As the technologies in the business and consumer worlds continue to blend, decision-makers need to prepare for changes. New demands emerging within the workplace that have spawned from the consumer landscape are transforming the traditional office phone system, introducing a number of new opportunities for the corporate environment as a whole.

The simple fact is that organizations are no longer satisfied with using outdated land line phone system, as the antiquated platforms do not have any of the characteristics that are now required in the business world. Better scalability, availability and performance are just a few of the qualities that an innovative enterprise VoIP system has over its predecessor. This means decision-makers who are looking to stay on the forefront of their respective industry, not to mention the private sector in general, must consider making some serious infrastructure adjustments.

Unlike old phone systems, VoIP can keep up with the fast-paced requirements associated with today's corporate operations. This is important for several reasons. While staying relevant will ensure operations are as efficient as possible, it will also present consumers with an image of resilience and flexibility. A recent Business 2 Community report highlighted the importance of maintaining this image and how deploying an advanced VoIP service can help.

Using telecommunications to stay applicable

The wide array of VoIP phone system features make the technology appealing to a wide number of companies. The auto attendant service, for example, can be extremely helpful to redirect calls when traffic levels are peaking, Business 2 Community noted. By leveraging auto attendant, companies can provide incoming callers with a variety of pre-recorded messages depending on a customer's needs. This is especially useful in the contact center, as employees sometimes cannot manage the large number of interactions or consumers wish to avoid the often drawn-out service process.

While a properly deployed auto attendant application can dramatically improve customer experience and make an enterprise seem even bigger than it is, the solution is not the only benefit associated with implementing a VoIP system. Leveraging a remote area code is another major advantage of VoIP. Business 2 Community highlighted how companies can establish an area code to give them an appearance of being local – or in some cases, much larger than they really are. This can be an effective tactic at attracting and retaining new clients, which is the basic rule of survival in the business world.

In many cases, VoIP providers also allow users to access advanced conferencing, video and fax applications, the news source noted. Video is especially important today as the proliferation of mobile devices in and outside of the workplace provides individuals with access to high-definition cameras that can connect to the IP network at virtually any time. This enables organizations to reduce costs by eliminating the need to travel, while simultaneously enhancing collaboration between parties that could be miles away from one another.

Keeping up with technology

The business phone system landscape is constantly changing due to the proliferation of mobile and IP-based technologies. If enterprises want to stay relevant with both competitors and consumers, decision-makers need to be sure they replace old phone systems with more applicable offerings that support adaptability and flexibility.

A new study by CompTIA highlighted the importance of keeping up with technology, as doing so gives organizations the ability to develop unique strategies that will give them an advantage in the coming years. The survey polled more than 1,200 business and IT executives and found that more than three-quarters of respondents believe technology is either "important" or "very important" to the success of their business. In fact, the majority of decision-makers intend to invest more heavily in IT this year.

CompTIA noted that updating old systems is among the top priorities for 2013.

"Emerging technologies such as cloud computing continue to see adoption gains as well," said Tim Herbert, vice president of research at CompTIA. "More than half of responding companies say they are either experimenting with or fully using cloud computing solutions."

Advances in cloud technologies have even driven these services into the telecommunications industry, as the hosted PBX solution is currently considered to be among the top phone systems available to the enterprise. This is because a cloud telephony offering is highly scalable, flexible and adaptable – all of the things a business needs to thrive in the future.

Enterprises that want to be competitive and relevant in the long run need to consider embracing a new phone system, especially if they are using an outdated land line offering that simply doesn't hold water anymore. By understanding current and long-term objectives, executives can work with a trusted service provider and implement a next-generation platform to keep goals in sight.

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The proliferation of bring your own device (BYOD) and other mobile initiatives is encouraging enterprise decision-makers to rethink what can actually be considered a business phone system. In the past, these platforms were considered one thing: a clunky land line solution that could not be moved without encountering some monumental challenge. Today is much different, thanks largely to the advent of smartphones and tablets.

A recent Gartner report highlighted that 38 percent of companies will stop providing employees with communication devices by 2016 when BYOD is more common. Because there are many advantages to BYOD and other mobile strategies, including the ability to support remote connectivity, reduce costs and improve employee satisfaction, these endeavors are considered among the most disruptive – and positive – forces to hit the enterprise in the past several decades.

