Unified Communications Converge with Social Networks

The pace at which social media networks are being used by customers is clearly outpacing adoption within the enterprise. But as Facebook gears up to welcome its 500 millionth user this week, it’s clear that social media networks are rapidly becoming a primary vehicle for engaging directly with customers.

In fact, a new survey of 750 consumers and employees conducted by The Yankee Group on behalf of Siemens Enterprise Communications finds broad usage of social media tools in already happening.

The challenge, therefore, is finding ways to better integrate the unified communications tools that employees rely on to do their jobs with a myriad of social media network sites that are expected to become ever more specialized.

In the meantime, video is the fastest-growing format on the Web. So don’t be too surprised when video from social media networks starts streaming its way onto not only your corporate desktops, but also that brand-new desktop videoconferencing system that now serves as the anchor of your overall unified communications strategy.

Click through for results from a survey conducted by the Yankee Group on behalf of Siemens Enterprise Communications regarding the convergence of social media and unified communications.

Clearly social media usage in business is gaining.

Customer service is getting more social by the minute.

Employees are going where the customers are.

Desktop video conferencing is gaining momentum