Global business communications solutions provider, Avaya, is introducing its mid-market unified communications (UC) solutions to SA.
Avaya IP Office, which can be used for SMEs with as few as five employees, can now incorporate up to 1 500 users, with voice, video and data services.
In order to make UC an affordable option for smaller businesses, Avaya's focus is on scalability and ease-of-use, to provide enterprise-grade solutions for SMEs. "The strategy is to make these solutions affordable, accessible, easy to install, easy to use, and to allow people to communicate from their device of choice, any time and anywhere," says Nidal Abou-Ltaif, Avaya VP of emerging markets (Middle East, Africa and Turkey).
SMEs are the industry 'ants', says Abou-Ltaif, aggressive by nature and carrying 20 times their weight. They need cutting-edge technology in order to match the competition.
"Mid-sized organisations are instrumental in the growth of the economies in countries across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, and it is essential that they are properly equipped to achieve their business and growth objectives," says Selvin Kristnen, MD of Avaya SA.
"SMEs are constantly growing and agile - they invest in new technology because they understand that in order for their organisations to grow, they need to take informed decisions about which solutions can make them more competitive and customer-centric," Kristnen adds.
Avaya's UC services are device-agnostic in order to lower the cost of installation and maintenance, and to allow for the growing trend of employees using their own devices for work purposes. "Our customers can use any device of their choice. They don't have to buy phones or video endpoints from Avaya - they can utilise what they have, or the device of choice of their employees," says Kristnen.
Because SMEs tend to hire younger employees, it is particularly important for them to embrace the bring your own device trend, he adds.
SMEs are the same everywhere in the world, says Abou-Ltaif, and South African businesses are quick to adopt new technology. "We saw quick adaptation. [South Africans] enjoy the technology, they are not afraid to use it, and we appreciate that, so we are encouraged to come up with more solutions that address this market."
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