March 25, 2024

Three trends shaping unified communications

In South Africa, enterprises are increasingly implementing unified communications (UC) as a way to improve internal collaboration between staff members and elevate the customer experience. UC streamlines communication channels, facilitates smoother interactions and enhances support services for clients.

As a reputable South African ICT services provider, SEACOM recognises the importance of this technology and provides UC services to enterprises. At present, there are three significant trends affecting the world of UC and SEACOM can assist businesses in South Africa exploit these trends for better communication and collaboration capabilities.

UC trend 1 - The adoption of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming several industries, including UC. Businesses that integrate AI technologies into UC systems can see considerable productivity improvements and more efficient operations. AI-powered chatbots, speech recognition, and natural language processing are just a few ways that AI is being harnessed.

For enterprises looking for sophisticated communications solutions, incorporating AI into UC can provide a competitive advantage. Businesses can improve their customer care capabilities by introducing AI-powered chatbots that respond quickly and accurately. This trend aligns with SEACOM's aim to provide cutting-edge technologies to its clients.

UC trend 2 - The hybrid work environment

The Covid-19 pandemic is, thankfully, a thing of the past. It transformed the way we work, resulting in the creation of the hybrid workplace. Many South African businesses continue to have a major component of their personnel working remotely. This transition has put new strains on collaboration, necessitating solutions and technology built for smooth communication, collaboration, and engagement across distances.

Businesses may ensure continuous communication and collaboration among on-site and remote staff by providing secure and dependable UC systems. Case studies from companies that have successfully adopted UC solutions can demonstrate the technology’s capacity to support a hybrid working environment.

UC trend 3 - Growing shifts toward UCaaS

Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is experiencing rapid expansion on a global scale, and South Africa is no exception to this trend. According to MarketsandMarkets, the UCaaS market is estimated to reach $24.8 billion by 2024, owing to strong demand from organisations of all sizes buoyed by factors like mobility and advancements in artificial intelligence.

To remain competitive, companies should increase their UCaaS capabilities to meet the changing communication needs of their clients and employees. It’s vital to work with an ICT services provider that can offer a comprehensive UCaaS solution, allowing businesses to reap the benefits of UC without requiring significant infrastructure investments.

These three major developments are influencing the world of UC - increasing AI usage, the hybrid office scenario, and the expanding popularity of UCaaS. SEACOM, a trusted South African ICT services provider, is well-positioned to empower enterprises in capitalising on these trends to improve communication and collaboration.

Businesses leveraging AI in UC stand to gain from enhanced operational efficiency and elevated customer support experiences. The hybrid workplace trend necessitates strong and secure communication solutions, and SEACOM can provide the essential tools and technologies. Furthermore, the rising popularity of UCaaS presents an opportunity for enterprises to streamline communication processes and unlock the full potential of unified communications.

SEACOM's extensive experience in navigating these emerging trends, coupled with our unwavering commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions, positions us as the ideal partner for businesses seeking to elevate their UC capabilities. For more information about our communications services or to get a quote, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.


SEACOM owns Africa’s most extensive network of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including subsea cables and secure internet connections. We offer a diverse range of flexible, scalable and high-quality solutions for businesses that meet world-class standards for connectivity.

SEACOM is privately owned and operated, making it agile and adaptable to the needs of the customer. This makes us the preferred ICT and internet connectivity partner for African businesses and peripheral service providers. We can guarantee high-speed, low-latency and secure internet connections to corporates and small enterprises.

For‌ ‌more‌ ‌information‌ ‌on‌ our ICT solutions, ‌follow‌ ‌us‌ ‌on‌ ‌‌LinkedIn‌,‌ ‌‌Facebook‌ ‌or‌ ‌‌Twitter.‌ ‌Keep‌ ‌an‌ ‌eye‌ ‌on‌ ‌our‌ ‌‌news‌ ‌section‌‌ ‌for‌ ‌insightful‌ ‌articles‌ and relevant news stories on African ICT, internet connectivity and our leading cloud and security solutions.