As more and more companies are choosing integrated solutions for their telecommunications needs, it can be difficult to determine which solution is best for you. But this is the way the communications market is going, so it’s time to dig in and sort it out.
“The big word is convergence,” says Chris Surdenik, president of Call One. “Convergence is going to dominate the marketplace for the next 10 to 20 years.”
Surdenik says that companies that work with multiple carriers can offer businesses combination packages that provide flexibility and won’t shoehorn a business into a solution just because it fits the provider.
Smart Business spoke with Surdenik and with Clinton James, COO of Call One, about how to choose an integrated telecommunications solution for your business.
What kind of company could benefit from an integrated solution?
Surdenik: An integrated solution would benefit a company that handles its Internet traffic, voice traffic and possibly its data connectivity between multiple physical points.
Take, for example, a company that has four offices. With an integrated solution, that company could run voice and data between those locations using the same cabling infrastructure and data network infrastructure. You’re able to leverage equipment much more effectively than if you have separate, disparate systems doing separate tasks.
What are the benefits of using an integrated solution?
Surdenik: One of the biggest benefits is the cost savings, which comes from leveraging the equipment that you’re purchasing much more effectively. You don’t have to buy equipment to run your data network and separate equipment to run your voice network. You can utilize the same network equipment and cabling to achieve different goals within your business.
It will also help streamline what you are doing internally. For example, voicemail can be integrated with e-mail, so employees can just look at one source for messaging.
How can businesses achieve integration in telecommunications?
Surdenik: There are different ways to achieve integration. You can do it by having a premise-based setup, where your data and voice network are integrated, or on a hosted basis — IP-Centrex — which is like cloud computing for voice. Some people find that way to be more cost effective and efficient for them.
