
As freelancing Digital Strategists and experienced Digital Nomads, we have the opportunity to work in a range of client sites, which naturally involves exposure to the spectrum of instant messaging systems, ranging from Microsofts Lync, TIBCO's Tibbr, Google Chat, Yammer, Skype etc, for a range of collaboration scenarios. We use all of these in helping clients implement best practice knowledge management + agile innovation platforms.
Whilst we like to remain relatively agnostic and readily use each of these, we've also been impressed by the way the HipChat deployment has been tailored for Enterprise customer needs, with the following highlights:
1. Cloud to OnPremise Importer - Clients who've been using the Cloud version are supported on their migration to an OnPremise alternative;
2. Video chat and screen sharing across all native apps - businesses running a range of end-use devices are supported well;
3. User Directory Support - in a well managed business, the Directory is a core asset that needs to be leveraged as an authoritative repository;
4. Enterprise Ready Security - audit server traffic in and out;
5. Host HipChat yourself as an OVA or AMI - delivered as a pre-configured Virtual Machine makes integration for IT teams a straightforward task;
6. Visualise Workforce Availability - being able to better understand the extent of presence or availability of team members on the move helps create more nuanced micro-interactions.
As Atlassian Experts consulting to enterprise scale customers, we're regularly dealing with the issues associated with business critical deployments and know from experience that these things matter to our CIO and IT Manager peers. Whilst HipChat will continue to also run as a cloud based model, having the extra security options of an OnPremise platform will help enhance the range of business collaboration tools needed for businesses at any scale, particularly those with stringent security needs (see this case study of OG Systems for why they moved from Lync to HipChat).
We know that the natural fit of Confluence and JIRA as structured information tools will be well complemented by the level of integration potential with HipChat for building really informative and useful activity streams, keeping business teams in a great state of productive 'flow'. The ability to quickly perform a screen share and videoconference in a 1:1 or group chat from within a core collaboration tool just eliminated one more pain point for us, no longer requiring us to switch context and tools away from where our focus is.
HipChat Server Coverage Snapshot
TechCrunch: http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/27/atlassian-launches-hipchat-server-doubles-down-on-team-collaboration/
The Next Web: http://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/01/27/hipchat-looks-take-slack-new-app-private-networks/
VentureBeat: http://venturebeat.com/2015/01/27/dont-trust-the-cloud-for-your-team-chats-you-can-now-run-hipchat-on-your-own-servers
Wall Street Journal: http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/01/27/on-ipo-track-atlassian-takes-on-new-competitors-for-collaboration-software/
Silicon Beat: http://www.siliconbeat.com/2015/01/27/atlassian-offers-solution-to-the-inefficient-email-inbox/
Others
http://www.thesmallbusinesstechshow.com/013-tools-we-use-hipchat-gotoassist