Cloud adoption now a strategic business decision, about more than just technology
Independent research shows cloud adoption being driven by strategic decision-making at a senior level
Cloud adoption among contact centres is being driven by wider strategic business decision making at senior levels within the industry. These are the findings of new research study entitled ‘Cloud as a Journey: The Reality of Cloud-based Solutions in UK Contact Centres’ commissioned by Genesys and carried out by contact centre expert ContactBabel. The research, which surveyed 186 contact centres run by UK businesses, aimed to survey attitudes towards cloud technology in the industry.
The research found that strategic decision making at a senior or company-wide level was a ‘strong’ trigger in the adoption of cloud technology in around two-thirds (65%) of all cases. This was underlined by the finding that 90% of respondents said that CTOs had ‘considerable or great influence’ over decision-making about adopting cloud technology, while 70% of people surveyed said the same about their CEO.
The benefits of cloud adoption listed by respondents in the research hint at why the decision to adopt cloud computing is taken as part of wider business strategy – and not judged solely on its technology features. The research shows that it is now seen as a way of reducing expenditure, ensuring more nimble, agile contact centre businesses and speeding up the introduction of new systems and processes. Benefits listed by respondents included quicker cheaper IT maintenance and implementation (30% said it was the top benefit); speed of implementing changes and trialling new functionality (25%); easier integration (20%) and operating rather than capital expenditure (8%).
The report showed an overall trend towards the large-scale adoption of cloud computing in the industry. While some concerns remain – almost one third of respondents said data security was a concern – the majority are heading towards a cloud enabled future with 55% of respondents stating that their contact centre functionality would be cloud based by 2020.
Reflecting on the findings, Keith Wilkinson, Vice President UK&I and Africa, Genesys said “Cloud computing proved itself as a technology long ago. However, we are now seeing the strategic adoption of cloud, where it is being used to produce better business outcomes, increase profitability and future-proof contact centres.
He continued, “The wider business implications of cloud computing adoption also mean that other senior decision makers, such as the CEO and CFO, are now influencing the decision to move to the cloud. This marks a departure from previous years where decisions about technology rested firmly in the hands of the IT department.”
Steve Morrell, analyst at ContactBabel said
“The majority (51%) of contact centres have already implemented some form of cloud functionality, while around two-thirds of respondents stated that their contact centres will be entirely cloud-based in around 5 years’ time.
As a result, the trend towards cloud adoption seems unstoppable for a large part of the contact centre industry.”
ContactBabel is the contact centre industry expert. Whether customer-facing business, or solution provider – if you have a question about how the industry works, or where it’s heading, the chances are we have the answer.
The coverage provided by our massive and ongoing primary research projects is matched by our experience analysing the contact centre industry. We understand how technology, people and process best fit together, and how they will work collectively in the future.
For additional information visit, ContactBabel Website or telephone +44(0)191 271 5269.
Genesys is the market leader in multi-channel customer experience (CX) and contact centre solutions in the cloud and on-premises. We help brands of all sizes make great CX great business. The Genesys Customer Experience Platform powers optimal customer journeys consistently across all touchpoints, channels and interactions to turn customers into brand advocates. Genesys is trusted by over 4,500 customers in 80 countries to orchestrate more than 100 million digital and voice interactions each day.
For additional information see the Genesys Website or view their Company Profile
