Most businesses operating today employ all sorts of digital tools to support their operations, particularly when it comes to communication. A company might, for instance, require its teams to use a specific instant messaging app and email client, among other platforms. And while this approach might seem at first like an intuitive way to take advantage of modern comms technology, it gives rise to fragmented communication systems that actually make it harder for teams to collaborate effectively.
What if you could have all your business’s communication tools—i.e. voice calls, video conferencing, messaging, and email—consolidated in just one secure, streamlined application? That’s indeed what you’ll get with a Unified Communications (UC) solution. It’s not difficult to see why these cutting-edge solutions are becoming preferred platforms for business communication these days, as managing all channels through one interface is simply much more efficient than depending on several standalone apps. Many UC solutions are also cloud-based, which means that employees can connect from any location and device they choose.
We believe that many communication issues businesses face today are entirely avoidable, and UC solutions are the answer. The following are some major challenges your organisation can overcome with the help of unified comms:
You might not realise it at first, but it’s highly inefficient to depend on separate tools for different communication needs. The time your employees spend switching between applications or resolving compatibility issues will ultimately add up—and it can eventually cost your business dearly in terms of wasted productivity. At worst, such a system can result in overlooked tasks and miscommunication between teams, which can complicate outcomes for projects or campaigns.
Your teams will find it easier to collaborate via a UC solution simply because they can find every communication channel they need in the same place. In practice, this means they can transition seamlessly from a chat to a video call to email without having to install different applications. They’ll deal with much less confusion as a result and free up more time to focus on operations instead of tending to communication breakdowns.
Every company deals with operational delays due to miscommunication—think slow email replies, missed calls, or team members that you just can’t reach when you need them. Time-sensitive tasks and responsibilities won’t wait for anyone, however. When you run into a communication bottleneck while responding to a customer inquiry or coordinating an important task between departments, you can expect plenty of frustration on the part of both your employees and your clients.
Luckily, UC solutions come equipped with lots of features that make it easy for employees to connect. Presence indicators, for instance, allow users to see right away if their colleagues are in a meeting, busy, or currently available, which means they won’t spend too much time waiting around for a response without knowing why.
You can also set up your system to forward calls automatically to another recipient if the first recipient doesn’t pick up, or to transcribe any voicemails and send them to the intended recipient’s email. This way, no one runs the risk of missing important messages, and your workflows will run more smoothly.
Remote and hybrid work environments are becoming the norm across many industries. To successfully implement such a remote setup at your business, you’ll need to think beyond traditional communication tools for keeping your employees connected. These will fall short in many respects; emails are easy to miss, and it’s difficult to collaborate in detail over the phone alone. You’ll face even more challenges if your workforce is spread out across multiple time zones or needs to work together on important company files.
The answer to your remote working problems? A cloud-based, integrated communication system that lets your team work together like they’re in the same office. Look for features that facilitate this in ways that your organisation specifically needs. Video conferencing capabilities, virtual whiteboards, screen sharing, and file sharing are just a few helpful features that will provide a lot of value for businesses. The best UC solutions are also mobile-friendly, which means that even your employees on the go can attend important meetings from whatever device they have on hand.
When you run a disjointed communication system, it’s often your customer relationships that pay the price. No one wants to be transferred repeatedly between multiple departments and have to repeat their concerns over and over again. Likewise, your customers will likely think more poorly of you if you respond inconsistently or miss following up on their queries—and all of these are problems you can trace back directly to communication silos.
On the flip side, the consolidated nature of UC solutions stands to benefit your clients just as much as your employees. For one thing, it’s generally possible to integrate your UC system with your customer relationship management (CRM) system, which means that your support team can instantly access relevant information on the customer they’re assisting. Unified call logs and real-time customer history tracking also support the effort to deliver faster, more personalised service.
Businesses that rely on multiple communication tools often face high subscription fees and maintenance costs that can bloat their operational expenses over time. Managing these channels requires additional resources, while UC solutions cost you only what it takes to maintain the one platform. You’ll get a more streamlined, scalable solution and an overall simpler IT setup that cuts down on administrative overhead as well as company spending.
Responsiveness and efficiency are everything in the modern business world. In the face of these realities, how well is your company communicating? We want your business to benefit from the wealth of advantages a unified comms solution can bring to any organisation. Don't hesitate to contact us and share your needs, we’ll gladly work with you to implement the right system.
