We believe all businesses should know about Unified Communications (UC). We’ve seen first-hand just how much it can transform the overall communication within a business, however, many businesses still don’t know the true benefits of having a UC system.
If you’re thinking of introducing a UC system into your workspace but are still unsure whether it’s the right move for you, keep on reading to find out about the features and benefits of UC.
What is Unified Communications?
Unified Communications describes a variety of communication and collaboration technologies, such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP). This allows individuals and organisations to communicate and collaborate easily and efficiently.
UC can be thought of as a single, integrated platform that brings together email, voice, and video, all in a single interface. The platform enables users to communicate in a way that most suits their needs.
Is Unified Communication suitable for all businesses?
Technically speaking, all businesses can benefit from using a UC system, however, there are some businesses that UC really is excellent for. Businesses which handle a high volume of calls benefit from UC because of its streamlined capabilities which improve the overall user and customer experience.
Additionally, businesses that rely on collaboration between teams or departments, or those with a need for efficient and timely communication, may also find Unified Communication to be a valuable tool.
Key features of Unified Communication
Unified Communication integrates voice, video, instant messaging, and presence information, into a single, unified interface.
Let’s look at the key features UC offers:
Voicemail
Voicemails can be delivered to email and played on PC, phone or mobile while still delivering the same end-user experience from any device, at any time, from anywhere.
Presence
The presence tool on a Unified Communication system is a feature that allows users to see the availability of their colleagues in real-time. It displays whether a person is available, busy, away, or offline.
This can be particularly useful for teams that need to coordinate their schedules or for individuals who want to know when their colleagues are available to communicate.
Screen sharing
Screen sharing allows users to share the contents of their computer screen with other participants in a meeting or call.
The other participants in the call will be able to see the shared screen in real-time on their own devices.
VoIP and video conferencing
UC system’s often include Voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing capabilities, which allow users to make and receive phone calls and hold virtual meetings over the internet.
Instant messaging and collaboration tools
Many UC systems include instant messaging and collaboration tools that allow users to share files, images and other types of information in real-time.
Mobile integration
UC systems are often designed to work seamlessly with mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Users can stay connected and productive even when they’re away from their desks.
The benefits of Unified Communication for businesses
So now you’ve got an idea of what UC can do for you, you might be wondering how it can benefit your business.
Here are some of the top benefits UC offers:
Improved collaboration and communications between colleagues
UC makes it easy for people to connect and collaborate, regardless of their location. This can lead to improved communication and efficient workflows.
Increased productivity
By providing a single interface for multiple tools, UC can increase productivity by streamlining communication. Employees have every tool they need all in one place, which saves time by eliminating jumping between different platforms.
Enhanced customer service
If communication tools are streamlined in a business, customers will benefit from smoother interactions when contacting companies.
With UC, customer service teams can handle multiple interactions, and use presence information to quickly route calls to the best-suited representative. This will improve service level and reduce customer waiting time.
Reduced costs
UC system’s typically use Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, which can reduce the cost of phone calls, as well as the need for expensive hardware, such as traditional telephone systems.
UC systems can also reduce travel costs by allowing employees to hold virtual meetings instead of in-person meetings.
Unified Communication platforms
One popular example of a Unified Communication platform is Microsoft Teams. It’s a collaboration platform that combines several different forms of communication and collaboration tools into a single, unified interface. Features include:
- Chat and instant messaging with colleagues in real-time.
- Make and receive phone calls and hold video meetings over the internet using VoIP and video conferencing.
- Share files, images, and other types of information with colleagues.
- Access presence information to see if a colleague is online, busy, or away from their desk.
- Use collaboration tools such as calendars, task lists, and note-taking to stay organised.
- Work from any device, whether it’s a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and have access to all the features and functionality of the platform.
This is just one example of a UC platform, other popular platforms include, Zoom, Cisco Webex, BlueJeans and Slack.
In short, UC systems can help improve communication, collaboration, and productivity within a business while also reducing costs and increasing flexibility. It can also support businesses with data management, security, and automation.
If you think your business could benefit from a Unified communication system, get in touch!
