Nortel Study finds Chinese Manufacturers Embracing Unified Communications

UC’s Competitive Advantage to Drive New Wave of Manufacturing Innovation.

BEIJING - CIOs of Chinese manufacturing companies recognize that unified communications solutions offer unprecedented opportunities to reduce costs, foster collaboration and improve their competitive position, according to a new China Computerworld (CCW) Research** study, sponsored by Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT].
Of the almost 100 Chinese manufacturing company CIOs surveyed by CCW Research, nearly 74 percent believe unified communications is essential for improving efficiency, while 64 percent hailed its benefits in reducing the cost of employee communications. These cost savings are realized as unified communications breaks down the barriers across email, voice, video, conferencing, presence and other forms of communications to help employees work more easily and effectively than ever.

“Manufacturers have traditionally relied on improvements in manufacturing technology to increase the profitability and efficiency of their manufacturing processes but today’s information-driven business environment requires improvements in people-driven processes as well,” said Haitao Guo, senior analyst and vice general manager of CCW Research. “Our findings show broad support for unified communications among Chinese manufacturers. Early adopters are already finding that unified communications enhances their competitive position by enabling better collaboration amongst employees, partners, and customers no matter where they are located.”

Survey respondents were also asked what applications should be integrated with unified communications. The company’s basic communications software (spreadsheet, presentation and word processing package) was named by 62 percent of CIOs, the corporate email system by 46 percent, and mobile phones by 44 percent. Fixed phones, video conferencing and instant messaging were also named. All applications are supported by the Nortel and Microsoft Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA) solution, which brings together Nortel and Microsoft’s expertise in unified communications to produce a tightly integrated solution. ICA solutions have already been deployed by leading companies world wide.

“Manufacturing is one of the most competitive industries in the world, and unified communications is an excellent way for Chinese manufacturers to gain an edge over their rivals,” said Jackson Wu, president of Nortel Greater China. “The results of this CCW Research study confirm broad interest in unified communications, and serve as a call to action for a sector that thrives on applying relevant new technologies. The ICA has taken the complexity out of unified communications, offering Chinese manufacturers a simple path to realizing its benefits. All that remains is for them to take the first step.”

CCW Research predicts that China’s unified communications market will be worth RMB 5.1 billion (US$747 million) in 2008, growing to be worth RMB 21.2b (US$3.11 billion) by 2012 with a compound annual growth rate of 46.4 percent.

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