How Are SMBs Viewing the Cloud?

14% of small to medium-sized businesses claim to have increased their understanding of cloud-based options over the past year.

Fonality, a North American business communications company, recently released the results of a comprehensive survey conducted by Webtorials, which measured 2012 communications goals and challenges for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). The “2012 Small and Medium-Sized Business Communications Plans and Priorities State-of-the-Market Report” revealed a 14 percent increase in the sector’s understanding of cloud-based service options from last year. However, optimizing the total cost of operations (TCO) still remains the top priority for SMBs. Fonality’s CEO, David Scult, remarked on the findings, saying:

It is encouraging to see that SMBs are taking the initiative to learn more about cloud-based services. As awareness about the benefits of cloud solutions gains momentum, these findings suggest that SMBs are beginning to connect the cost-saving potential of these services to their overall mission of reducing expenditures and minimizing TCO. While controlling costs by investing in new technology seems contradictory, cloud-based communications tools, in particular, can be leveraged to drive competitive differentiation and maximize operational expenses. As a result, this technology can help spur growth through enhanced productivity and efficiency.

Key findings of the study include:

• Containing cost and reducing TCO remains the primary goal for SMBs in 2012
• Education about the capabilities of cloud-based technology has significantly increased and is perceived as a “great equalizer” against larger competitors
• Flexibility and mobility with communications solutions are gaining importance with almost one quarter of respondents
• Need to provide access to communications solutions for remote employees, cited by 85 percent of respondents

To access the complete “2012 Small and Medium-Sized Business Communications Plans and Priorities State-of-the-Market Report,” visit http://www.webtorials.com/content/2012/01/2012-smb-plans.html.

With system-agnostic solutions designed specifically to meet the individual communications needs of SMBs, Fonality offers VoIP, UC and contact center desktop and mobile solutions that it claims are simple to use, easy to manage and affordable to deploy. The company’s cloud-based model provides the same services of traditional IP systems without costly hardware, infrastructure or lengthy implementation cycles, according to the company. Fonality also says total cost of ownership is dramatically reduced by 50 percent, or more, while users enjoy access to powerful communications services usually reserved for the largest of companies.