How is BYOD changing the business world?

Generally, BYOD enables individuals to use personal smartphones, tablets and other mobile platforms for work-related purposes. This idea, which is part of the greater consumerization movement, is providing organizations of all sizes and industries with greater availability to more advanced phone system features that can be accessed anywhere in the world, Gartner stated. As a result, enterprise collaboration strategies are becoming more thorough, strengthening operations and improving overall experience in and outside of the workplace.

At the same time, decision-makers have not come to fully grasp BYOD, as companies continue to experience challenges when deploying the programs.

"The business case for BYOD needs to be better evaluated. Most leaders do not understand the benefits, and only 22 percent believe they have made a strong business case. Like other elements of the Nexus of Forces (cloud, mobile, social and information), mobile initiatives are often exploratory and may not have a clearly defined and quantifiable goal, making IT planners uncomfortable. If you are offering BYOD, take advantage of the opportunity to show the rest of the organization the benefits it will bring to them and to the business," said David Willis, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner.

A well-managed BYOD initiative will have a dramatic impact on corporate operations by providing individuals new ways to work. However, it is important that decision-makers take the time to map out the project ahead of time to avoid any complications when actually navigating the mobile environment.

Developing an effective BYOD strategy

If a BYOD endeavor is to be successful, enterprise directors need to develop a robust policy that governs its use. A Good Technology report noted that these guidelines must include which operating systems and specific devices are allowed in the workplace. After all, if a company implements a complete free-for-all approach to mobility, IT departments and executives will have trouble managing operations amongst the chaos.

Beyond determining which platforms are allowed to connect to the office phone system, decision-makers must also come to grips with the fact that using mobile gadgets in the workplace inherently increases risk, Good Technology noted. In most cases, BYOD initiatives will mean that individuals use their smartphones and tablets for both corporate and personal activities. This blend means that sensitive information has a greater chance of slipping through unforeseen vulnerabilities.

"It is essential that IT specify which platforms will be supported and how; what service levels a user should expect; what the user's own responsibilities and risks are; who qualifies; and that IT provides guidelines for employees purchasing a personal device for use at work, such as minimum requirements for operating systems," Willis asserted.

Still, Gartner found that more than half of enterprises believe they are implementing security and governance strategies effectively, thereby improving the overall use of personal smartphones and tablets in the workplace. This confidence is leading to the maturity of innovative tools and procedures that will be needed to carry out mission-critical tasks in the long run.

In the coming years, the consumerization of IT will continue to have a significant role in the ongoing development of the phone system. By changing the way people communicate, the business world as a whole can evolve into something greater and more connected. In many cases, implementing cloud computing tools can help organizations embrace BYOD and other crucial mobile strategies, as the hosted environments offer a uniform and agnostic platform in which every endpoint can work together. By planning ahead and working with trusted service providers, enterprise decision-makers can experience more significant collaborative opportunities.

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The contact center plays a vital role in a company's ability to keep existing and prospective customers engaged with the organization and satisfied with the level of service they are receiving. In many cases, the rapidly evolving IT landscape is giving contact centers the ability to leverage advanced collaborative tools such as social media, instant messaging, video conferencing and, of course, voice. By using these solutions, customer service representatives can meet the consumer on his or her desired platform, improving reliability and experience.

At the same time, however, the transforming IT environment is also introducing some complexity. This is largely because many firms are simply unaware of the changes that need to take place within their business phone systems for that company to thrive and stay on top of the constantly changing demands of consumers.

A recent report by unified customer interaction solutions provider Altitude Software highlighted how the biggest challenge for today's contact center is having a well-rounded and efficient technological platform. This means that many companies are struggling to manage basic and complex changes in their infrastructure, such as the adoption of enterprise VoIP systems and the elimination of bulky, on-site land line telephony services. If contact center managers do not work to eliminate these challenges, they will continue experiencing problems in the coming years, especially as mobile and cloud computing technologies keep picking up momentum.

Improving performance in the contact center

Efficiency is critical to the success of an organization, especially in today's fast-paced business world. This means that companies need do their utmost to meet the customer demands if they want to thrive and succeed in the long run. Unfortunately, Altitude Software found that optimizing processes and improving productivity was cited as the second largest challenge hampering the contact center industry today.

