IT execs agree social media improves customer relations

Research shows UK is turning social media to business value in spite of security concerns, with Linkedin and Facebook still preferred over Twitter

London, UK - 2010-08-02 - The lines have officially been blurred between home and the workplace as UK enterprises embrace the business opportunities offered by social media, according to new research, commissioned by Open Text Corporation. The research shows that more than 50 per cent of enterprises surveyed in the UK are using social media in the workplace and 95 per cent believe social media offers business an opportunity to improve communication with both internal and external audiences.

The research was completed at Open Text s recent customer Content Day event, sampling more than 300 IT executives and business decision makers. A total of 43 per cent confirmed business drivers for using social media are its direct and personal route of contact with customers and partners. Unsurprisingly security was seen to be the biggest barrier to long-term adoption registering 41 per cent, with 20 per cent reporting that a lack of control over message was also a concern.

Mark Finch, vice president digital media group at Open Text commented: The accessibility and transparency of social media means that at every level of business there can be input and feedback. At the top, social media is as much about the ideological approach as it is about product promotion and marketing; whereas at customer level it is more focused on end-user support and having an independent voice within the broader collective market. The advancement of web content technologies and the ease of content syndication through social networks, have and will continue to impact both business and consumers in a positive way.

The results follow news earlier this month that Open Text has expanded its family of social media offerings that enable businesses to securely apply the value of social media to solve core business challenges, such as improving customer engagement or promoting team productivity (http://www.opentext.com/2/global/press-release-details.html?id=2371).

Other key research findings include:

More than a quarter of large organisations expect social media to improve customer service

93 percent of respondents believe corporate blogging can help corporate communications

33 percent of businesses found that corporate employee training videos were most valuable with 30 percent listing product demonstrations

More than a quarter of organisations regularly use Twitter for business purposes, but the most popular site is Linkedin with 35 percent

40 percent reported that Facebook and Linkedin were both preferred social media sites for ease of use

About Open Text

Open Text, the Enterprise Content Management leader, helps organisations manage and gain the true value of their business content. Open Text brings two decades of expertise supporting 100 million users in 114 countries. Working with our customers and partners, we bring together leading Content Experts to help organisations capture and preserve corporate memory, increase brand equity, automate processes, mitigate risk, manage compliance and improve competitiveness. For more information, visit http://www.opentext.com/uk.

Trademark

Copyright © 2010 by Open Text Corporation. OPEN TEXT and OPEN TEXT ECM SUITE are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Text Corporation in the United States of America, Canada, the European Union and/or other countries. This list of trademarks is not exhaustive. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, product names, company names, brands and service names mentioned herein are property of Open Text Corporation or other respective owners.

Release Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release may contain words considered forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities laws. These statements are based on the Open Text's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which the company operates. These statements are subject to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and the actual outcome may be materially different. Open Text's assumptions, although considered reasonable by the company at the date of this press release, may provide to be inaccurate and consequently its actual results could differ materially from the expectations set out herein. For additional information with respect to risks and other factors, which could occur, see the Open Text's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC and other securities regulators. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Open Text disclaims any intention or obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information, please contact

Rob Jessel / Rob Forbes
Spreckley Partners Ltd
+44 (0)20 7388 9988
opentext@spreckley.co.uk