The benefits associated with IP telecom have long been proven, yet the adoption rate in the SMB category still remains low. Are people so invested in their current communications strategies that migrating doesn’t make sense? Are they too unskilled in VoIP monitoring to drive the results they want or is it a simple case of a lack of information?
A recent Channel Partners Online blog addressed the topic, highlighting a survey done by Edgewater Networks (News - Alert) that found adoption staying around 36 percent in the SMB sector. While the majority of the 1,250 companies included in the survey indicate they plan to convert to IP in the next two years, the slow adoption indicates that the numbers may still be skewed.
With the rapid movement of Millennials into the workforce, the increased demand for access to Unified Communications (News - Alert) and the drive for easy access to messaging for collaboration, VoIP growth forecasts may be getting closer in accuracy. The key to this growth may be centered on the need for integration across platforms as access to the latest and greatest means nothing if the technology can’t work together.
Much of the hesitation was seen among those who didn’t want to make a switch in technology due to TDM telephony contracts and reliance on what’s always worked in the past. While VoIP monitoring offers more insight into connectivity and reliability than the landline ever did, it’s difficult for professionals to place the same trust in the “new” as they have in the tried and true.
But the increasing number of smartphones, mobile professionals and virtual offices is making it nearly impossible to ignore the promise of IP telecom. Does this mean forecasts will hold true? According to Transparency Market Research, there will be a 9.7 percent CAGR from 2014 to 2020. The market overall is expected to reach $136.76 billion by 2020. True growth, however, will be seen in the mobile sector as the company expects 14.7 percent growth in this space during the same time period.
As this growth continues, expect to see one other area gain attention. Vonage (News - Alert) set the stage with Bring Your Own Broadband, and now Net Access, in collaboration with Mass Communications, is suggesting that companies bring their own PBX (News - Alert). MSPs that want to offer hosted voice services, yet don’t want to build their own platform can benefit. Is it enough of the best of both worlds to get people on board? Given the rapid adoption of cloud-based services, this is certainly one to watch.