Attending Commsverse 2024 provided many insights into the future of Microsoft Voice and other emerging trends in communications technology. One of the standout sessions was delivered by Cavell's Patrick Watson, who delved into the future of Microsoft Voice and its evolving ecosystem. Here are some of the key takeaways:
Microsoft Teams' Meteoric Rise
Patrick Watson highlighted that Microsoft Teams is expected to surpass 350 million monthly active users by the end of 2024. This growth is driven by several factors:
- Reliability: Teams has established itself as a dependable platform.
- Familiar Interface: Users appreciate the seamless integration with other Microsoft products.
- Brand and Reputation: Microsoft's longstanding reputation in the tech industry boosts confidence.
- Initial Bundling: Initially, Teams was included in the Office 365 bundle, making it an easy choice for many businesses.
Despite this growth, some companies remain cautious about adopting Teams. Concerns include the rapid pace of software changes, licensing costs, potential future integration changes, and ease of integration. Interestingly, anti-competition issues were not a significant concern.
The Future of Teams Telephony
Cavell forecasts an additional 50 million Teams telephony users by 2028, with Microsoft potentially capturing 50% of the global market for integrated voice (214 million users). Operator Connect is anticipated to become the most dominant aspect of Teams Voice, overshadowing Direct Routing and Teams Phone Mobile. Businesses are increasingly turning to Operator Connect due to aging hardware, rising demand for advanced features, and a desire to optimize resources. This platform is praised for its straightforward number management and minimal permissions required for integration.
The Deskless Workforce and Industry Spending
A notable trend discussed was the increasing focus on deskless technology. Approximately 80% of the global workforce is deskless, spanning various industries. The following sectors are expected to significantly increase their investment in deskless technology:
- Agriculture: 55%
- Education: 75%
- Healthcare: 77%
- Construction: 78%
- Hospitality: 82%
- Retail: 83%
- Manufacturing: 91%
- Transportation: 100%
Microsoft's total addressable market (TAM) for frontline workers is substantial, with agriculture leading at 858 million workers, followed by retail at 497 million, and manufacturing at 427 million.
The Importance of Mobile Communications
Mobile communications emerged as a critical focus area. Integrated native mobility has gained importance, enabling the capture of metadata and AI-viable data, enhancing AI functionalities. The number of mobile-enabled cloud communications users is expected to exceed 9 million by the end of this year and approach 20 million by 2028. Leaders are increasingly recognizing the importance of mobile-enabled cloud communications, with 62% considering it important now (a 25% increase from 2023), and 88% anticipating its importance in the near future.
When surveyed about the change in the importance of enabling employees to communicate and collaborate via mobile devices over the past two years, 37% indicated it was vitally important, while 32% said it was somewhat important. Looking ahead, 35% of respondents identified converged communications with native mobile as their preferred method of enterprise communication.
Growth Areas in the Next 12 Months
Mobility services are expected to lead the growth areas over the next year, even surpassing the significance of AI integrations. This trend underscores the pivotal role of mobile communication solutions in the evolving landscape of enterprise communications.
In conclusion, Commsverse 2024 highlighted significant trends and projections for Microsoft Voice and the broader communications technology space. With Microsoft Teams continuing its rapid growth, the rise of Operator Connect, and the increasing importance of mobile communications, businesses are poised to navigate an exciting and dynamic future in enterprise communications. Stay tuned for more updates and insights as we continue to explore these evolving trends.