For the lean IT organization, an economic downturn can represent an opportunity as much as a challenge. This note highlights one such opportunity: providing end users with a collaborative toolset through integration of the enterprise Unified Communications (UC) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) strategy.

This marriage between UC and the firm's business processes is better known as Communications Enabled Business Processes (CEBP). For the streamlined enterprise able to capitalize on lower market prices, CEBP adoption helps position the firm to take maximum advantage of the eventual economic upswing. Look at vendors such as Avaya to better understand CEBP product offerings.