SIIA Blog
Cloud Computing is changing the way every one of us consumes IT services and delivers applications. From SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, to Big Data – the industry’s landscape is evolving. So what’s the next greatest Buzz? Check out this video and find out what everyone is saying:
Register or sponsor the Industry’s Leading ISV conference representing the entire cloud ecosystem, All About the Cloud.
Katie Carlson is Program Manager for the SIIA Software Division.
We are delighted to welcome Alteva, a WVT Communications Group, to the SIIA community. I had a chance to speak with their Executive VP and Chief Sales Officer, Louis Hayner to discuss the value of cloud-based unified communications. Read my interview below.
Rhianna: Welcome to SIIA! Tell me a little bit about Alteva.
Louis: Alteva, a WVT Communications Group company, is a cloud-based unified communications solution provider for companies with 35+ users. The highest priority at Alteva is providing every customer with all their communications needs including cloud-based Call Routing/Voice over IP Services (VoIP PBX), Messaging and Web-based Collaboration through Microsoft Communication Services, Fixed Mobile Convergence and Advanced Communications Applications for the desktop.
Rhianna: What are the advantages for companies to move their communication needs to the cloud?
Louis: There are many benefits for companies of all sizes to move to the cloud. The most advantageous include mobility/anywhere access; scalability; cost savings; and disaster recovery capabilities. Alteva’s hosted Unified Communications clients reduce their total cost of ownership by 20% with a 70% reduction in startup expenses and no ongoing maintenance fees, as compared to premise-based PBX systems.
Rhianna: You have partnerships with some of the leading technology companies. How important is the partner ecosystem? Do you have any advice for our members when it comes to building a successful partner program?
Louis: WVT Communications Group believes that a high tide raises all ships – something that Alteva has always held to. That’s why our philosophy has always been to seek co-marketing opportunities with not just partners, but even fellow cloud communications service providers. When any cloud communications company promotes hosted technology and educates the public about the benefits of the cloud, it serves the entire cloud industry. Alteva can tout its own solution as the best, but when its partners are touting Alteva it provides a much more credible and powerful third party validation. It’s important to have good relationships with your partners, and to have strategic discussions on ways to work together and help one another. If our partners names can help to validate our brand quality, then it is to their benefit to provide quotes for our press releases and put representatives in our trade show booths and attend our events.
Rhianna: Your customers cover a range of industries. Are certain industries more likely to adopt these cloud-based communication solutions? Are there any industries that have surprised you with their rate of adoption? Do you see any significant movement from the public sector?
Louis: Many industries can benefit from cloud communications, but there are some that can benefit even more so than others. For example, law firms benefit from the mobility features that enable user to communicate from any location, as well as hosted call recording and detailed phone reporting features. Law firms, health care facilities and other organizations that tend to have multiple locations or satellite offices will see notable cost savings. We are not surprised by any industries specifically, but we are thrilled by the increased adoption by the SMB space in recent years, as they see that solutions like Alteva Unified Communications are affordable for smaller companies.
Rhianna Collier is VP for the Software Division at SIIA.
SIIA is pleased to support the Cloud Channel Summit, which will bring together industry leaders to examine the emerging channel opportunities in the Cloud Computing market. Taking place Monday, November 7th at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA, the Summit will provide a forum for senior executives from leading Cloud vendors and channel companies to define the role of the channel in the Cloud and create best practices for forging successful partnerships for both Cloud vendors and their channel counterparts.
Host Jeff Kaplan, Managing Director of THINKstrategies and founder of the Cloud Computing Showplace, will steer the Cloud Channel Summit to enable Cloud vendors to increase awareness about their channel programs. Participating industry visionaries include:
Plus, SIIA’s VP of Software, Rhianna Collier, will moderate a panel on “Real-World Cloud Success Stories.” The SIIA community can save 10% when it registers for this event with the special discount code SIIA117. And remember, don’t miss SIIA’s All About Mobile event November 15th in San Francisco, CA, where we’ll take the next great leap in the evolution of software and services by helping providers better understand how they can more effectively deliver business cloud services and enterprise mobile applications.
How does a company transition from strictly desktop software to one that today generates about 60 percent of its revenue in connected services?
Delivering a keynote at All About the Cloud, Intuit CIO Ginny Lee talked about Intuit’s journey from desktop to anytime, anywhere access on any device and how the company is fueling innovation and growth in the cloud.
Whether you’re running a cloud business or transitioning to one, Lee stressed the importance of:
Mindset – IT plays a critical role in enabling growth and a great customer experience. Therefore, put customers at the heart of everything you do. Think business first, tech second. Be explicit about roles and hold everyone accountable.
Innovation – Break down the barriers to innovation by creating tools that foster rapid prototyping and innovation both inside and outside of your company. Tap into the vast ecosystem of external developers at the ready to help create great offerings.
Data - The nature of data is maturing and how you use it can be a competitive advantage. Intuit embraces data driven innovation and looks beyond basic reporting to data driven actions and insights.
To see the slides and watch the video replay, visit The Inuit Network.
Thanks to everyone for another fantastic All About the Cloud conference!
Matt and Rhianna discuss next week’s All About the Cloud conference in San Francisco!