UK Businesses are Struggling to Communicate With one Voice - new Research From Unified Communications Expo 2011

LONDON, February 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- The Increase of Communication Channels Such as Instant Messaging and Social Media is Making it Harder for UK Businesses to Unify Their Communications

- Lack of Finances is Slowing Down the Adoption of Unified Communications but There is a Difference of Opinion Between the Business and IT Departments as to What Would Make Their Company Adopt UC

A survey by Unified Communications Expo 2011 - the UK's leading business communication event bringing together the key technologies and key people of this rapidly evolving world - has found that the majority of respondents thought the sheer number of communication channels such as instant messaging and social media has made it more difficult for business to communicate with one voice. Of those surveyed, 50% have a unified communications and collaboration solution in place yet over 80% do not feel they are getting the most from it.

In the consumer world, integrated communications are commonplace. Smart phones that can integrate voice, video and text are regarded as essential to business, allowing employees to be even more productive. Almost 80% of respondents agreed that the business world needs to catch up with the unified communications of the consumer world.

The results also show that lack of finances is significantly slowing adoption of unified communications in both business and technology sectors. When asked what would make their company more likely to adopt unified communications based solutions in the future, there was a marked difference in response between the business and the IT department, with business wanting a clear ROI and IT wanting lower cost.

Mike England, Director of Unified Communications Expo, added: "Right now, companies are focussing on return to growth, so there is increasing demand across the board to drive business outcomes, and unified communications could help with this. However, the research suggests that UK businesses are still struggling to get to grips with the approach, and that the wealth of communication channels, especially social media related channels, is hindering rather than helping them. At next month's conference we will be exploring this difficult area and bringing decision makers and IT professionals together to understand these particular channels under the 'Social Business & Collaboration' seminar stream."

Amongst the Social Business & Collaboration seminars are:

Social Business & Collaboration - Understanding the Business Benefits and locating the ROI by Digirati Flying Cars and Cool Uniforms, - The Future for Knowledge Workers? By AIIM Star Wars and Social CRM by Capgemini The art of building corporate communities by Formicary

About the Research

The survey was completed by 126 decision makers and professionals who have registered to attend the Unified Communications EXPO in Olympia, London from 8-9 March 2011. These include key players and decision makers in management, IT strategy, implementation, infrastructures, developers and designers.

http://www.ucexpo.co.uk/