Unified communication and collaboration (UCC) solutions are a big part of many companies’ IT departments. The ability to allow employees to collaborate in real time is a major reason why so many businesses are embracing the possibilities of UCC deployments. A recent report by TheInfoPro, a subsidiary of 451 Research, said UC is at the top of the voice and video category and No. 4 on its “overall heat index,” resulting in expanding network expenditures.

TheInfoPro research director Daniel Kennedy explained that network budgets are projected to increase 40 percent in 2013 compared to 2012, which also resulted in positive spending.

“The previous study saw core upgrades as the top project – this year, wireless took the top spot followed by switch upgrades, indicating that the general network refresh is expanding into network campuses,” Kennedy added.

The survey found that security is the top concern listed by managers related to their companies’ networks. Aging hardware, which was the No. 1 pain point last year, was No. 5 this year.

UCCaaS next step for UC deployments
UCC-as-a-Service (UCCaaS) is becoming more popular for companies, according to a recent TechNavio report. Between 2012 and 2016, the UCCaaS market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of more than 25 percent, thanks in large part to the advancement of cloud-related enterprise services.

The cloud has become a mainstay throughout IT. The technology allows companies to replace aging systems in favor of more flexible environments. Firms leveraging the solution can add additional storage capacity and computing power without purchasing more hardware or software, ensuring they always stay on top of ever-changing market demands in a cost-effective manner.

What is perhaps the cloud’s most attractive benefit is its communications capability. Since the cloud is available through the Internet, employees can collaborate with co-workers using their smartphones, tablets and laptops without physically being in the office. Whether staff members need to check email, update documents or send work-related content quickly and efficiently, they can do so relying on cloud-based environments.

TechNavio added that key vendors will be behind the expanding UCCaaS market, including Cisco.

Organizations interested in maximizing their UCC-related investments should contact a leading managed service provider such as FlexITy, which is the only firm in Canada that implements the full suite of Cisco UC and collaboration solutions.

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