Cloud computing - A Gartner Executive Program worldwide survey of 1,600 CIO’s found that, in terms of priority, cloud computing was second only to virtualization. If CIO’s and IT managers are running their applications from the cloud and virtual environments, for both the company and its customers, then everything becomes about connectivity. Without a reliable and robust broadband provider users are left unable to work and customers lost.
A reduction in business travel - 2010 saw business travel in Europe disrupted by a number of tube, train and air strikes and volcanoes. On top of this the Government has been putting huge pressure on companies to reduce their carbon footprint. With the global video conferencing market set to grow to around $10.8 billion by 2015 and clearer HD video conferencing systems supported by broadband networks which are truly built for business, such as BE Wholesale, companies are able to dramatically slash their travel budgets and carbon footprints at the same time without having to sacrifice all important face to face interaction.
Remote working and mobile workforces - Once again the winter weather has plagued our transport infrastructure and remote working has become a viable way for companies to maintain productivity even when the transport infrastructure is failing to cope. However companies will need to ensure that any devices used by remote and mobile workers have the high bandwidth and reliable infrastructure needed to support their bandwidth hungry cloud computing, VoIP and video conferencing requirements.
Increased adoption of Microsoft Lync - Microsoft Lync is touting itself as the next generation of unified comms and provides a single interface that unites voice communications, IM, audio, video, and Web. Businesses will be looking carefully at their unified communications strategies in an effort to cut unnecessary costs and counter the effects of the recession.
More choice for aggregators - Until recently aggregators have been limited to a select few providers for their wholesale broadband provision but with the launch of the UK’s newest wholesale broadband provider, BE Wholesale, resellers can now select a network built for business that allows customers to harness cloud computing, jitter-free VoIP or seamless HD video conferencing.