Plus, we found that leading companies are able to achieve high interoperability with just 2-4% higher IT and functional budgets directed at applications, while handling as many (if not more) diverse applications within their IT stack. But currently, only one in three companies is capitalizing on these advances to untangle the value trapped within their organization. These companies are racing past their competitors because they make high interoperability central to their overall business and technology strategy. GN Group hits play on enterprise interoperability Even before The New York Times declared its Jabra headset as the best on the market in spring 2021, GN Group, a global audio solution manufacturer, braced for a demand surge by integrating its business applications under a unified strategy. Sales had jumped 82% in the first quarter of 2021 on the heels of a 42% rise in 2020, when COVID-19 influenced millions to buy headsets for remote school and work. Company leaders knew this need would only grow with fast-changing consumer behavior—and that GN Group’s people and technology would play a critical role in 1 meeting the demand. Given the urgency, this transformation needed to happen quickly.