NEWS ROUND-UP


Technology sector productivity is hindered by unreliable collaboration tools, reveals StarLeaf


83 per cent of organisational staff across IT and technology businesses believe screen or content sharing technologies could be improved to drive better productivity


Too many employees within the technology sector are having their productivity hindered by unreliable collaboration tools. This is according to a new survey from StarLeaf, revealing that 83 per cent of decision-makers and Line of Business leaders across IT and technology businesses believe their ability to share their screen or content during a call could be significantly improved. The survey, conducted by Vanson Bourne, showed a


particularly high proportion of respondents (49 per cent) work closely with colleagues based in different offices, either in the same country or overseas. Access to effective communication tools is of critical importance but StarLeaf’s data suggests that this is not the reality. In fact, 46 per cent of respondents report that their video call meetings regularly don’t start on time and are often prone to technical issues, inherently damaging productivity. Commenting on the findings William MacDonald, Chief


Technology Officer at StarLeaf, says, “Technology organisations are often globalised entities – they might have development teams based in Asia or Eastern Europe, design teams in cities like Berlin or London, and a head office in New York or San Francisco, which requires an ‘always-on’ approach to collaboration. “When it comes to attracting talent, tech firms want the


smartest individuals and don’t want to be restricted to their local markets. A recent report from international expansion consultancy Velocity Global revealed that 42 per cent of UK technology firms are planning moves into overseas markets with the intention of hiring the best international talent. The power of flexible and remote working means tech companies can connect with the best talent across the world and collaborate effectively, sharing information to accelerate decision-making and bring products to market faster. However, our data show that many tech companies are falling short when it comes to this.” The survey reveals several reasons why staff are not able to share content and collaborate effectively. 37 per cent of staff


have to wait for sharing options to be activated, 36 per cent of employees say they are required to download relevant software in order to share information, and 35 per cent find that guest presenters are blocked from sharing content. This builds a picture of an industry struggling to empower employees to work with tools effectively, which leaves staff frustrated and unproductive. Commenting on this, MacDonald adds: “The technology sector,


from consumer apps to enterprise-grade software, is intensely competitive. The difference being the first or second to bring a product to market is often the difference between success and failure. Technology businesses need to attract the best talent and develop products faster to gain an edge on their rivals, but to do this effectively, the right solutions need to be in place to enhance collaboration between employees, regardless of where they are working. Integrated video conferencing and meeting room systems can help staff to communicate reliably and securely, enabling faster decision-making, which will increase productivity and also support flexible working,” MacDonald concluded.


Google Cloud Outages Expose Vulnerability of Major Providers, Underscore Benefits of Niche Cloud Computing Players


Businesses choose alternative cloud providers for customized solutions that offer ability to rapidly adapt and provide more personalized customer support


Earlier this month, Google Cloud experienced an outage which not only affected Google’s products like Gmail and YouTube – other businesses using Google Cloud, such as Shopify, Discord, and Snap were also disturbed. Later in the month, Google Calendar went down, creating new incentives to discuss why dominant providers shouldn’t be default cloud options for every enterprise. Personalized solutions, better customer support, and the ability to rapidly adapt to the changing landscape are the reasons why businesses choose alternative providers. The global cloud computing market is forecasted to develop


from USD 271.96 billion in 2018 to USD 623.93 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.1%. The bulk of the market share is being split among a couple of tech giants,


but a growing number of niche cloud computing businesses are carving out a market space for themselves among companies offering VPN, business intelligence, email marketing, and other services. “No provider, big or small, is immune to downtime, but smaller providers have capabilities to solve unique issues quicker. Niche providers invest more time in every customer interaction and can react to customers’ needs faster,” said Vincentas Grinius, CEO of Heficed, a cloud, dedicated server and IP address provider. The rapidly expanding cloud computing market will keep


creating new opportunities, and the need for custom solutions and personal approach will continue to keep the playing field from being dominated by a few tech titans.


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