Unified communications is replacing private branch exchange (PBX) systems, and for many enterprises the investment in a new communications tool is the first in several years. The adoption of unified communications requires a completely different mindset than previous phone systems:
Unified communications isn’t just telephony. Your team may need to be convinced to stop thinking of unified communications as just a new telephony option. While voice is always a component of unified communications, it’s just one aspect of an integrated, collaborative communications system. You’ll cringe when your executives refer to your transition as “the new phone system,” but as you continue to promote the full capabilities of unified communications, you’ll see more buy-in, as well as understanding of the full scope of benefits.
Unified communications requires a strategic approach. Because you aren’t simply upgrading PBX systems, you’ll need to approach the transition with a solid strategy. Like any software implementation, you’ll need to begin with an assessment of your current situation and a clear path for where you would like to go with collaboration and communications. A few considerations:
- Do your employees need shared workspaces, or will their roles require more file-sharing and video conferencing?
- What is the role of mobile connectivity?
- Think about your hiring future: how could your talent strategy change if geography were no longer an issue? A unified communications solution creates opportunities for virtual teams and saves significantly on travel expenses.
Unified communications is user-centric. This is a trend across all developing technology: a focus on the end user. Whether it’s customers or internal end users, your unified communications solution must meet the needs of the user in ways that help you outpace your competitors. In addition, employees accustomed to seamless transitions between applications on smartphones are beginning to expect the same in their work environments. Unified communications allows them to access an entire conversation history, whether it took place over any combination of voice, text, or video, through a single application.
Unified communications provides multiple benefits to any organization, including cost savings, agility, and a reduction in maintenance time. The biggest benefit of implementing the technology is the innovation possible when employees are equipped to collaborate effectively. In order to realize these benefits, it’s important to have a strategic plan for adoption and utilization of the system to its full collaborative potential.
At AMD Technology, we specialize in enterprise-grade communications solutions to deliver cost savings, streamline operations, and improve productivity. Contact us for more information about unified communications.