Unified communications allows employees to interact with each other from virtually anywhere, so it’s no surprise that more businesses are adopting UC technologies to help increase productivity and collaboration.

1. Small and Mid-Sized Businesses See the Benefits of
Unified Communications
HOW BUSINESSES PLAN TO COMMUNICATE IN 2014
Unified communications allows employees to interact with each other from virtually anywhere, so it’s no
surprise that more businesses are adopting UC technologies to help increase productivity and collaboration.
Spiceworks conducted a third annual survey in November 2013, commissioned by Plantronics, to learn how
IP telephony and UC are being used today and in the coming months.
The use of IP telephony
and UC technologies are on the rise
54%
of businesses currently utilize UC or plan to implement it in 2014
IP telephony
(with desk phones)
Web conferencing
Video conferencing
Unified messaging
Mobile extension/
integration
IM with presence
!
Softphones
(PC for voice calls)
2012 2013 2014planned
57%
65%
82%
46% 51%
65%
40% 42%
59%
30% 32%
56%
benefits of unified
communications5
TOP
28% 30%
48%
28%
28%
42%
32% 33%
49%
Remote access
to individuals
Mobility
Improved
employee
satisfaction
Contact
management
Improved
collaboration
Remote access
to individuals
Mobility
Improved
customer service
Contact
management
Improved
collaboration
1
2
3
4
5
2012 2013
Things to consider before
you implement your UC solution:
Completing your UC solution
Find the right partner
Develop a comprehensive
security strategy
Support emerging platforms
with growing adoption
Compare different options
A trusted solutions provider will
offer options and explain how to
maximize solutions to ensure you
get great performance.
Research and compare the costs
and benefits of each UC platform.
What role will the cloud play in
your decision?
DID YOU KNOW?
DID YOU KNOW?
14%
of businesses use the cloud to
some degree for voice
communications, and 20%
of
businesses plan to move their voice
communications to the cloud or a
hybrid cloud/on-premise approach
over the next 12 months.
The respondent base with between 1%
and 24% of their employees using
tablets for work purposes grew from
55% in 2011 to 69% in 2013.
55% 69%
2011 2013
34%
A BA
64%of businesses provide headsets
needed to implement IP
telephony or UC applications
The top 5
technologies companies provide headsets for today are:
1
IP telephony (with desk phones)
2
Softphones (PC for voice calls)
4
Web conferencing
5
Video conferencing
3
Multimedia
Stay up to date with the latest communication technology to help your
business run smoothly and keep your employees happy. Learn more
about how to provide the right workplace tools at plantronics.com/smb.
Spiceworks survey of over 200 IT pros conducted on behalf of Plantronics, November 2013
Priorities
Are
Changing