Communications Technology Solutions in the Spotlight for 2012

Jan. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- An increasingly mobile workforce and an uptick in enterprise technology among commercial real estate organizations has brought communications solutions firmly into the spotlight heading into 2012. And according to Scott Donnelly, director of sales and marketing for Integrated Business Systems in Totowa, Microsoft® Exchange Server 2010 is worth serious consideration as a cost-effective, flexible option.

IBS is a 32-year-old boutique firm that develops and supports high-quality property management and accounting software for the commercial real estate community. Its Network Services division provides full consulting, installation and support for computer and networking technologies for IBS system users as well as organizations across many industry sectors - from attorneys and CPAs to office and home furnishings companies, and others. The company is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Provider.

"Our IBS Network Services team has experienced a marked increase in demand as an improving economy begins to enable companies to upgrade their aging servers and operating systems," Donnelly said. "It seems that businesses are coming out of their holding patterns and are ready to invest in technology. Our clients are responding to new requirements for mobile communication tools that connect their employees out in the field. Everyone wants to be able to sync their smart phones and tablet computers with their office environments."

At its core, Microsoft Exchange manages and delivers synched email, calendars and contacts to PCs, phones and other compatible devices. Simply stated, it is the engine that runs Microsoft Outlook. According to Donnelly, while the 2003 and 2007 versions have not yet reached the end of their life cycles, Exchange Server 2010 provides a number of new features and capabilities over past versions.

"Exchange Server 2010 has mobile software built right into it, where in the past it required third-party add ons," Donnelly said. "In this sense, it is a much better integration tool when it comes to managing and deploying a mobile workforce."

Consider information sharing. The IBS property management system includes mechanisms to translate data into a PDF format. A system user can create a report, turn it into a PDF, and either email it from the IBS software or place the document on a server so it can be synced directly to a single or multiple devices. "People are craving this level of portability," Donnelly said. "They want to be able to access information whenever and wherever they are."

Other areas with key improvements include email archiving, disaster recovery functionality, anti-virus and malware mechanisms, and heightened efficiency with a true, 64-bit operating system.

"In general, Exchange Server 2010 provides much higher reliability, which translates to better uptime and increased productivity," Donnelly said. "Additionally, Microsoft recently released its second update package for 2010, which means that many features have been enhanced. For anyone who had been waiting for this product to prove itself, now is the time to buy."

What's next? Microsoft's Office 365 is an in-the-cloud Exchange Server product. "Office 365 is in its early stages of adoption," Donnelly said. "It is strengthening and likely will shape up into the ‘next big thing.'"

Since its start in 1999 as an outgrowth of offerings provided to IBS' real estate clients, IBS Network Services has embraced the most powerful new and proven products to ensure reliable network infrastructure. From mobile devices and individual workstations, to enterprise servers and everything in between, IBS provides comprehensive expertise. The firm has a long history of conducting business with large, national hardware and software distributors such as HP, Dell, 3Com, APC, Symantec, Cisco, WebSense and many more.

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About Integrated Business Systems: Founded in 1979, Integrated Business Systems (IBS) provides in-house real estate automation systems for commercial and residential real estate owners, developers and property managers. The IBS software addresses virtually all property management, accounting and construction management tasks. Reflecting three decades of development history, the system offers unparalleled functionality and auditability. IBS is well known for its superior product and unparalleled service. As a result, IBS's client list boasts more than 100 prominent real estate companies' including many of the industry's most elite organizations in the United States.