IDC PeerScape: Practices to Modernize Communication and Collaboration for Business Agility and Enhanced Business Outcomes

This IDC PeerScape report emphasizes the need for organizations to adopt flexible, AI-driven, and hybrid unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) solutions to support modern work environments. It outlines three key practices: selecting technologies that enable hybrid work, adopting AI-powered UCC platforms to reduce inefficiencies, and choosing deployment models that balance cloud flexibility with on-premises security. Real-world examples show how organizations improved collaboration, productivity, and compliance by addressing outdated infrastructure, integrating AI features like virtual assistants, and using hybrid setups for secure voice and scalable teamwork. The report highlights that combining these strategies helps organizations streamline workflows, enhance employee engagement, and adapt to evolving business needs.The report also highlights the importance of selecting UC&C technologies that support flexible and hybrid work. It discusses the benefits of AI-enabled consolidated and virtual UC&C platforms for improving productivity and efficiency in a hybrid environment. Furthermore, the report advises on deployment flexibility, particularly for regulated industries, suggesting a hybrid approach combining on-premises and cloud-based solutions to ensure compliance while enhancing collaboration capabilities."Unlock the future of work by embracing AI-driven UC&C solutions for seamless collaboration, enhanced productivity, and a truly connected hybrid work environment." — Oru Mohiuddin, research director, enterprise communications and collaboration, Europe, IDC