Case Study: Sprint Nextel Connects With Video

Solution Deployed
The company deployed a solution that integrates a wide variety of components, technologies, software and hardware, including its long-deployed Cisco ACNS system, many Polycom video conferencing systems, and various encoding hardware. The over-arching management system that helps to pull all the pieces and parts together is a Video Control Center solution from Qumu that provides central control for the range of video applications, content, and resources for the production and delivery of video webcasts for the company.

According to Nellor, "We needed a solution that allowed for the flexibility to handle a wide range of technologies working all seamlessly together. Our video content management system is like the umbrella that manages it all, with a great looking viewer portal in front of everything that makes it easy for employees to access the content."

Webcast and video content is available through SprintCast, where it is organized into categories and channels according to subject matter. Visitors can navigate, browse, or use SprintCast’s search feature to find content listings. The site also includes a webcast calendar showing upcoming events and a help and FAQ page with information to troubleshoot technical issues or to contact the team for information about specific content or events (see Figure 2).

Benefits AchievedThe company reports a number of key benefits and strategic results from its webcasting initiatives.
• Lower costs—In prior years, Sprint has provided certain video content by means of expensive satellite transmission. Much of this delivery type has been eliminated by the use of IP networks used for distributing video content to employees in offices around the country and in the home office. Other cost savings have been achieved by offering easy-to-use self-help tools for employees to troubleshoot potential problems, which, in prior years, would likely have resulted in time-consuming help desk inquiries. The company also reduced costs by having the ability to meet with employees in real time with webcasting, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in associated travel costs.
• More-connected employees—By providing a wide range of content to virtually the entire work force, Sprint has established a strong connection with employees. The company provides timely and important information to tens of thousands of employees via live webcasts that can be viewed right from their desktops. With interactive tools, employees can participate in webcasts, ask questions, and post feedback.
• Broader reach and more-efficient training—New product launches mean increased training needs for Sprint’s frontline sales and customer care teams. The firm’s product group is using webcasts to demonstrate new products and train employees on important features and sales needs. After a recent new product webcast, the Creative Media Services Group received reports that end-user participation in product demo events had more than quadrupled since the team began offering them over SprintCast.