The study also found that resolving human resource issues and replacing old phone systems are among the biggest obstacles that need to be overcome by today's customer service departments. After all, if enterprises are still relying on outdated telecommunications services, they will not be able to interact with clients on their desired platforms, which will negatively contribute to a business' bottom line and reputation.

Individuals today use a wide range of collaborative tools. This is largely due to the proliferation of cloud and mobile technologies outside of the business world. In the past, consumers who wanted to speak with corporate representatives were forced to use the land line telephone, as it was the only technology able to support communication between the two parties. Today is much different, as people can use their smartphones and tablets for a variety of purposes, including instant messaging, video conferencing and voice.

For this reason, decision-makers should consider augmenting their telecommunications strategy by implementing a single platform that supports all of these connections. Yet only 47 percent of organizations have made this a reality, according to Altitude Software. This suggests that many firms are struggling to keep up with evolving consumer collaboration demands because decision-makers have to support multiple disparate solutions.

Innovation through consolidation

By implementing a unified communications platform, which enables individuals to take advantage of a broad range of advanced phone system features, companies of all sizes can improve the efficiency of their contact center. This means that enterprises can continue meeting customer demands without encountering unnecessary management complications or other problems.

A recent study of more than 1,000 employees by Powwownow found that roughly 57 percent of respondents believe unified communications supports the ability to improve productivity and reduce costs in the long run. This is largely because the platforms converge a number of different solutions into a single platform and supports mobile connectivity, which is critical as bring your own device and other mobile strategies continue picking up speed.

"Times are changing and today's workforce has to adapt in order to stay ahead. We have an abundance of technology at our fingertips, and UC will only make it easier now for businesses to streamline communications and in turn be in a better position to service customers," said Simon Curry, CEO of Powwownow. "UC is on its way to becoming an integral cog in the way businesses communicate; it's up to us not to resist."

In the coming years, contact centers will need to keep evolving to keep pace with the rest of the corporate world without impairing operations, jeopardizing financial stability or negatively impacting a company's ability to prioritize customer experience. By planning ahead and working with trusted service providers, contact center managers can find the appropriate business phone systems that enable their organization to meet these demands and keep up with technological innovations. Because customer service is critical to the underlying survival of an enterprise, improving the contact center is imperative, not necessarily an option.

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Today's business world is much different than that of the past, as enterprises now have the opportunity to leverage advanced office phone systems, cloud computing and other innovative tools that support the ability to carry out operations in new ways. But technology is not the only thing that is changing how companies function, as decision-makers are increasingly pressured to transform the workplace to cater to the next generation of employees: Millennials.

In the coming years, businesses will find it increasingly important to meet the needs of new personnel entering the corporate landscape, as failing to do so will hinder the private and public sectors from expanding. In many cases, embracing new telecommunication strategies that make the work environment more flexible will be among the most critical transitions undertaken by decision-makers.

A recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) highlighted the Millennial mentality, noting that flexibility will be among the top ways new workers judge companies and determine if working there will be beneficial. If businesses fail to make the necessary infrastructure and philosophical adjustments to cater to these demands, they will find it increasingly difficult to attract and retain top talent.

Millennials require a better work-life balance

While many of today's employees still value the concept of work, they do not want their jobs to overpower their everyday lives. For this reason, the Generation Y workforce appreciates organizations that support a remote workforce and the ability to conduct business operations outside of the conventional office.

"The Millennial generation is pushing organizations to the work world many of them want," said Terri McClements, vice chair and U.S. human capital leader at PwC. "Those organizations that pay attention to this seismic change and adapt accordingly should find themselves at a competitive advantage and better positioned to retain the talent they work so hard to attract."

PwC revealed that 64 percent of Millennials would like the opportunity to work from home on occasion, compared to 66 percent of non-Millennials. Furthermore, 66 percent of Generation Y employees also appreciate the ability to shift their work hours if necessary.

Unfortunately, today's individuals are much more used to working well beyond 40-hour weeks, leading many to consider sacrificing some of their pay to reduce their responsibilities, thus preventing them from getting a head start over colleagues in the long run, PwC reported. Still, enterprises can combat these concerns by implementing an advanced business phone system that supports remote connectivity and essentially enables them to create their own hours.

