In recent years most companies have experienced repeated major changes in the area of technology. Especially regarding how their companies communicate using Voice and Data. These changes in technology are occurring more frequently as time goes on. Each change seems to increase the level of complexity required to support and keep up with such changes in technology. Understanding various services like frame relay, point to point data circuits, XDSL (Digital Subscriber Line Service), ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), CPE (Customer Premise Equipment), DS-1, DS-3, OCN (Optical Carrier Level), Tier One Internet Access vs. Tier Two Internet Access vs. Tier Three Internet Access, Ether Net, TCP/IP, IPX, unified messaging, VPN's (Virtual Private Network) vs. Private Networks vs. Shared Networks become more difficult with each passing day. The list just keeps growing daily.

It should also be noted that over the last few years communication costs for most companies have become one of their largest variable expenses. It has been estimated that communication expenses for most companies are now the third or fourth largest variable expense associated with running a company. It should also be noted that the complexity associated with these communication expenses has grown exponentially and that this growth is showing no immediate signs of slowing.

Eventually, technology changes will directly or indirectly impact the revenue growth and stability of most companies. Furthermore, these changes in technology will ultimately determine how well a business serves its customers, works with its vendors and supports its own infrastructure, which will ultimately determine the level of success that your company will experience.

Thankfully, most small to medium-sized businesses and their top level management recognize the critical need to remain current on how technology changes can enhance their business operations. However, in order for most companies to take advantages of technology changes and reduce their communication cost along with eliminating communication waste they must:

Divert internal employee resources away from their core responsibilities to handle the evaluation, analysis, procurement, provisioning, implementation, and on going management of these various technologies and their associated voice and data services.

Spend valuable capital in order to stay current with these technology changes.

Deal with multiple vendors, which complicate the ongoing management of technology changes and normal business communication. Pay multiple invoices.

Sacrifice personalized customer care and deal with multiple points of contacts for multiple services with multiple vendors.

Potentially hire expert consultants to audit, evaluate and recommend new technology or cost saving strategies.

Potentially hire more specialized employees to handle the evaluation, analysis, procurement, provisioning, implementation, and on going management of your company's communication needs.

Simply stated, business communications has grown in its level of importance. It has rapidly become mission critical on all fronts of operating a business. Not having a complete understanding of how these changes will impact your business's revenues and profitability could negatively affect your company's ability to survive in an ever increasingly competitive market.