Research released by Dimension Data reveals flexi-work will become a prerequisite for the next generation of corporate workers.
According to the report, organisations are realising the potential of unified communications (UC) to increase employee productivity while offering employees flexible working opportunities.
"The findings indicate that productivity remains the critical driver behind organisations' investment in UC. Most IT managers believe employee productivity was the principle benefit of UC, followed by increases in customer satisfaction and cutting costs," says Rob Lopez, MD of Solutions at Dimension Data.
Companies are slowly starting to change their views on workers: "The results show a changing corporate mindset in terms of flexible working, but only to the extent that they allow or tolerate flexi-working rather than encourage it.
According to Lopez, the research also shows companies are slow in providing the necessary toolsets and technology for home workers. "This is prevalent in SA."
Integrating technologies
"UC is not a solution in a box, or available from software downloadable off a CD onto the server. It's about integrating all existing technologies of an organisation, including voice, e-mail, fax, instant messaging, and video, to provide end-users with an 'experience' - a single interface," he adds.
Lopez says of the 524 IT users polled in the research, 37% of employees are interested in using unified messaging, 35% in mobile push e-mail and 30% in video conferencing for flexi-working.
"There's an increasing trend globally for organisations to offer their employees flexible working conditions. While IT managers currently consider employee-related issues such as productivity or retention to be prime drivers to offer employees flexi-work, regulatory pressure will soon play a crucial role."
The survey revealed that 41% of the organisations interviewed indicated their motivation for offering flexible working and all-encompassing communication tools is to increase employee productivity, while 13% of companies want to increase employee retention.
"UC definitely improves employment retention, but it creates other challenges." Lopez says organisations will now be challenged by the radically different environment of flexi-work, especially when it comes to people management.
"Organisations must harness and begin to implement the technologies available in the market today, which in turn will empower their flexi-workers and increase productivity," says Lopez.
Related story:
Messaging used in emergency
Share