IP-based Virtual PBXs Prove to be More Beneficial than Traditional PBXs: Siemens

Cloud-based PBX solutions such as IP PBXs and virtual PBXs bring many advantages to businesses as they offer more cost savings when compared to traditional PBXs, according to a recent study sponsored by Siemens Enterprise Communications. Communications through a pure IP infrastructure can offer up to 43 percent in annual savings which is much higher than traditional approaches.

Also, companies that are in the process of migrating to virtual PBX systems often take a hybrid cloud approach, as a precautionary measure to "mitigate risk and protect existing investments," the report said. A vast majority of the survey participants (91 percent) said they have adopted a hybrid approach with IP communications running alongside a legacy PBX.   

Based on a survey of more than 1,000 IT decision makers, the study also revealed a growing interest among enterprises toward more "distributed" mobile workforces, which, according to Siemens, is also a main factor driving cloud adoption. Among the enterprises who participated in the survey, only 20 percent of endpoints dedicated to phones are now at headquarters locations. In fact, a majority of endpoints around 39 percent are branch phones or at remote locations.

Furthermore, the study found that mobile phones represent 33 percent of endpoints and one in three call center agents work from home.

"Respondents have found that IT staff often lacks the skills necessary to deploy newer technologies, especially cloud computing," according to Siemens. "More than half of respondents feel that the IT landscape has become too complex, which, combined with narrow skill sets and high turnover rates, can easily hamper cloud and UC adoption."

The results also indicated a widespread adoption of cloud services. Forty five percent of survey respondents said cloud-based services were a part of their 2012 communications plans, while 16 percent already have a cloud solution in place.

Web collaboration, unified communications (UC) and video conferencing were the cloud priorities for more than 90 percent of respondents, with UC gaining the topmost priority. The study also highlighted the fact that enterprises prefer private cloud over public cloud.