The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it and the digital space has not escaped unscathed. More than ever before, companies and employees are understanding the importance of cloud computing, cybersecurity and unified communication systems for a mostly remote workforce. In fact, globally, countries spent around US $15 billion extra per week during the pandemic to upgrade their technology to enable a safe and secure work from home environment, making it one of the biggest investments in technology in history!
Many companies are moving towards using unified communication and collaboration systems to keep up with their remote workforce and keep business going without hiccups. The unified communications industry saw a growth of 86% in sales during the course of the pandemic, but is the trend likely to continue even in a post-COVID-19 world? Read on to find out what to expect!
More companies moving towards a flexible working model
Before the pandemic hit, there was only one way of working: at the office. Companies and employers believed that “working from home” meant no work would get done. But this mindset changed when the COVID-19 lockdowns forced employees into their homes. Now, companies recognised that working from home was not only a viable option, but could actually improve employee satisfaction and increase productivity levels.
This is why several companies, like Dropbox, Microsoft and even Facebook have moved towards a more flexible working model for their employees. Employees can choose where they want to work from, with many companies requiring them to come into the office at least one day a week. Not only does this promote a healthy work-life balance, it also reduces sick leave requests and promotes job satisfaction. This trend is likely to continue well into the future, which is what makes Unified Communication systems such a necessity in today’s world.
Cloud computing is all the rage
When workers are increasingly operating from multiple places, it is important to have access to the documents and softwares they use on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, in order for any organisation to work smoothly, there needs to be a mode of communication and collaboration between different employees working from different locations. Teams should be able to share documents across the cloud, have online meetings and display their screens for effective and instant collaboration. Because a flexible working model will become the new normal even in the post-COVID-19 age, it has become the need of the hour to have all necessary services on the cloud for easy and safe access.
The use of the digital space in the education sector is expected to grow
It wasn’t just corporations and businesses making use of unified communication tools during the pandemic. Schools, colleges and universities also moved to the digital space to conduct online classes in the wake of extended closures. While many educational institutions developed their own softwares to conduct classes on, many others used Unified Communication systems for an easy, interactive and collaborative way of imparting knowledge.
While most educational institutions will move back to face-to-face learning post-pandemic, virtual learning will remain an option, especially to help meet diverse needs. However, many people believe remote learning will always remain a supplement, not a substitute for in-person learning. But even with this in mind, the use of the digital space in the education sector is expected to grow as compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The market value of Unified Communications as a Service (UCaas) is expected to rise
It is expected that the global market for UCaas will grow to reach upwards of US$26.2 billion by 2027. This is an approximately 9.6% increase in the seven years from 2020 to 2027. Because companies are moving towards a flexible working model, the need for effective communication and collaboration tools has been brought to the forefront. However, because the latest generation of UCaaS systems integrates communication directly into the application, they are able to help organisations keep their costs low. This will encourage many small and medium sized businesses to invest in new UCaaS offerings without breaking the bank.
Flexible working models allowing more talent outreach
When workers are allowed to work from anywhere, people from all over the world can be hired. No longer do corporations need to be limited to the talent available within their city, but can conduct online interviews with candidates in a different city or state. With all the documents and softwares required to get work done available on the cloud, a superior next-generation firewall and end-to-end encryption technologies, and the help of an effective Unified Communication System, it’s never been easier to implement a work-from-anywhere policy than it is today.
All in all, the UCaaS sector is not just here to stay, but is likely to experience major growth and prosperity, even in the post-pandemic world.
