Unified communications (UC) has grown from an exclusive set of advanced enterprise technologies to a standard toolset for businesses of any size. The cost savings and performance boosts associated with a converged communications platform has become a critical requirement for success for nearly all industries.

This explains the recent global trend of UC adoption for small to medium sized businesses (SMBs). A Platronics survey conducted in 2012 revealed that over 50 percent of SMBS are already well on their way to adopting UC solutions.  Moreover, an InfoTrack study predicts that SMB spending on UC solutions will grow at more than twice the rate of enterprise spending, increasing about 10 percent a year through 2016. Converging office communications has not only saved these businesses significant infrastructure and telecom costs, but has also opened up powerful new opportunities for the mobile workforce. A lower bottom line and increased productivity has meant only good things for SMBs.   

A major driver in this growth is Fax over IP, or FoIP. A critical component of the UC family of technologies, FoIP adds to the cost savings by providing a fully converged unified communications system. Just as Voice over IP (VoIP) integrates digital voice data with other enterprise network components, FoIP integrates fax information as well. The real savings with FoIP is not in sending and receiving over the global phone network but within the enterprise itself. Sharing data more efficiently, however, is just the tip of the FoIP benefits iceberg.

Fax over IP solutions offer elegant document management capabilities, digitally storing and organizing faxed documents for future search and retrieval. Users can also make changes to document format, structure, and content without ever touching pen to paper.  Furthermore, Fax over IP and hybrid fax solutions with Web browser interfaces allow users to send and receive faxes from anywhere, via e-mail, MFD’s, cell phones, tablets or other devices. Secure encryption and transmission protocols allow SMBs to stay compliant with HIPAA, SarBox, PCI (News - Alert) and other regulations, as well. FoIP also facilitates business continuity and disaster recovery since it can operate in a virtual environment and does not require fax boards. Finally, comprehensive administrative controls allow SMB owners to maintain full control over critical documentation, keeping their offices clean and their customers happy.

Even this is not an exhaustive list of all the features and benefits FoIP technology brings to SMBs. FaxCore, a provider of fax server automation solutions, has fully integrated and certified its FoIP solutions with most Microsoft (News - Alert) applications including Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange (all versions), SharePoint, Microsoft CRM and Windows Server 2008 R2/2012 without cumbersome connectors or expensive add-ons – a major plus for SMBs. The product even includes a .NET (News - Alert) SDK as a standard feature.

So, as the adoption of unified communications grows, we will assuredly see an even greater utilization of FoIP technology in the SMB workplace.