Using technology to attract Millennials

Taking advantage of the evolving telecommunications landscape can be an effective way for many companies to appeal to the demands of next-generation employees. This is especially important as the consumerization of IT continues to impact workforce mentalities, as more individuals believe it is downright necessary to support mobile connectivity, regardless if the devices are personal or corporate-liable endpoints.

If organizations are still reliant on legacy land line telephony solutions, however, reinforcing the use of smartphones and tablets in and outside of the workplace can be difficult, if not impossible. For this reason, decision-makers need to consider replacing old phone systems with more innovative technologies that are able to suit the needs of today's employees.

While there are a number of options for companies to choose from, the hosted PBX system can be among the most advantageous to firms of all sizes. This is largely because IT workers and C-level executives are becoming more familiar with the cloud and understand the potential benefits that are associated with using those solutions in the workplace.

Unlike traditional phone systems that could only be accessed through hard line connections, the cloud can be accessed from virtually anywhere at any time on any device. This agnostic philosophy is exactly what tomorrow's employees are looking for, especially as bring your own device (BYOD) picks up speed. Because BYOD enables people to use virtually any gadget they use in their daily lives, business phone systems cannot be biased and only support a single operating system or platform. While decision-makers can set some ground rules as to what types of endpoints can connect to the cloud VoIP network, taking a completely biased approach will be unappealing to many people.

A separate report by ABI Research highlighted how the cloud communications market is rapidly expanding, partially due to the growing understanding of the hosted technology, but also because the mobile landscape is growing at such an accelerated rate.

"Enterprise mobilization is also driving migration to the cloud," said Dan Shey, practice director at ABI Research. "Cloud applications ease application delivery for businesses that are increasingly relying on access across fixed and mobile endpoints."

In the coming years, enterprises around the world need to consider augmenting their telecom strategies to meet Millennial demands, as failing to do so will make it more difficult for those companies to stay competitive and, ultimately, survive in the long run.

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In many cases, an advanced enterprise VoIP system can appeal to both large and small companies, as the technology meets the demands of virtually all users. A recent report by My VoIP Provider highlighted the many benefits associated with using VoIP in the workplace, including the ability to reduce conventional telephony costs, which can be critical in today's unpredictable economy. However, VoIP offers more than financial grace, as the services can make it easier for organizations to support a broad range of next-generation work initiatives.

Knocking down legacy office walls
For years, the term "work" meant a place that individuals had to report to if they wanted to get paid. This is no longer the case, as VoIP systems and the ongoing mobile movement have made it easier than ever for enterprises to support a remote workforce.

Unlike traditional land line phone systems that needed to have a physical connection for an endpoint to access the network, VoIP does everything digitally. This means that decision-makers can assign remote extensions for employees who choose to use a desk phone at home. In addition, IT directors can allow individuals to use personal smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices to connect to the communication platform, My VoIP Provider noted.

Additionally, VoIP has unique phone system features that enable remote workers to stay productive, the news source stated. This means employees can use IP faxing, video conferencing and other solutions to collaborate with colleagues, customers and partners.

Embracing the cloud easier
There is no doubt that cloud computing is going to leave a lasting impression on the enterprise. For this reason, decision-makers around the world are pursuing leads that will make it easier to manage and use the cloud without disrupting operations. By using a hosted PBX system, executives can take a communicative route to the cloud and experience a number of unique benefits beyond using cloud services solely for storage.

When a phone system is hosted in the cloud, executives have the opportunity to take advantage of a scalable system that can easily add, take away or move extensions, according to My VoIP Provider. This is because most of the technology's equipment is managed off-site, reducing complexity and cost.

A separate report by Infonetics Research said the global market for VoIP services generated approximately $63 billion in revenue in 2012, up 9 percent from 2011. This expansion was largely driven by the proliferation of cloud and hosted communications technologies in and outside of the private sector. Vendors are promoting the benefits associated with cloud VoIP because of the ongoing demand to support remote connectivity and multiple business branches – two critical characteristics of a successful enterprise by today's standards.

