Companies Still Can’t Choose a UC&C System

UC EXPO reveals that 53% of companies can’t choose a provider

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Companies-Still-Can’t-Choose-UCC-System
Unified Communications

Published: June 24, 2020

Rebekah Carter - Writer

Rebekah Carter

UC EXPO, the leading conference and event for unified communications and collaboration technology in Europe, recently shared its insights in the current UC&C landscape. As part of the UC EXPO Market Insight report, which is now available on the UC EXPO website, the group revealed that over half of all companies still can’t decide which UC&C system to use.

53% of organisations say that they can’t decide which provider they should use for their remote working solutions. This indecision comes at a time where the UK continues to deal with the complexities of a country-wide lockdown.

UC EXPO notes that unified communication and collaboration solutions are more valuable today than they have ever been. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, UC&C has become an essential part of business continuity. Without the right technology, businesses in this new environment would see operations grind to a halt. Yet, despite this, many groups have been unable to commit to a permanent UC&C solution.

UC&C Decision Paralysis

Earlier in 2020, the UC EXPO team conducted market research to determine how the unified communication and collaboration landscape was evolving. After the outbreak of COVID-19 changed the world, the team replicated the survey, allowing for a more complete insight into the way businesses are responding to this new landscape.

The report available from the UC EXPO today combines responses from 550 businesses. Within, readers can find information on everything from the changing nature of collaboration to the rising demand for new technology. The report highlights several interesting findings, including insights into what businesses are placing the most focus on in this new environment.

Some of the most exciting discoveries include:

  • Though 60% of companies still hadn’t chosen a permanent UC and collaboration service in February, the number remains high in April, at 53%
  • In April, 81% of the respondents in the study said that “culture” was their biggest concern when looking for collaboration software. This number increased from 50% in February
  • 7% of the people in the study said that UC was a business critical service in April. In February, 0% of respondents felt the same way
  • When asked about the top three areas that their company would be investing in for UC, collaboration software received 25% of the vote in April. Once again, this number increased from 0% in February
  • 39% of respondents said that they’re focusing on creating a strategy that ensures employees feel properly included, without getting overwhelmed. This is an increase from 21% in February
  • In the two month period between February and April, the surveys found a 9% increase in respondents turning to UC to access better solutions for long-term success
  • During February, security was fifth in investment priorities in the UC environment. In April, security came second among the list of priorities, falling behind investment in collaboration software

An Insight into the Changing Landscape

The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a massive change in priorities for many businesses in the communication and collaboration landscape. Everywhere, businesses are placing more stock into the importance of investing in the right collaboration tools. At the same time, organisations want to ensure that the technology they’re using is secure.

51% of the respondents in the February study said that managing security within a remote workforce was a big technological challenge for their team. In April, 65% of companies highlighted this challenge as a major issue.

According to the Managing Director of UC EXPO, James McGough, there has been a significant surge in the number of people working from home in the last couple of months. During this period of rapid transformation, companies in all industries have had to find new ways to keep the lights on. For most teams, this has meant a rapid shift to remote working.

The research revealed by UC EXPO suggests that companies are clearly seeing the value that unified communications and collaboration can have. The right UC&C solution keeps businesses from crumbling, while boosting efficiency too. Collaboration tools, such as team messaging and video conferencing software, is currently the main UC&C priority for most businesses (64%).

The global pandemic has forced companies from all environments to adapt. Investing in UC&C solutions plays a vital role in making sure that companies can achieve their goals and thrive in the age of the “new normal”.

 

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