We live in interesting times, technologically speaking. The past few years have given us a host of new trends and innovations, from the rise of mobile devices and the cloud, to the increasing popularity of unified communications and VoIP. And we seem poised at the brink of a new set of changes as we move through 2013, with technologies that once seemed like the stuff of science fiction, like 3D printing, poised to take over our lives.

It’s always interesting to speak with industry insiders on these topics, and recently, we at TMC (News - Alert) interviewed Kerry Garrison, vice president of strategic initiatives at Vitelity. He spoke about the biggest trends facing the market today, his thoughts about the future and more.

Garrison sees mobility as the most significant trend impacting business operations today. He feels that companies are just starting to understand how mobile devices can ensure business continuity, for example. By using softphones and SMS, clients on smartphones rather than native dialers and messaging apps can re-route calls and messages to new employees who have replaced departed workers. Garrison also pointed out that Vitelity’s business model is predicated on the BYOD trend, but the biggest challenge therein is to deal with the increasing number of devices connected to the system, ensuring compatibility. He is not convinced that Windows 8 will be able to compete against Android (News - Alert) or iOS in the mobile space.

On the subject of UC and VoIP, Garrison sees one primary barrier to widespread adoption of these technologies: network capacity. Companies need to examine their internal networks to see if they have enough bandwidth. Businesses also need to decide whether to use SIP trunks or a hosted platform. In short, he stresses the need for plenty of forethought and testing when implementing an IP strategy.

Another trend that is on Garrison’s mind is cloud computing. He sees that many companies are looking to deploy hosted PBX (News - Alert) platforms as they become more comfortable with cloud computing. He also believes that security of SIP communications still has a long way to go due to the number of legs a call must pass through.

He also sees the rise of social media as a current trend. Garrison sees that customers are using social media to lodge complaints, so he believes that companies need to be on top of that trend, as customers and competitors alike will pay close attention to a business’ social media presence.

Garrison also turned his crystal ball to the future, attempting to predict some trends for the coming year. He sees customer service as a force in 2013, as he has watched Vitelity’s customer base begin to grow, requiring more automated systems and support structures for customers. Garrison does not, however, believe that the laptop will die in 2013, though he does feel that more users will be able to migrate off their laptops and onto mobile devices this year.

2013 will not be the year that video communication finally achieves widescreen adoption, according to Garrison. He sees it as suited for conference rooms, but not a great fit for the desktop. He also believes that people need to remember that technology can’t solve every problem, and thinks that people should not get hung up on technology while ignoring the human element. One positive prediction he has for 2013 is that it will be the year of the 3D printer. Prices are dropping and they will soon be available to the masses.

One event that excites Garrison is ITEXPO Miami. He can’t wait to see the “back row vendors,” as he calls them, and new companies with new products that have innovative ideas and concepts. They have the potential to make 2013 even better than anticipated!

Vitelity is a GOLD sponsor of ITEXPO Miami 2013 taking place Jan. 29- Feb 1, in Miami, Florida. Visit Vitelity in booth #301. For more information on ITEXPO Miami 2013 click here.