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Enterprise Unified Communications - What is it Exactly?
Unified Communications is a way to combine all of your communication methods. It allows businesses to use multiple enterprise communication methods at once. The UC market is always evolving. What you should know about Enterprise Unified Communications by 2024.
UC offers a consistent user interface across devices, media and platforms. It also gives access to all tools and company security from any location. UC platforms can include a variety of tools, such as:
- Video conferencing.
- Real-time messaging/chat.
- Broadcasting webinars.
- Voice, which includes IP-telephony.
- Recording of voicemails and calls.
- Contact center technology.
- Audio conferencing.
- Share your screen and files.
- Management of presence and scheduling.
- Monitoring quality and monitoring workforce.
No one solution fits all. Enterprise Unified Communications platform differs for every business. It is also important to distinguish between on-premises UC and UCaaS (unified communications technology provided as a cloud service).
Enterprise Unified Communications in Today's World
The world of today and enterprise unified communication are very different than they were a year before. We use online meetings every day, whether for our work or just to stay in touch with friends. Avoid bumping into people at work as much as possible. We need to find new tools and solutions to collaborate and solve problems.
The future is hard to predict, but the companies that thrived in 2023 are defined by key values that will continue to grow and sustain them through 2024. The ability to be flexible, agile and mobile, as well as having excellent communication that meets the needs of customers and teams, are key elements for successful companies.
The Covid-19 Standard Has Transformed The Way We Do Business
Several key trends are emerging around unified enterprise communication from the companies that can thrive and survive in this challenging time. These trends will continue into 2023 and give businesses a solid foundation for whatever the next adventure brings.
No matter how big or small a company is, privacy and security are essential elements to its success. It cannot be easy to maintain high privacy and security standards when you have distributed teams or personal devices. What is the best way to know that patches have been applied and updates run? Some corporate-standard devices might not be compatible with their homes or may even be unavailable. It is important to select software and platforms which allow administrative control via a central system.
Enterprise Unified Communication Solutions: Intelligent Routing
In today's environment, it's not acceptable to ask for the same data repeatedly. The customer is tired of being bumped around from agent to agent, getting misdirected or cut off and having to repeat the account information to each agent. You can securely share customer IDs with your colleagues using an enterprise-wide unified communication system. Secure instant messaging allows you to inform an agent of the details about the client or send a document outlining the issue. You'll be able to improve the customer experience and save your staff time while also delighting customers.
Cloud First: Enterprise Unified Communication Solutions
Cloud-based software provides flexibility and scalability for your business to change. It is essential to have your infrastructure always available, backed up, and updated. You don't have to worry about whether or not you will be able to maintain the same infrastructure that you had in place the previous year. Instead, you can scale quickly to the exact size you need. Cyber infrastructure inc offers a powerful toolset to help you transition quickly to a Cloud-First strategy. Sign up today to get started with a trial of an enterprise-wide unified communication solution.
Emerging New Platforms for Enterprise Unified Communications Solutions
Business video meetings have become a standard practice. Your team will get used to meeting on screens as your clients do. Providing a high-quality experience is a major factor in determining if 'good meetings' are held. Communication is not just about what you say. It's also important to see how someone reacts to the information.
Your team will get the most out of HD video meetings if you use them. When you partner with an enterprise unified communication company, which is always developing and integrating new tools into its suite of software, your team will have access to the latest features.
Team Collaboration
Email alone is not enough for modern business. It is important to ensure that your team can communicate via video, voice and messaging tools. In the past, your team would gather around a whiteboard to sketch ideas. You don't use the same tools to solve problems or come up with new ideas.
Your team must collaborate immediately to meet the business challenges which are as important or even more urgent. It is important to ensure that if a team member becomes ill or unavailable, their data will be backed up and shared amongst your entire team. You'll require powerful enterprise-wide unified communication tools to help your team connect quickly and work together.
Enterprise Unified Communication Solutions & Integrations
You need to be able to work with different software platforms, just as you and your team must collaborate to share information and solve problems. Connecting to platforms that are industry standard or developed internally can increase efficiency and productivity by providing access to integrated data. Our desktop softphones or Stretto platform APIs are used to integrate our calling solution with websites, CRM platforms or other applications.
