In this article, we’ll discuss:
- Issues around using multiple solutions from different vendors.
- The benefits of consolidated vendors and integrated solutions.
- How Cisco products optimise workforce costs.
When businesses work with multiple vendors and solutions, tool sprawl becomes a reality. 86% of IT leaders report that disparate tools create financial strain and security concerns, putting operations at risk.
Organisations can find it difficult to manage multiple vendor relationships while tracking expenses around products taken. However, by consolidating both vendors and solutions, costs can be kept in check.
Simplifying vendor management impacts control over supply chains and optimises workforce costs. Businesses now have the power to utilise platforms that unify communications and, in the long-term, manage overhead expenses. For any organisation looking to secure their financial future, streamlining vendors and solutions is the sensible choice.
Paying the price for multiple vendors and solutions
When juggling so many different vendors and solutions, it can be difficult to manage. Operating a multi-vendor model introduces risks, including:
- Deteriorating relationships: Sustaining multiple vendor relationships means, when not properly curated, they can start to decline.
- Operational inefficiencies: If employees switch between apps, context can be lost, and too much time is spent tracking down relevant information.
- Negative CX: Through operational silos, user experience (UX) becomes inconsistent, ultimately impacting long-term customer experience (CX).
- Differing solution needs: Certain tools will require experts, creating a skills gap that can slow down adoption, especially with the different standards that can make integration difficult.
- Security concerns: A large vendor ecosystem introduces more access points to systems, expanding the attack surface and making it harder to maintain a consistent security protocol.
- Hidden costs: Organisations can end up paying for similar, overlapping services, and managing multiple contracts also increases administrative overhead expenses.
Multi-vendor models do have their perks. There’s no reliance on a single vendor, making pricing more flexible and avoiding the risk of a single point of failure. Businesses can also choose from more products and leverage associated expert help.
However, with managing costs still a top priority (33% of corporate leaders prioritise cost reduction), consolidating vendors is a sensible choice.
Consolidation and cutting costs
47% of businesses report that they work with more than 10 vendors. While this kind of strategy can work in markets with high risk, it still means managing more relationships with their own intricacies. It’s why businesses look to streamline vendors and solutions.
A single supplier strategy brings its own benefits, such as:
- A greater focus on building and nurturing the vendor relationship, which helps align both parties on long-term goals.
- A smaller attack surface, as the number of access points are reduced and there’s less reliance on separate security teams scanning for breaches.
- Faster response times in case a fault does occur, meaning these issues are resolved quickly and normal service can resume.
- Easier integration due to systems and tools being managed by the same provider, making data exchange far more seamless.
- Greater cost efficiency by reducing the number of contracts, while also implementing single billing from one provider to simplify cost allocation.
Of course, a single vendor model has its own drawbacks. There’s a higher amount of dependency on that one vendor, which could easily disrupt supply chains. Innovation can also be impacted, as any enhancements might be limited to what one provider can offer.
For any business looking to consolidate, they’ll need to work alongside a provider that understands the importance of optimising workforces.
How Gamma and Cisco optimise workforce costs
One of the main ways for businesses to streamline vendor and solutions numbers is by unifying communications. Tools are integrated into one platform designed to improve collaboration across expansive workforces. Such a service is perfectly suited for optimising workforce costs.
Gamma has now achieved Cisco Provider Gold Status, giving businesses access to a wider range of collaboration-focused solutions. By adopting the Cisco-powered collaboration suite, businesses can stop jumping from app to app, while simultaneously keeping costs down.
Webex for Gamma takes away the complexities around business communications. With video conferencing, messaging, and file sharing now integrated into a single, easy-to-use platform, workforces can stay connected and productive. There’s only one bill needed to pay, and flexible price models are available depending on specific business needs and sizes.
Cloud Connect for Webex Calling provides direct cloud connectivity, while also helping businesses retain control of their telephony. As a cloud-based solution, businesses can easily scale as customer demands change and can mitigate any risks associated with the impending PSTN Switch-Off. Organisations avoid any costly last-minute migrations and negate any risks associated with the end of the copper network.
Through close collaboration with Cisco, Gamma has broadened its product portfolio to offer more avenues to optimising workforce costs. Continuous improvements and innovations from Cisco mean collaboration tools always stay ahead of the curve. With AI-powered solutions and enterprise-grade security, businesses can improve their efficiency and, in turn, keep expenses under control.
Streamlined communications with long-term value
Every business wants to optimise workforce costs. It’s not a case of finding a way to cut corners but rather being smarter with vendor management and streamlining solutions. By avoiding tool sprawl, and having to juggle multiple vendor relationships, organisations can make cost optimisation a reality.
Webex solutions from Gamma makes seamless collaboration both easy and cost-effective. Combining Gamma’s communication expertise with Cisco’s own leading platform gives businesses a clear route towards optimising workforce costs. Unifying communications and taking them to the cloud reduces infrastructure costs and allows hybrid workforces to stay productive and connected.
Keeping workforce costs down is a top priority for every business leader. With Webex solutions from Gamma, it’s within reach.
