will also be deployed.
The Cisco solution is also meant to create a virtual global call centre to help OOCL's 1,500 call centre agents address increasing business contacts and raise their efficiency, as customer self-service applications are also designed in the system.
