Technology
Written by Alma Anonas-Carpio / Correspondent
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 19:35

THERE is a new unified communications solution out in the Philippine market that is tailor-fit for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Enterprise communications specialist Avaya launched its IP Office suite of solutions, which is geared toward helping businesses with five to 100 employees optimize their communications infrastructure, Avaya Philippines country director Edgar Doctolero said in a press briefing.

“The premise of IP Office is to provide SMEs with the same benefits that larger enterprises gain from the latest communications technologies,” Doctolero said. “Through IP Office, an SME can simplify access to information, streamline communications between its staff, partners and customers and allow employees to work remotely, seamlessly with any external party.”

The solution comes with call reporting features that allow SMEs to store, collate and analyze customer data so they can “better understand their customer needs and staff to react faster” to customer demands, Doctolero said. “The solution also gives Filipino entrepreneurs an opportunity to set up a small business process outsourcing or call center at a very low start-up cost of approximately $100 per seat for the hardware and software solutions.”

“The launch of Avaya IP Office highlights the growing trend toward internet protocol (IP) telephony adoption in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian markets as it becomes accessible to smaller businesses,” he said, adding that the solution is coming the Philippines first before it is spread across Southeast Asia.

Doctolero noted that the SME market in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia “is a big market for Avaya, which is why we have created a solution that is tailor-fit and not forced-to-fit SMEs.”

Avaya’s Asean area leader K.K. Chan noted that SMEs “must now hurdle rising business costs while meeting the demand for increased efficiency, responsiveness and overcoming productivity and mobility challenges.” With Avaya’s new solution, Chan noted that “distributed workplaces, like multiple branches and offices or solutions like telecommuting” will benefit best from Avaya’s IP Office solution, which “goes wherever you go” by allowing uninterrupted communications linking mobile phones, landlines and IP phones.

“Our solution helps SMEs prepare for the future even if they are starting small today,” Chan said.

*Published in BusinessMirror