You arrive at your job on a Monday morning after a relaxing weekend and prepare to start working. Your mellow mood is soon soured when you remember that you have to set up all of your different communication channels for the day.
Multiple programs can mean multiple logins, a dozen open windows and a general sense of chaos before the week has even really begun.
In reality, nothing hampers communication efforts like having to juggle multiple systems and providers. You may have one platform for your phone communications, another for teleconferencing and yet another for file sharing.
When your business communications are segmented, your employees are less productive, your suppliers may be frustrated and your customer service suffers. When you choose unified communications instead, you streamline methods of communication under one system that can be accessed by multiple devices.
Connecting to the world becomes much easier and less frustrating. Benefits of using unified communications include the following.
Mobility
Waiting at your office desk for a phone call or at your PC for an email is a huge waste of time and is no longer necessary. Instead of being tethered to your desk or trying to figure out how to forward a call or message to your cell, unified communications consolidates all communications into one program with mobility in mind—you won’t be tied to one device to access the information.
You can easily use your tablet, smartphone or laptop to receive your communications without having to sign into multiple programs and platforms. And, you can roam free while you wait.
Increased Collaboration
Currently, many people are working at home instead of the office, yet they are able to collaborate quite well with their co-workers and clients when they are equipped with the right tools. Collaboration differs from simple communication; it implies that people are able to work together instead of simply communicating.
Some of the best collaboration tools include:
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- Teleconferencing: Group meetings held with people participating from several locations.
- Collaborative applications: Programs like Microsoft Teams let employees exchange files, share screens, message instantly, etc. and actively work on projects together.
- Productivity programs: These programs allow management to assign tasks, create schedules and measure progress from a distance.
These tools allow you to collaborate externally with clients, suppliers and shareholders as well. No matter where you are physically located, you don’t have to give up the ability to work together productively.
Bundled Costs
Bundling is a popular service in many industries. As a consumer, you may choose to bundle your phone and internet services in order to pay less. Most communication companies give customers significant discounts when they pay to have multiple services at once.
The same is true in unified communications. If your business chooses to go this route, you should pay a good deal less each month than if you were signed up with a number of providers. Plus, you don’t have to deal with multiple payments to different companies or contact multiple help desks when trouble arises. Unified communications is a more efficient, financially wise choice.
Seamless Integration
When you choose unified communications, you also enjoy a seamless integration of services, something that is lacking when you use a combination of communications methods. Your direct messaging will be incorporated into your business software, so employees do not have to waste time logging into another system. The same goes for video conferencing and other communication methods.
Centralized Platform
Employees can waste hours each week logging in to and out of various communication platforms and waiting as the large number of applications takes a heavy toll on loading times. It’s comparable to using six TV remotes that all perform different functions, when you can upgrade to one remote that does it all.
One centralized platform makes communication simple. Without the added confusion of using a variety of applications, you’ll never miss a message or call again. You can access what you need without fuss or endless navigation. Streamlining operations takes unnecessary pressure and stress away from your staff.
Unified communications platforms are not just a passing fad. They make your work environment less hectic and promote increased productivity. Your customers will be as happy as your employees!
Plus, you save money and time. Of course, finding the right provider is key to your satisfaction. You can consult with your in-house IT team or managed service provider about which communications provider is best for your particular business. Once you’ve made the switch, you will be amazed at how much easier your external and internal communications are.
To learn more about AxiaTP’s unified communications and how you can save time and money, contact us today.
