The way in which employees collaborate today is far different than in past years. Advancements in technology have allowed staff members to communicate anywhere they are located, regardless of whether they are in the office or not. A recent Frost & Sullivan report indicated that the global Web conferencing market is being influenced by disruptive solutions, including social collaboration and mobility tools.

The firm explained that businesses are transitioning from audio-based communication to more powerful audio, Web and video collaboration options. This is resulting in the need for organizations to implement services that not only support online meetings for personnel, but solutions that foster a social environment as well.

The report predicted that revenue for the global Web conferencing market is projected to expand from $1.8 billion in 2012 to nearly $3 billion by 2017. This development will represent a compound annual growth rate of 9.8 percent.

“The integration of Web conferencing with business applications that fit into the customer’s existing workflows and enable quicker decision-making is giving a thrust to the market,” said Roopam Jain, Frost & Sullivan Enterprise Communications and Collaboration industry director. “Eventually, Web conferencing will become a feature in business process and productivity software suites.”

The competition between vendors is expected to ramp up considerably in the near future, Jain added. Service providers are doing their best to offer communication solutions that meet the specific business requirements and corporate processes of their clients, rather than offering a “one-size-fits-all” option.

“They are also increasingly focusing on mobile delivery to ensure a borderless work experience that accommodates shifting work styles,” Jain said.

Bring your own device (BYOD) has taken the IT industry by storm in recent years, as more employees prefer using their personal smartphones and tablets in the workplace. Paired with modern communication options, BYOD allows staff members to collaborate through these gadgets even if they are far from the office in a remote location.

Firms should embrace new tech
Organizations still relying on old land lines for their operations should not hesitate to embrace more capable options that are not only more effective than legacy equipment, but affordable as well. Technologies such as cloud computing, Unified Communication and Collaboration (UCC) tools and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services can empower the workforce like never before. Firms now can have productive personnel anywhere and in any situation, since people have access to work-related content through the Internet.

Companies interested in replacing antiquated land lines in favor of one or all of these solutions should contact FlexITy, a leading managed service provider. The vendor helps clients improve their IT infrastructures and makes sure all firms experience a successful transition to the latest technologies.

Businesses hoping to implement Cisco UCC services specifically will be happy knowing that their needs are also covered by FlexITy. The MSP is also the only Canadian partner that offers clients access to Cisco’s full suite of UCC solutions.

 





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