It seems like ages ago when BlackBerries and other smartphones were reserved for high-ranking business executives. Today, mobile communications is one of the biggest drivers of UC adoption, according to a new Aberdeen (News - Alert) Group study, Unified Communications: Gaining a Competitive Advantage While on the Move.

 

The lure of UC – which optimizes the routing of communications between several modalities -- is its promise of efficiency, improved customer intimacy and faster time-to-resolution for both customer and employee problem-solving and communications.

 

In its survey of 154 organizations, Aberdeen Group found that primary driver of UC adoption in the enterprise is being driven by the need to incorporate mobile communications into the workforce, and make mobility part of the larger communications infrastructure.

 

Additionally, 79 percent of companies said they were able to achieve a break-even ROI on their UC investments in the first 12 months. Other benefits of UC include increased workplace flexibility, better knowledge sharing, and improved competitive performance.

 

One caveat: Since smartphones account for a growing chunk the handset market, enterprises need to be on the lookout for increased security threats.

 

In addition to putting in place a procurement policy that includes checks and balances for who gets what type of wireless device and plan, as well as a usage policy, enterprises need solid security policies, Pankaj “PJ” Gupta, founder and CEO of Amtel (News - Alert), a company that helps enterprises to rein in wireless management expenses and improve productivity, told TMCnet. 

 

“Corporations need to determine if their sector needs to comply with regulations of their governing bodies,” said Gupta. For example, hospital IT staff should check to make sure wireless management security policies set forth comply with the privacy regulations outlined in HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

 

“Depending on their requirements, organizations would decide various aspects of security policy.”