In the coming years, the phone system in the workplace will continue to change, especially as the mobile and cloud landscapes mature and introduce even more opportunities for growing companies. By planning ahead and understanding their firms' long-term demands and capabilities, executives can ditch legacy solutions and make the switch to hosted or on-premise VoIP services. This will likely give them the chance to gain a competitive advantage over rival organizations still using outdated collaborative platforms.

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While there are many benefits associated with replacing an old phone system, the ability to support remote connectivity is often seen as the most important. This is largely because bring your own device and other mobile trends are encouraging companies to embrace teleworking strategies that provide individuals with anytime access to the same resources used in the office.

Small firms now see the benefits associated with supporting a remote workforce. In fact, a recent study of more than 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by MYOB revealed that approximately one-quarter of employees primarily work from home or some other location. Another third of respondents said they split their time between home and the office.

While supporting a remote workforce is often seen as a way to reduce costs, the truth of the matter is that the same initiatives can strengthen revenue streams.

"The link between teleworking and improved business results is clear in MYOB's research," said Tim Reed, CEO of MYOB. "SMBs whose employees worked remotely most or all of the time were 24 percent more likely to experience a revenue rise in the past year. Twenty-one percent experienced a rise, compared to 17 percent whose staff only worked from the office."

The business benefits of telework
From a financial perspective, the ability to let individuals work from home can be extremely appealing to SMBs. By allowing employees to connect to the network through small business VoIP systems or another advanced telecommunications system, decision-makers can eliminate the need to keep costly equipment in the office. This can reduce maintenance expenses and give organizations more spending money.

Beyond the economical reasons, MYOB revealed that 31 percent of firms with remote working strategies have happier workers, while another 27 percent said their employees are more productive. Approximately 13 percent of respondents also said teleworking makes business managers more content with the way operations are carried out.

"This speaks volumes as to why empowering employees to work outside the traditional confines of an office is becoming increasingly prevalent," Reed said. "Businesses are realizing the bottom-line benefits and rewards from more engaged employees."

A study by IDC revealed that the trend for mobile working is expanding, as analysts expect the global population of remote employees to reach 1.3 billion people by 2015, comprising roughly 37 percent of the overall workforce. There are several reasons for this change, including the proliferation of advanced smartphones, tablets and other devices, as well as ongoing innovations in the traditional telecom landscape.

Because more businesses are using VoIP than ever before, executives are encountering unique opportunities to support remote connectivity – a capability that was difficult in the past with traditional land line phone systems. Decision-makers should take the time to assess their infrastructure and determine whether replacing their old phone system with newer solutions will provide them with any unique abilities.

There is no doubt that the private sector is becoming increasingly competitive, especially for small firms that have to compete with large enterprises. By supporting a remote workforce, companies may be able to open up new opportunities for growth.

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While all parts of the organization need to be efficient, the contact center and other client-facing departments in particular need to be optimized. After all, if employees are not able to communicate with customers and resolve product queries in a timely manner, the business will likely experience decreased end-user satisfaction rates that could impair their reputation of providing high-quality service.

Augmenting the contact center begins with ensuring the proper collaborative tools are in place. Unfortunately, a recent Rostrvm Solutions study of help desks found that a large portion of respondents said efficiency is often impaired by the use of disparate and unorganized services. In fact, nearly two-thirds of customer service departments stated employees leverage three or more applications to complete a single call. As a result, workers are not able to improve efficiency because they are bogged down by disjointed solutions and consumers are forced to wait or receive poor service.

“It doesn’t take a mathematician to recognize that the longer it takes to process a call, the higher the operational costs will be, whilst productivity will be lower,” said Ken Reid of Rostrvm Solutions.

Meeting the consumer demand
Today’s business phone system needs to be layered in the sense that it can support multiple methods of communication, as voice is no longer the only way individuals interact with company representatives. While all respondents stated they still use voice services, roughly 90 percent said email is still a preferred platform, Rostrvm Solutions reported.

The survey also revealed that enterprises with large contact centers are more likely to have multichannel strategies regarding customer service, as roughly 22 percent of respondents said web chat and instant messaging solutions are used. Another 17 percent said they are now leveraging social media technologies to cater to the needs of tomorrow’s consumers.

While augmenting the workplace with more solutions can be helpful to keep clients engaged and satisfied, companies that fail to monitor key performance indicators will likely not be able to experience the full benefits associated with transforming the contact center.

