In a world filled today with news about recession, banking meltdowns, weak corporate performances,  and bear financial markets, it can sometimes be difficult to see opportunity amongst the sea of negative press.  Quite honestly, I’ve heard so much gloom and doom in the last few months, I’m very tired of hearing it – much less writing about it.

Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of burying our heads in the sand and pretending that it doesn’t exist.  There are some very real global economic challenges and they are affecting the livelihood of the SMB’s of the world in a negative way.  Primarily the challenges that SMB’s are facing are the restrictive credit market and soft sales performance.  This is especially of concern for new SMB’s looking to become established, or existing companies that have (for whatever reason) cash-flow issues.  SMB’s are seeking out every ounce of efficiency in their business, while reducing costs.  Those that are not doing this – risk extinction.

There is some good news wrt our common interest, which is 3CX Phone System.  At the hub of almost any enterprise is the corporate phone system, or PBX.  For most of us it is either the primary way we communicate to customers and partners, or very close to the top.  It’s essential and mission critical.  There’s a direct correlation between the efficiency of an organization, and the capabilities of it’s central communication system.  We all know and understand that the value proposition of an IP PBX is the increased mobility and reduced operating costs that they provide.  3CX takes this one step further and positions itself as quite possibly the best “recession killer” IP PBX on the market today.

At first that may seem like a bold statement.  Some might ask – if I am really looking to deploy a new IP PBX at the lowest cost, I shouldn’t I just grab one of the latest free Linux open-source solutions and use that?   Some even come with a free open source OS to go along with it – so my direct costs for software are “0″.  Well… maybe if ..  you are a Linux guru, or are willing to spend a substantial amount of time deploying and maintaining the PBX, and if you can accept at some point the software may be no longer developed / bug fixed in a timely manner potentially leaving you without an operating phone system.  BTW – for the record, I am an OS “junkie” and I like Linux and open-source, I’m just not sure if it’s the right direction for an SMB looking to deploy an IP PBX.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I believe still today the vast majority of SMB’s are Windows shops.  Deploying an IP PBX solution based in Linux/Asterisk would not provide the cost/benefit savings of 3CX simply because routine maintenance of the IP PBX will still have to be contracted for.  Additionally – the Windows shop’s would also have to procure a PC to run the Linux PBX on unless they are willing to incorporate Linux as a virtual machine on one of the existing Windows servers.  Again, I don’t see this as very likely for the majority of SMB’s.

What we’ve learned at Deerfield.com is that it is much more likely the typical SMB has an under-utilized Windows PC that is suitable for a 3CX installation – either native or as a virtual machine.    Since the existing machine already has a licensed copy of Windows immediate savings can be realized in hardware and  software costs.  Installation, and maintenance will be also lower also – as 3CX is the simplest full-featured IP PBX to install and administer in the market today.

In conclusion, the 3CX Phone System can allow the SMB’s today to deploy an IP PBX that will allow them to achieve peak efficiency with their telecommunications system and staff with great new features such as ring groups, call queues, remote extensions, and voice mail/email integration just to name a few.  Additionally, SMB’s will see reduced operating costs and TCO as a result of simplified administration, low-cost call options (including free calling options), reduced maintenance costs, and even reduced power consumption.  Finally, acquisition costs are about half of a lowest-cost, similarly competing black-box IP PBX’s, reducing (if not eliminating) the need for financing of a new 3CX system in a credit-tightened market.

Today, 3CX provides an exceptional opportunity for SMB’s to continue to improve efficiency, while not “breaking the bank”.  In economic times such as these, it might just be the remedy you need.