Federal agencies are increasingly embracing unified communications platforms that allow employees to access information anywhere, anytime, a new survey suggests.
CDW-G's third annual unified communications tracking poll found that among federal agencies, 14 percent have fully implemented a unified communications solution, which combines voice, video and data services and software applications to generate better employee collaboration. Another 15 percent of agencies are currently implementing a such a solution, while 71 percent are assessing or planning one, the survey found.
Federal IT professionals surveyed said unified communications increases productivity, reduces operating costs and enables continuity of operations. The most valuable features among federal workers include videoconferencing, access to work e-mail and voicemail via smartphones, ability to receive voicemail via e-mail, and integrated audio, video and Web-conferencing, the survey found.
The survey included 900 IT decision makers in education, government, healthcare and businesses to determine where U.S. organizations are with unified communications adoption.
Brittany Ballenstedt
Brittany Ballenstedt writes Nextgov's Wired Workplace blog, which delves into the issues facing employees who work in the federal information technology sector. Before joining Nextgov, Brittany covered federal pay and benefits issues as a staff correspondent for Government Executive and served as an associate editor for National Journal's Technology Daily. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Mansfield University and originally hails from Pennsylvania. She currently lives near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where her husband is stationed.
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