Why Unified Communications Has Become a Must-Have in 2021

Unified Communications (UC) integrates different methods of business communication into a single user interface. With 74% of companies working remotely in response to the pandemic, Dan Barraclough – Head of Content at Expert Market, explains why the need for unified communications is now greater than ever. 

Unified communications integrates different methods of business communication into a single user interface. A UCaaS system (Unified Communications as a service) typically ‘unifies’ instant messaging, VoIP phone calls, video calling, email, and other popular forms of communication.

With 74% of companiesOpens a new window working remotely in response to the pandemic, the need for unified communications is now greater than ever. After all, this software helps keep businesses connected to customers and other stakeholders in a time when face-to-face communication is so scarce.

Below, we’ll discuss four reasons why your business should also consider upgrading to UCaaS, explaining why it matters so much in 2021 and the post-COVID era.

Source: Expert Market

Learn More: Why 5G and SD-WAN Is the Next Big Thing in UCaaS

It Reduces Costs

Cutting costs always makes business sense. But doing so now would be a particularly savvy move due to the economic damage caused by COVID. 

Shifting towards UCaaS can save you from spending huge sums on different communication hardware and software, such as phone systems and desktops. By upgrading to a UCaaS subscription, you pay for a singular system with everything you need already built-in. You’ll only pay for the number of systems and communication channels your business needs, which should help to prevent overspending. 

You can also forget about extra maintenance costs. The UCaaS provider handles everything from installation to system updates, which means you can focus on other areas of your business while saving on additional labor costs.

Source: Expert Market

It Supports Remote Working

Switching to UCaaS makes the transition from office-to-remote working more seamless. Rather than sending individual phones and computers from the office to people’s houses, you can ask your team to sign into the UCaaS system from any mobile device at home.

As long as there’s an internet connection, your team can stay connected with customers and other stakeholders from any location in the world, making your business more robust in these uncertain times.

Remote working can throw up some complications – for instance, it can be tricky to set up meetings on short notice if you don’t have the right communication methods in place. With UCaaS, you can have video meetings set up almost instantly by sending instant messages to each other from the same system.

These are why so many businesses have made the recent switch to UCaaS and why the global unified communications market size is predicted to reach $167 billion by 2025.Opens a new window

Source: Expert Market

It Boosts Productivity

Unifying your communications gives your employees flexibility and can help increase productivity. These systems allow you to seamlessly switch between communication methods, which means you can use the one you’re most comfortable with, or the method that’s most suitable for any given scenario. 

For example, now that we’re unable to ask most business questions face-to-face, it would be more suitable – and ultimately more productive – to use instant messaging rather than email to get quick responses to important issues.

As part of the subscription plan, the UCaaS provider handles everything on the maintenance side, meaning your IT staff can focus on other areas of your business. The provider also updates the system automatically for you, which means you don’t need to search for and buy the latest products yourself.

Your customers could also benefit from seamlessly switching between communication channels because different customer situations may suit different approaches. Whether you use live chat, social media, or phone, you can build better customer relationships and increase sales by switching to each customer’s preferred method.

Learn More: Why UCaaS Vendors Are Betting Big on AI

It’s Easy to set up and Maintain

Your business doesn’t need another hurdle in 2021. That’s why unified communications matters so much this year – it’s far easier to set up and use than most traditional communication technologies, not to mention far cheaper to maintain.

The UCaaS provider usually sets up your system for you. Still, you can easily upgrade your system, add more users, or remove individuals yourself if you need to grow or reduce your operations’ size. These are easy to do because cloud-based systems such as UCaaS can be accessed and personalized from any location in the world with an internet connection.

Conclusion

The global pandemic and the obstacles that come with it have made it harder for businesses to stay connected to customers, clients, and colleagues. That’s why unified communications is on the rise and matters now more than ever. 

It supports businesses that are required to work remotely, offering a singular system that can be accessed from any mobile device in the world. At the same time, it also helps to reduce costs on communication hardware and software. Investing in UCaaS can also boost productivity within your organization because it allows your employees to react quickly to issues that are geographically far removed. Don’t forget that UCaaS is really simple to set up and use, too.

Unified communications isn’t the sole answer to all the logistical problems caused by COVID, but it’d likely be an important step that businesses can take towards growing in a post-COVID world.
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