Unified communications grows, executives want larger systems

For employees on the road, it seems as easy to find a business with a wireless network available to the public as it is to find a quick cup of coffee for a pick me up. The increased functionality and popularity of smartphones and tablets are keeping workforces connected like never before and businesses are reaping the benefits of faster information sharing.

Many companies have invested in unified communication (UC) solutions, that combine numerous tools into one system and the success that has been bred from this decision has led some executives to want more out of their setups.

British telecommunication company BT released the results of a new survey that found 84 percent of global CIOs believe a UC option has increased their level of success. They brought up the ability to use multiple avenues like e-mail, phone, video and instant messaging in one solution. They also pointed out, however, they would still desire to add functions like desktop sharing, voice-to-text and cloud storage.

The study spoke with 1,000 executives and offers an insight into why UC options are spreading and becoming popular. These solutions affect the bottom line in a number of ways and respondents said older systems take too much time, money and effort to collaborate and access data.

The executives surveyed went on to say that this wasted time can add up to 134 minutes a day. In terms of annual dollars, that’s an estimated $25,000 per employee and can increase to $100,000 a year for senior staff.

Communication is an integral tool for workflow that affects numerous facets of an organization . From company time to the bottom line, a strong solution for staying connected can do wonders for any business.