As businesses continue to realize the overwhelming need for digital transformation, the idea of unified communications has taken center stage. UC allows you to link all of your communication devices and platforms into one comprehensive system and works through the cloud. This creates reliable and efficient communication across your organization and has become essential to business continuity. “Perhaps the biggest trend driving the adoption of UC is digital transformation (DX) and the rise of the digital workforce. At its core, the digital workforce thrives on the idea that people should be able to access the tools they need to perform, wherever they are, and whatever device they use. Combine that with the ever-emerging move to cloud communications and agile methodologies, and you’ve got an environment primed for UC.”
What Is Unified Communications?
Gartner defines UC as “Unified communications (UC) products — equipment, software and services — provide and combine multiple enterprise communications channels, such as voice, video, personal and team messaging, voicemail, and content sharing. This can include control, management, and integration of these channels.”
What Are The Key Benefits?
The benefits you receive from unifying your communications are numerous and will depend on how your business operates. However, several key benefits will smooth operations regardless of your business model. Having all of your communications connected allows for greater agility and more efficient and cost-friendly scalability. Deploying a remote workforce is made easy since the systems are cloud-based. You can continue operations as usual from anywhere with an internet connection. UC can provide significant cost savings as softphones and cloud servers take the place of traditional phones and PBX systems at a much lower price.
One other key benefit is the improved collaboration you will see throughout your organization. Features like meeting software and online chat allow your team and customers to communicate in their preferred method.
What Technology Is Involved?
Unified communications will have a variety of different components depending on the needs of your organization. Sometimes it’s as simple as switching to a VoIP system, but it can involve several other aspects, including:
- Meeting Software
- Instant Messaging
- CRM
- Marketing Automation
- Fax
- Call Forwarding
- IVR
- Cloud Computing/Storage
Achieving unified communications should be your organization’s primary goal for everyday operations and your business continuity plan. Contact Alto9 today to schedule a free consultation to discuss and address your business continuity needs.
