UC Glass Half Full?

Unified communications can improve productivity, a survey by Orange Business suggests. The poll shows that 41 percent of the CIOs of large multinationals are considering unified communications. The other way of looking at matters is that 59 percent are not looking at it.

CIOs say UC features such as integrating mobile devices into the enterprises, implementing real-time identification through presence, instant messaging, and adding audio conferencing and desktop videoconferencing to work-flows enhance business efficiency.

Orange's report polled more than 600 CIOs from multinational corporations across various vertical industries. It revealed that most companies had to track and support seven different communications tools and applications.

This multitude of communications tools not only hampered an MNC's ability to collaborate internally, but it also delayed businesses processes and decision making.

While 95 of the CIOs polled said that new communications technologies have increased productivity, the amount of communications tools used within their respective companies slowed down internal communications.

Some 45 percent of CIOs indicated that multiple communication channels cause severe delays in colleague response time which can negatively impact business processes and productivity.

Customer service was seen as the primary UC beneficiary by 33 percent of respondents, while 28 percent thought sales benefitted most.

What is not clear is how much those respondents are willing to pay to acquire various capabilities, or how much enterprise workers will agree with CIO assessments.