Factors like the regulatory policy and frameworks have inhibited the adoption and implementation of unified communication enabling infrastructure and collaboration tools.
This is according to Gijima's business unit executive, Mike Hamilton.
ITWeb and Gijima are conducting a survey to do status check on perceptions relating to readiness and adoption unified communication.
Hamilton says, while the market is opening up, SA still suffers from limited perceptions of value and return on investment, as well as autocratic management styles that measure based on attendance as opposed to outcomes or delivery.
He notes that the survey will give clarity on views relating to which companies will turn to unified communication in the emerging competitive space including traditional networking, voice and application integrators as well as new entrants including telecommunication service providers.
Due to legacy issues, Hamilton says educational, political and economic, we are not aggressively focused on the application of technology where it may impact employment growth and equity considerations. “More investment in training and education of effective communication and use of enabling tools will be required to compensate for this.”
Key challenges are varied, he points out. “On the one hand, many point fingers at bandwidth availability and costs. This may be a smokescreen concealing some of the more difficult challenges of human behaviour and resistance to change.”
To fully realise the promised benefits of unified communications and collaboration will require a rethink on how we interact today and a change in approach to meetings, multi-party interaction and selection of appropriate communication methods and channels. In developed countries some of the telecommunication challenges are less of a barrier, he says.
However, Hamilton notes, there is a growing realisation that real saving can be had and productivity enhanced by communicating and collaborating better. “Enabling infrastructure and tools can have a positive impact on bottom line, which is under pressure due to tight markets and gradual recovery.”
Having enabling infrastructure presents a service delivery platform that can be exploited to support communication-enabled applications that will improve processes and enhance customer service, according to Hamilton.
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