| Benefits of VoIP |
 |
Cost Effectiveness
An organization can gain efficiencies by only having to support a single
network infrastructure. The same technical personnel are able to operate
both voice and data systems instead of requiring different resources with
different expertise. |
|
Convergence
The convergence of voice and data networks into a single IP network
also provides some flexibility since it makes it easy to add, change and
remove phones on the network. Organizations can easily deploy and then
redeploy equipment to maximize their investments, without having to do
a truck roll or require special expertise on hand. |
|
Flexibility
The Internet has changed every company’s business. Competition is fiercer
and can come from anywhere. In response to this, companies require systems
that give them greater flexibility to respond and adapt to market conditions.
PBX’s and point-to-point circuit-based networks are to restrictive and
costly. This is why companies are looking for ways to get the same kind
of flexible, extendable and adaptable network for their voice network that
they do for their data services. |
|
Added Capabilities & Features
VOIP delivers many nice new features such as advanced call routing,
computer integration, unified messaging, and long-distance toll bypass.
Companies must be far more aggressive and inventive in their business offerings
– introducing next-generation applications that will serve the customer
better than the competition. |
|
Decentralized Operations
Because of the Internet, companies can leverage a more distributed
and mobile workforce while staying constantly in touch via cell phones,
pagers, laptops, and connected organizers. Intranets have made it easier
to provide a decentralized workforce to access to computing resources located
anywhere in the organization, while Virtual Private Networks (VPN’s) have
made it far less expensive and more secure (compared to traditional company
owned wide area networks (WAN’s) to connect remote offices to headquarters. |
|
Market Drivers
There are many factors driving the need and demand for hosted PBX solutions.
These include: |
|
-
Both enterprises and service providers are avoiding capital expenditures
(CAPEX) and trimming operating expenses (OPEX).
-
There is a pressure for enterprises and service providers to invest internally
in core function and outsource specialized functions.
-
PBX’s are nearing the end of their life cycle.
-
Next generation service providers have strong Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
business cases.
|
|
Hot Buttons
A customer’s telephone service is the lifeline of their business. As
a result, they have several “Hot Buttons” that must be addressed: |
|
-
Overall Price Positioning
-
Specific Cost Issues (Savings) - including on-net calling and MAC’s
-
Credibility of Service Provider - VOIP credibility is not as much an issue
today as it was several years ago.
-
Service & Retention - build confidence & customer relationship,
display professionalism, ensure workflow management
|
|
Total Cost of Ownership
Business customers are, of course, highly sensitive to both pricing
and perceived value – price advantage and high “value add” will carry the
day in the decision-making process. A TCO comparison must consider the
widest range of relevant factors. Factors to consider are Number of physical
office locations, Number of employees and number of telephones (as well
as growth over the TCO study period), Time and dollar savings, resulting
from simplified, on-demand MAC’s associated with desktop devices (such
as telephone sets). |
|
| TCO analysis will be even more favorable to Hosted IP solutions as: |
|
1. Customer requirements for advanced feature-functionality grow,
2. The number of remote and mobile end-users increases. |
|
|
|
