According to communications experts at MegaPath, a Pleasanton-based leading provider of managed data, voice, security and cloud services in North America, it’s only a matter of time before all businesses will be fully implementing cloud-based services. VoIP – or Voice over Internet Protocol – has seen soaring demand in recent years, corresponding with the growth of cloud-based applications. Upgrading to this new technology will give businesses the tools they need for success in the 21st century.
Things are certainly looking up for the VoIP market. Infonetics, a telecommunications market research firm, predicts that the industry will grow to $88 billion by the time 2018 rolls around. Between 2012 and 2013, demand surged 8 percent, hitting $68 billion. Corresponding with that growth was an increase in subscribers, which grew 8 percent in 2013, reaching 212 million. Meanwhile, SIP trunking expanded by 50 percent, while PBX and unified communication services grew 13 percent.
Major infrastructure changes like phone and data system upgrades can be costly and otherwise cumbersome for businesses – especially smaller ones. But the transition to VoIP has obvious benefits for businesses in terms of synchronizing and streamlining all elements of business communication, including IT management.
Amdocs, which provides information and service management systems for businesses, has conducted research that explores this growing trend. The report analyzed the opinions of 1,311 decision makers from small businesses across the globe. It found that 66 percent of respondents believe cloud-based services are important for business success. 57 percent had already implemented such systems, while 44 percent said they are seriously considering moving forward with one.
Data and networking companies should take heed of the study’s results, which found that 67 percent of respondents are more likely to work with a company that offers cloud-based services versus one that does not. In fact, 44 percent of the respondents said they would even switch from a third party cloud service provider to their primary provider if bundled services were offered by the primary firm.
Ian Parks, managing director of Coleman Parks Research, which conducted the study on behalf of Amdocs, explains that small businesses are increasingly recognizing the benefits of cloud computing.
"The research identified that service providers are considered a viable and even preferred source for cloud-based services, representing a big revenue opportunity for service providers who choose to capitalize on this. Those who become a one-stop-shop for all SMB communication needs, focusing on what SMBs consider essential such as bundles with cloud-based and traditional services, as well as a unified bill, will be most successful,” he explained.
It’s not surprising that small businesses prefer packaged plans. This ensures efficiency, ease of management, and a more streamlined approach that coordinates all aspects of a company’s communication and networking.
Developing an effective communication system is an essential priority for all types of businesses. For companies that want to increase productivity, support mobility and lower costs, transitioning to cloud-based voice services is a must.
“Everything is moving to the cloud,” claims one of the representatives at MegaPath’s Pleasanton headquarters.
Transitioning to VoIP is an obvious first step for companies, and the benefits of doing so are infinite. VoIP allows for traditional options like call forwarding and voicemail. Companies may also require advanced features such as voicemail transcription, which converts voicemail to email so employees can easily access them remotely or read them while on another call. Other flexible features include conferencing, call recording, and an automated receptionist.
According to Biz-News.com, VoIP offers “convenience and improved user experience for both the business and customer.” It allows users to track calls and address concerns more quickly, which means better service and communication.
It’s also a big cost-saver, according to MegaPath. VoIP services deliver more functionality than a traditional phone system, without the costs of managing and maintaining a PBX.
“The mobile workforce can stay connected to their home offices, making it seem as if they never left their physical desks. Messaging has become more efficient, and portability has never been easier. It’s easy to make extended international or interstate calls without incurring huge call costs. Sharing files, keeping track of large client lists, accessing call information and history – these are much simpler than they used to be.”
While some believe a power outage or downed Internet connection will make VoIP non-functional, this is not the case. By the nature of VoIP being in the cloud, voice administrators and employees can manage routing and features through their smart phone or any browser. Typically, users will already have features in place like find me/follow me to define call treatments, including how incoming calls are routed, ensuring that important calls are not missed when they’re out of the office. Thus, a disruption in connectivity would not impede voice communications in the same way it might for a residential user.
Getting up to speed with technology is a must for any company that plans to grow into the 21st century. This is particularly true when it comes to communication systems, which are the lifeline of a business. According to experts like those at MegaPath, VoIP is the future face of telecommunication that delivers the productivity, mobility and collaboration features that today’s businesses need to remain competitive.
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