“The inefficiencies we have observed in the contact center created by multiple applications and complex data handling are mirrored and even amplified in the back office,” Reid said. “It therefore makes sound business sense that both should be monitored properly.”

Contact center performance
A report by Klipfolio stated that customer satisfaction and average handle times are critical metrics to ensuring contact center operations meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s consumers. This means that businesses must be adaptive and ready for change, as continuing to use outdated phone systems and inefficient collaborative tools will only make it more challenging to keep clients engaged.

Decision-makers should also keep an eye on call abandonment rates, which track the number of callers who hang up before reaching a company representative, Klipfolio noted. These figures are often higher among companies that do not have enterprise VoIP or another flexible phone system that features tools like call forwarding.

As the private sector grows increasingly competitive, executives will be encouraged to optimize the contact center to ensure consumers are satisfied with how an organization handles customer questions or problems. If a firm is relying on antiquated technologies, contact center performance will suffer and clients may take their business elsewhere.

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These demands led to the development of IP phone systems and VoIP, which has been gaining momentum with each passing year. A recent report by Infonetics Research highlighted the growing need for VoIP, noting that the global market generated approximately $63 billion in revenue in 2012, up 9 percent from the year before.

While there are a number of reasons driving changes in enterprise communication, the transformations are largely being pushed by the ongoing demand to support a remote workforce and multiple branches. After all, a growing company will need to extend its borders, as limiting a firm to a single building will only prevent it from increasing in size.

Meanwhile, innovative collaborative technologies such as unified communications and hosted PBX solutions are driving the VoIP market forward.

"Vendors are increasingly pitching cloud telephony and unified communications services alongside SIP trunking as more multi-site businesses seek out hybrid solutions," said Diane Myers, principal analyst for VoIP and unified communications at Infonetics Research.

Where is VoIP headed?
Infonetics Research highlighted that the combined market for enterprise VoIP and residential IP phone services is forecast to generate nearly $83 billion in revenue by 2017. This will largely be driven by the private sector's endless pursuit to deploy the most advanced, innovative and effective phone system available, which is turning many decision-makers to SIP trunking, cloud offerings and other technologies.

Analysts noted that cloud-based communication services generated roughly 17 percent more revenue in 2012 than in 2011. Meanwhile, the demand for SIP trunks grew 83 percent over the past year as business executives sought out tools to support multiple branches without jeopardizing savings or flexibility.

Managed IP PBX offerings, which remain the largest portion of the overall VoIP market, experienced a 9 percent growth in sales, suggesting that many enterprises are reliant on dedicated systems.

"The market for VoIP services has moved well beyond the early adopter stage to mainstream status in many developed countries," Myers said. "New geographic regions are opening up and SIP trunking and hosted UC continue to heat things up, fueling growth."

To the cloud and beyond
As traditional IP solutions pick up speed, cloud VoIP services are gaining momentum in the private sector due to their ability to support remote connectivity. This was highlighted in a recent report by My VoIP Provider, which noted that a cloud service's ability to provide individuals with anytime, anywhere access to mission-critical resources is among the technology's most important characteristics. In the coming years, this significance will continue to gain weight as the mobile landscape expands and decision-makers continue to implement bring your own device.

As consumerization trends transform, employees will increasingly see the benefits associated with working outside of the office, particularly after they realize they will still be able to carry out corporate tasks in an efficient manner. To do so, however, executives need to implement a telecommunication platform with the right phone system features capable of supporting advanced operations.

By planning ahead and working with a trusted service provider, companies of all sizes will be able to replace traditional phone systems with more innovative offerings that provide real benefits to the organization as a whole.

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VoIP is quickly becoming mainstream for a number of reasons, including the ability to reduce costs and improve productivity, according to a Smart Business Network Online report. Because of this increased enthusiasm in the technology, the market for the solutions is becoming crowded with new vendors trying to get a piece of the pie. For this reason, decision-makers need to look into various VoIP service providers to find the appropriate offerings that best meet their organizations' unique requirements.

"If [vendors] are selling a standard, proprietary system that hasn't improved, they are using off-the-shelf technology and you won't be able to receive tweaks or necessary upgrades when you need them," telecommunications expert Alex Desberg told SBN Online.

