A latest study conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Polycom the potential of Unified Communications (UC) solutions for organizations aiming to meet the needs of an increasingly connected customer and empower a mobile workforce.
The study found that 34% of organizations surveyed are currently investing in UC solutions and report significant benefits for the optimization of resources and enable better business operations. Almost 52% of organizations in the UAE report significant savings from optimization of travel allowances, while 41% highlight improved connectivity with stakeholders both inside and outside the organizations as being a key benefit. 38% said that UC solutions have helped them drive productivity and improve workflows.
The study further delved into the current nature of UC deployments, highlighting that 44% of organizations surveyed currently use these solutions company-wide; with 35% reporting that UC systems are currently used by specific teams and departments to enable expedited communications and collaboration between teams and offices.
Despite the notable benefits, the study highlights key challenges that stand in the way of UC potential across the UAE; with 50% of organizations citing limited integration with current devices and infrastructure as being a key limitation. 32% of organizations reported high total cost of ownership, in addition to, managerial and operational complexity as being their biggest challenge.
Daniel Schmierer, Area Sales Vice President for Middle East and Africa at Polycom said: “With the right UC solutions in place, organizations can reap the benefits from reduced travel expenses to improved connectivity with stakeholders and increased employee productivity. In order for organizations to make the most out of their UC investments, they need to be able to navigate through the present challenges by working closely with their system integrators and addressing gaps in the current infrastructure. At Polycom, we are committed to working closely with our customers to develop the right UC platforms and solutions for their work environments that are geared to address these challenges while limiting costs and complexity.”
The study finds that while today, 52% of organizations in the UAE spend an average of 10% – 20% of their annual IT budget on UC solutions and infrastructure; this is expected to change in the year ahead, with 32% of organizations confirming plans to increase investment in 2018. 36% of organizations report an interest in deploying cloud based UC solutions in 2018, in addition to 28% who are reported to be working on plans to enable better network performance, disaster recovery and security capabilities.
