Converged technologies fail to hit the mark

Industry doesn’t understand the benefits of ‘converged technologies’ (voice and data over IP), or possibly even what they are, according to research conducted for networks specialist Omnetica. It finds that 94% of companies are implementing at least one element of a converged system, with tactical installations – but 41% either don’t know or don’t understand the term ‘convergence’. Also, while cost was the biggest barrier to implementing a converged solution, the second most cited (53% of respondents) was lack of identifiable business benefits. Omnetica wants the IT industry to help buyers, particularly at board level, to understand the business potential of IP technologies. Alex Black, strategy director at Omnetica, says: “What has happened is that the industry has concentrated on talking the language of the technologist at the expense of the business decision maker.” He says that companies are buying the technology, but on a tactical basis, rather than as part of a coherent strategy. For example, mobilising the workforce is moving up the agenda, with 21% of respondents having implemented systems and a further 46% planning them over the next year. Industry, says Black, also needs to be aware of the potential for IP voice trunking, IP telephony, personal productivity, contact centres, conferencing over IP, storage on IP and integration/networking and middleware.