Digital transformation has spurred a brand-new world of evolving technology. Work has become boundaryless with employees no longer refined to a certain desk, computer or phone. All it takes these days to pursue new opportunities worldwide is a cloud connection and the right device. With remote work becoming mainstream, companies must adapt and find a way to serve users that no longer wish to be tied down by wires and physical locations.
The solution has been an influx of innovative communication tools which span nearly every touchpoint for the average business. However, the overwhelming number of communication tools that have become available can be stressful to decipher and choose from. Luckily, unified communications can be the answer.
In a nutshell, unified communication facilitates the merging of software that supports real-time communications, such as voice over IP, and asynchronous communication, such as email. The result for the end user is convenient and immediate access to all necessary tools in an environment that can be tapped into from any device in any location.
Recently, team collaboration tools have become a staple in these offerings which are often referred to as unified communication and collaboration (UCC). The neat thing about this is the ability to seamlessly transition communication channels within the same interface and session. For instance, an email conversation could be escalated to a voice call with a single click and then to a video conference with another click with no disruption whatsoever.
Back-end management systems, which can be referred to as UC platforms, often support unified communications environments. These systems will facilitate integration among services in addition to the front-end clients that provide access. For example, a web conferencing system could leverage an audio-conferencing system which would be built on an underlying Internet Protocol telephony platform. A unified messaging client would enable click-to-talk, click-to-chat or click-to-video capabilities.
Unified communications systems and its components can be deployed on-premises, in a public or private cloud, or as a mix of all three. Equipping your organization with unified communications ensures an increased level of seamless interaction amongst the global workforces. Silos between enterprise teams are broken down and you are granted peace of mind knowing you can still access the same secure system regardless of your location. Unified communications encompass messaging, voice and video calling, team collaboration, video conferencing, file sharing, and much more.
Everything your employees need to connect, share and work cohesively on ideas in the same streamlined interface is gathered together with the right unified communications platform. While security concerns including managing users’ identities, access and securing data must be addressed, the overall benefits of implementing unified communications far outweigh the risks.
Advantages of unified communications include:
Significant transformation is occurring in unified communications according to several trends. Migration to the cloud should be prepared for along with solely on-premises deployments being phased out in favor of unified communications as a service (UCaaS). In fact, a 2020 study conducted by Nemertes found that 34 percent of organizations use UCaaS, a number that ballooned from just 19 percent in 2019. This shift may have been forced along by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic with the work-from-home movement. Living in this “new normal” requires employees to be able to perform their job tasks anywhere at any time on a moment’s notice. Cloud-based unified communications technology has become attractive and, in many cases, necessary because of this.
ACP CreativIT and CCCP are happy to help your organization simplify the world of work with the right unified communications implementation. Contact us to talk to one of our experts today or visit unified communications page here.