Despite questions, unified communications shows success for businesses

With businesses looking to reduce costs wherever they can, it’s surprising that more are not looking into a unified communications (UC) system. With the growing practice of remote offices and the ability to access business information anywhere thanks to tablet computing and cloud storage, bringing all these different areas of communication together seems like the right step for any company.

A new article from CompterWorld, one of the Web’s leading technology news and information sites, took a look at the benefits of a UC system for businesses and why it has yet to catch on.

According to surveys by Nemertes Research Group, an Illinois-based research and advisory firm, only 4.4 percent of companies have deployed a UC strategy. Two main obstacles, according to the report, are justifying the cost and finding a vendor that can make it easy to transition.

Despite the concerns, companies that have switched are showing immediate benefits. The article spoke with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an Illinois-based global product safety science company, which implemented a UC strategy and are seeing results.

Looking to upgrade an older office phone system and streamline communication, UL implemented a number of upgrades including a VoIP service from Avaya and saw a 30 percent drop in operating costs and expects to reduce its telecommunication costs by as much as 50 percent, according to UL IT director Tom Boxrud. He expects a return on their investment in three years.

Revamping any system is a risky step for a business, which is why the use of a IT consulting firm, like Chicago’s CTI Technology, is recommended.

With businesses looking to reduce costs wherever they can, it’s surprising that more are not looking into a unified communications (UC) system.