Abstract
This study examines the impact of convergence in the small and medium business market, focusing on voice and data convergence, the appeal it has on the SMB market, as well as the evolution of the offering targeting this particular market segment. The qualitative analysis is complemented by quantitative data focused on understanding how well VoIP has been received by the SMB market, what plans have been made in terms of future adoption and the perceived main benefits of and inhibitors to voice and data convergence adoption. Results are derived from IDC' s Vertical Market Survey based on a sample of 1,473 SMBs.
Results are divided by company size (20-49, 50-99, 100-249, 250-499 employees) in the top 5 Western European countries in the following vertical markets: banking; insurance and other finance; discrete manufacturing; process manufacturing; healthcare services; transport, telecommunications, media, and utilities; retail and wholesale; business services; education; government.
"Reduced costs and, more importantly, reduced complexity determined by the single point of accountability of VoIP deployments, are the two immediate elements that service providers wanting to make the most of market opportunities in the SMB space must focus their marketing campaign on. Still, underlining the impact that VoIP has on overall productivity is crucial to build on longer-term success,' ' said Nina Bonagura, senior research analyst with IDC' s European Vertical Markets service.
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- IDC Opinion
- In This Study
- Methodology
- Definitions
- Vertical Markets
- Voice and Data Convergence
- Voice over IP
- IP PBX System
- IP Trunking
- PC-based
- Voice over Broadband (VoBB)
- IP-PBX (Managed Services on Site)
- Hosted IP PBX
- Shared IP Centrex
- Hosted Voice Features
- Situation Overview
- Developments in the Supply Side
- Voice and Data Convergence Adoption in the SMB Market: Survey Results
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Adoption of VoIP Solutions by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Most Prevailing Status of Adoption of a VoIP Solution in the Organization by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Future Outlook
- Voice and Data Convergence Expected Adoption in the SMB Market: Survey Results
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Expected Most Prevailing Status of Adoption of a VoIP Solution in the Next 12 Months, by Company Size, Country and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Key Benefits/Expected Benefits of a VoIP Solution by Company Size, Country and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Satisfaction With Respect to the Key Benefits of a VoIP Solution by Company Size, Country and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Key Obstacles to the Adoption of a VoIP Solution by Company Size, Country and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Essential Guidance
- Learn More
- Related Research
- Synopsis
