VoIP sales among small and midsized businesses (SMBs)
continue to show great growth potential, but a recent report from
AMI Partners found that most SMBs are confused about the different
options for implementing VoIP.
Most notable among AMI's results is the uncertainty most SMBs
feel about VoIP. The study found that SMBs see VoIP as complex, in
part because of the multitude of IP telephony solutions available.
Limited IT resources are also delaying the rate of VoIP
implementation among SMBs.
In terms of current services, many SMBs have opted for Skype or
Vonage to meet their telecommunications needs. According to AMI,
most SMBs think solutions like Skype and Vonage provide a cost
savings benefit equal to or better than the larger brand-name VoIP
solutions. The differences among the more sophisticated offerings
from larger or brand-name vendors -- premise-based IP PBX, managed
IP PBX, hosted VoIP, broadband VoIP, and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) VoIP --
have only increased confusion for SMBs that lack the IT resources
to fully educate themselves about voice solutions.
Companies with fewer than 20 employees make up about 76% of
businesses in North America. AMI's initial studies recognize the
need for education among SMBs and set out to create an overview of
the various VoIP product offerings available. The report also
documents examples to help SMBs understand which VoIP service best
fits their needs, based on company size and level of
development.
Results also indicate that existing traditional phone systems
continue to be reliable and work well for many SMBs, making those
businesses unwilling to consider a replacement until it is
necessary. AMI's report discusses how the different solution
options can work for companies that should begin to consider the
cost savings and improved productivity associated with both VoIP
and a converged data and voice network.
Like other recent studies, AMI's report reiterated that it is
imperative for vendors and resellers to keep their clients informed
of the various voice solutions that are available for SMBs.