“Typically, those buying up to 25 extensions have been slower adopters of IP communications, with the key drivers behind implementing an IP infrastructure often resulting from issues with an existing PBX contract approaching the end of its life. However, small business owners and managers are increasingly beginning to appreciate what IP can do for their business.
There are solutions specifically designed for the SME market, which take into account specific requirements and budget. This can make the decision for them to implement IP communications less daunting. The Mitel 3600 Hosted Service provides smaller companies with an affordable and flexible service without the need for upfront investment. By eliminating the need for this investment, small businesses can now enjoy IP communications and compete with larger organisations.
Another platform specifically aimed at the smaller businesses is Mitel’s 3300 CXi, which offers the features and flexibility of IP communications at an affordable price. The Mitel Teleworker solution sits on the CXi platform, and is used by many small businesses to enable them to extend their opening hours by creating a virtual workforce, which makes it possible for employees to work from home. This gives employees the ability to work remotely from any location with the functionality they would normally have in the office, with the added bonus of being able to give the perception of being a much larger organisation.
Overall, there is a good forecast for growth in the SME market, and the channel has plenty of applications on offer to take an IP communications sale beyond pure cost savings and network efficiencies, to real added value products and enhancements. The channel has a real opportunity to increase its revenues by focusing on the SME market.”