Collaboration adoption driven by cost cutting

Study finds 59 per cent of large UK firms have adopted videoconferencing and 31 per cent use interactive whiteboards

Cost cutting is the top rationale for adoption of collaboration technologies, according to research from interactive whiteboard vendor SMART and its distributor Steljes.

The duo quizzed 200 business decision makers at UK firms with more than 250 staff about the drivers behind adopting collaboration technology such as voice, data and videoconferencing.

According to the study, more than four in five (82 per cent) said they currently use voice conferencing. Just over half said they use videoconferencing and share and edit documents collaboratively online (59 per cent and 56 per cent respectively).

By brand, some 42 per cent used Microsoft for collaboration, ahead of Webex (37 per cent), Skype (23 per cent) and IBM Lotus Notes (14 per cent).

Less than a third (31 per cent) of those questioned said they use interactive whiteboards and 90 per cent still write up minutes after meetings.

Cost cutting, rather than the environment, was found to be the main driver for adoption of these technologies.

Two out of five (40 per cent) identified reduced travel and hotel costs as the number-one driver behind adoption. Just 29 per cent cited increased communication and collaboration as their top reason, with a tiny three per cent identifying "reducing carbon emissions" as the main driver.

Lisandro Nunez, manager, Business Solutions EMEA at SMART Technologies, said: "This survey tells us loud and clear that the overwhelming priority for business when adopting collaboration technologies is cutting costs. We believe that businesses care about their carbon footprint, but IT investment decisions in the current economic climate first and foremost need to deliver measurable savings in pounds and pence."

Martine Dodwell-Bennett, sales and marketing director at Steljes, said: "With 85 per cent of businesses looking to reduce their business travel this year, it comes as little surprise that they are looking at technology alternatives."