Unified communication as a service (UCaaS) solutions combine different methods of communication into a single software platform for accessibility. UCaaS can also be easily upgraded to meet the company’s specific needs.
UCaaS is an excellent choice for companies with hybrid or remote workforces. With a single login for voice, chat, screen sharing, and more, employees can work efficiently and stay productive, regardless of location.
Cost-Effectiveness
The emergence of UCaaS systems has benefitted businesses looking to increase productivity and cut costs. For one, these communication solutions are far less expansive than traditional on-premise systems and more secure from attacks. In addition, they are scalable and can accommodate business growth without adding cost or complexity.
Unified communications systems can give your teams all the essential tools for effective collaboration. For example, conferencing tools like video meetings allow employees to meet with customers or colleagues from anywhere. This feature is handy for remote or remote teams, as it can reduce travel expenses and provide flexibility in the workplace.
Hosted UCaaS can also give your team access to team chat, which helps keep everyone organized and productive. It is ideal for remote workers who must always stay connected. It is also suitable for companies that use field-based employees, as these individuals can communicate with each other using the same tools no matter where they are working.
Additionally, unified communications offer tools that can improve customer engagement. For example, telehealth is an increasingly popular service that allows physicians to monitor patients remotely using video calls. This feature can significantly improve the healthcare industry by speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It also enables doctors to share important medical information with family members, ensuring the patient’s needs are met.
Scalability
Many communication tools provide a single functionality, such as voice communications, but UCaaS goes one step further with the ability to bundle in a range of additional services. These may include chat applications, auto-attendant, call forwarding, SMS, video conferencing, and softphones that “roll” your calls into your smartphone. These can be used on the go or at your desk, all under a single business phone number. It makes UCaaS a valuable tool for companies with remote offices and a hybrid work environment.
Having all these different communication channels under a single platform also makes it easier for teams to identify and resolve issues in the workflow. For example, a team can quickly identify the issue and find solutions if customer calls are dropped or misdirected to the wrong department. If call volume is highest at noon, a team can use analytics to see where the problem lies and shift resources to accommodate the peak period.
Finally, UCaaS offers considerable cost savings for businesses. It eliminates the need for costly hardware, on-site setup, maintenance, and hefty monthly subscription payments. It also means that your employees can connect on devices they already have, which makes the switch easier for them and ensures excellent employee adoption rates. Additionally, most UCaaS providers offer 24/7 support and documentation.
Security
With the rapid rise of remote work, businesses need communication systems that allow employees to connect and collaborate, regardless of location. UCaaS does just that, unifying communications tools and platforms into one platform on the cloud. It is a massive benefit in the modern workplace, allowing employees to shift between locations and devices without losing productivity.
With that said, UCaaS platforms are not immune to security threats. Business leaders need to find a provider that offers suitable security options. For example, a good UCaaS vendor will provide encryption on the transmission and storage of data to protect against cyberattacks. Additionally, a quality UCaaS platform will ensure the network’s reliability by using redundant servers and backups to protect against outages.
Lastly, a great UCaaS vendor can support video conferencing and screen sharing. It is a big deal for remote workers because they can communicate with their peers and customers more professionally. Moreover, the best UCaaS vendors will be on hand to help resolve issues with poor audio or video connections so that calls don’t drop and people do not experience delays. In addition, they can help companies comply with regulatory requirements such as HIPAA and CCPA.
Flexibility
With modern workers working remotely or at multiple locations, teams must be able to access all of their essential systems and tools, even on the go. UCaaS provides an integrated communication solution that brings voice calling, video conferencing and collaboration, online faxing, messaging apps, and more together in one platform, accessible on desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones.
Unlike traditional phone systems, most UCaaS solutions allow companies to quickly scale features up or down as the business needs change. You can easily add lines for new hires or remove them when an employee leaves the company. It is a huge advantage for businesses that constantly manage growth and shrinkage.
Another advantage of UCaaS is that it’s much easier to maintain than traditional phone systems. That is because updates are automated and deployed in small batches, allowing IT teams to keep communication systems up-to-date without interrupting end-users work. It gives employees more time to focus on driving the company forward while freeing up IT staff to tackle other projects.
UCaaS can also help you improve customer service by providing a unified communications platform for all your contact center applications. It includes call routing, queue management, live chat messaging, and intelligent virtual agents that can communicate with customers across multiple channels. That makes it easy for customers to connect with the right person without having to repeat themselves, and can also reduce customer hold times.