Beyond the ability to evolve, executives should keep a lookout for several critical VoIP phone system features that will provide a number of advantages to employees using the services.

VoIP characteristics to look for
Although there are a number of benefits associated with using VoIP, among the most important today is the ability to support an increasingly remote workforce. SBN Online stated that VoIP is unlike traditional land line phone offerings because it is not necessarily tied down to a single location. This means that individuals outside of the office can still connect to the network and businesses that need to move to a new building can simply unplug the system and take it with them.

VoIP also gives decision-makers the ability to monitor the solutions. This enables managers to understand how the telecom platform is being used and whether making any adjustments to the system will introduce new opportunities, the news source noted. If a contact center regularly experiences increased traffic during certain hours, for example, executives can be sure they have enough employees to answer incoming queries when needed.

As the overall method of communication changes in and outside of the business world, however, VoIP is bound to evolve to meet these demands. For this reason, enterprises must ensure they are ready to adapt or they risk not being able to keep up with the changing of the times.

The future of voice
In a recent blog post, Forrester Research analyst Brownlee Thomas asserted that telecommunications will play an increasingly important role in the overall development of the business world, as companies will need to stay on pace with constant evolution, including consumerization trends.

As bring your own device and other mobile strategies gain momentum in the enterprise, decision-makers must be sure their current telecom platforms are able to support these endeavors, Thomas stated. If existing solutions are unable to reinforce the mobile era, replacing an old phone system with VoIP may be critical to the overall survival of a business.

Every telecommunications strategy has an art and science aspect to it, as managers need to consider how individuals want to carry out mission-critical tasks. By taking the time to plan collaborative strategies in advance, executives can find the right service provider for them and deploy VoIP without a hitch, giving them a leg up over rival firms still struggling with outdated services.

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Several years ago, some industry pundits and corporate executives thought enterprise VoIP was simply a fad that would be forgotten in time. Today's business world has contradicted this belief, as a large portion of companies are now using IP telephony and intend to continue doing so in the future, according to a report by a major telecommunications provider.

"We are truly on the brink of a major change, as numerous businesses are realizing the cost and features benefits of VoIP," telecom expert Chris Griffith said.

While land line phone services represented the chief collaborative offering for the business world for a long time, this is no longer the case. VoIP is the first real competitor to conventional telephony solutions, the report noted, and will continue to play a role in the development of enterprise communications because of its scalability, reliability and affordability.

The migration to VoIP
The features of a phone system are often the main reasons companies embrace the technology in the first place. VoIP is a cutting-edge service, and among its main attributes is the ability to provide organizations with a number of innovative tools that would have traditionally cost extra with legacy phone solutions, the news source stated. This means enterprises can use call forwarding, routing and waiting for less than conventional telecommunications platforms, making VoIP an ideal platform in today's competitive and financially-burdened private sector.

In addition to the many features associated with VoIP, today's business world can truly benefit from the technology's ability to support a remote workforce. Because consumerization trends are encouraging organizations to embrace cloud technologies, mobile devices and teleworking habits, decision-makers must ensure their collaborative tools are able to keep individuals connected regardless of location. This is one of VoIP's main qualities that attracts a large portion of users, the report stated, and it will continue to do so in the coming years.

As teleworking becomes a more common occurrence in the business world, decision-makers need to be sure they have the proper tools to support these endeavors. Enterprise VoIP can be an extremely efficient way to reinforce telecommuting habits without jeopardizing collaboration or connectivity. According to IDC, the mobile worker population is poised to reach 1.3 billion people in 2015, accounting for more than 37 percent of the global workforce.

"Despite recent market turmoil, mobility continues to be a critical part of the global workforce and we expect to see healthy growth in the number of mobile workers," said Stacy Crook, senior research analyst for mobile enterprise research at IDC. "Our forecast shows that the worldwide mobile worker population will increase from just over 1 billion in 2010 to more than 1.3 billion by 2015."

In the coming years, it will be increasingly important that decision-makers replace their old phone system with VoIP or another innovative platform that supports next-generation working habits, including telecommuting and seamless access to advanced voice features from virtually anywhere on any platform. The ongoing adoption of VoIP suggests that it is the next logical step in the evolution of the business phone system; companies need to adapt and embrace it or risk falling behind because they continue to use outdated solutions.

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