The market potential for unified communications (UC) and collaboration is vast, as 45% of organizations do not have an integrated solution for voice, video and data, according to a study by Softchoice, a North American technology solutions and managed services provider. However, 89% of IT managers at these same businesses don't see new UC tools as a priority. Softchoice's new study, Working Hard or Hardly Networked, discovers the root cause of IT managers' hesitations and – spoiler alert – it's not the technology!
The Softchoice study finds a majority of employees feel disconnected from their workplace's decision making on technology, which has significant negative implications on user adoption, productivity and even job satisfaction. As a result, IT managers are not seeing as much of a return on the tools they've invested in, contributing to their hesitation to invest in new ones.
"Employees are the most invested group in the adoption of a new office communications tool, but they have the least say in choosing which tools to adopt," says Erika Van Noort, Softchoice's Director of Consulting. "Far too many organizations jump right to making technology decisions without first consulting with employees, and understanding how they work and why. In doing so, they are setting themselves up to fail."
Some highlights from the study:
45% of businesses do not have an integrated solution for voice, video and data. Among those businesses, however, only 11% are currently considering it.
77% of employees say their organization does not consult with them before selecting a new office communications tool
Employees who are not consulted are three times as likely to not see themselves at their current employer long term
72% of employees who are consulted feel their communications tools make them more productive (compared to 54% of those who are not)
"Successful implementation of a new communications tool isn't just about choosing the right technology for your business needs, it's about discovering how that technology empowers employees to collaborate and be more productive in their daily lives," Van Noort says. "Equally important is ensuring your employees get the necessary training on the new tool, so they not only understand how it works but how it integrates into your overall unified communications strategy."