Given the state of the economy, it's not surprising new IT investments are being scrutinised for what they can bring to the bottom line, writes James Bambrough, senior solution architect at Fujitsu. Supporters of so-called unified communications (UC) believe this is exactly the kind of efficient technology companies should be investigating. The idea of knitting together all your existing channels into one dashboard not only simplifies communications but makes the business more flexible and adaptable as a result. Here are three key wins the technology can deliver:

1. Enhancing productivity

Rather than having multiple methods of communications to manage, UC rationalises the tools needed to communicate. For example, rather than an employee using a telephone, mobile phone, video, web-sharing portals etc, the UC approach provides a simple, consistent interface. Staff can redirect an incoming call to any device, convert a one-to-one call into a conference call with one click, or work collaboratively on a document while on a video conference.

2. Reduction in travel

One of the main justifications for rolling out UC technologies is the ability to reduce travel costs. Recent research from Siemens found that each year a typical employee wastes 11 days on unnecessary travel. For a typical 1,000-user organisation this would equate to around 1.7million and 2,660 tonnes of carbon being wasted.

In the past, high-end video-conferencing technology has been expensive, often requiring a dedicated meeting room with an ISDN connection. But the systems typically integrated with UC are helping to commoditise and personalise video communications. Using inexpensive PC webcams, a well-planned web-conferencing system for a 1,000-user organisation with 10 international sites could repay its set-up costs in six months.

3. Managing availability

Open communications should be encouraged, but it can sometimes be distracting. A recent survey suggests a typical information worker spends 3.5 hours a week on unwanted communications or interruptions. For a 1,000-user organisation, that equates to around 3million per year. UC platforms can help staff manage their availability to communicate by using technologies such as presence - a system built into instant messaging platforms to say whether the user is available or not. Extending presence beyond instant messaging allows staff to avoid unwanted calls.

UC is all about finding the right channel for the right job. Less distraction means more focus and greater productivity, which is exactly what companies need right now.