Enterprise Unified Communication Solutions & Scalability
Even in the best times, business is unpredictable. Demand for goods can increase unexpectedly as our world adapts and changes. Who would have thought that toilet paper would be so in demand by 2023? Cloud-based, flexible tools allow for rapid scaling - whether to accommodate sudden spikes in demand or adapt to changing markets.
Businesses need to be able to quickly add new team members while ensuring that all configurations and preferences have been applied. Cyber infrastructure inc lets you define user groups and roles and quickly add new users. This ensures a secure and consistent experience across your entire team. The user simply downloads the app on their device and signs in. After that, the server will configure all of the features.
Device Independence
It is important to ensure that your team can use their mobile devices in a secure environment, backed up by the cloud and under your security team's supervision. In 2023, it'll be even more important because teams will return to work, and some may stay. You should choose an omnichannel system that is compatible with all devices.
Artificial Intelligence
Our daily lives are enriched by intelligent agents who help us organize our time, guide us to our destination or provide us with the current weather. These intelligent tools will be incorporated into the workplace, with features such as automatically transcribing meeting notes and researching new ideas on demand.
Enterprise Unified Communications Benefits
It is essential to have a unified communication strategy if you want long-term success. This unlocks several benefits, including increased productivity and improved performance. Employees can work anywhere at any time. Small and large businesses alike benefit from a flexible and reliable environment that combines their communications needs. The main benefits are:
- Lower costs: The UCaaS model allows smaller businesses to deploy Enterprise Unified Communications solutions at a fractional cost compared with on-premises options. Monthly fees replace variable infrastructure costs and maintenance of software.
- Increased speed of market entry: Improved communication and operational processes allow businesses to enter the market faster. The faster problems of customers are resolved, the more revenue, innovation, and growth can be sustained.
- Collaboration: UC Tools enable employees from remote locations to work together more efficiently on projects, improving productivity and customer service.
Enterprise Unified Communications Trends 2023
We can't predict the future of unified communications, particularly during this COVID-19 epidemic, but there are some trends we have noticed:
- Hybrid Communications: It is predicted that the future of UC will be increasingly cloud-based. Although not all businesses will be able to shift to UCaaS immediately, the majority of them will adopt a hybrid strategy to their operation by implementing parts of their communication strategy in the cloud.
- New platforms are emerging: Businesses around the world have begun to adopt the video-first culture, encouraging remote workers to interact face-to-face and utilizing video chat and video features in their UC solutions.
- Team Collaboration: Real-time collaboration has become increasingly important. In the age of distributed teams and remote working, email is not the best way to communicate. The features of video conferencing, screen-sharing, file transfers, and chat rooms have become essential.
- Integrating: More and more companies are looking to integrate existing services and tools with new ones.
- Flexibility: Due to the rapid growth in the market, UC systems need to be flexible and scalable.
- Artificial Intelligence: As we move forward, AI will be more prevalent in communication. Artificial intelligence is going to alter the way that we communicate fundamentally.
Every day, new opportunities arise. The 5G network and improved connectivity have opened up the possibility of a mobile workforce. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 epidemic is highlighting the importance of Enterprise Unified Communications for all businesses.
What Is The Best UC Platform To Use For Your Company?
Here are some questions you should ask before choosing a UC system for your company:
- Is the UC system able to support collaboration? The employees must be able to communicate and work together. It is just as crucial as external communication with shareholders and clients.
- What is your plan for deploying your UC solution? On-premise? Cloud? Cloud? Are you looking to integrate existing on-premises tools with new UC solutions?
- Does the Enterprise Unified Communications Platform allow integration and interoperability of the tools that your team utilizes daily?
- Can staff use their device?
- Which privacy and security measures are available? Are communications encrypted?
- Is the UC system scalable as demand grows? Can it sustain long-term growth and development?
- Are you concerned about adoption amongst your employees? Ask about the ease of use of all tools and solutions.
- How much customer service is offered?
It requires a strategy to integrate voice, video, and chat communications. This guide will help you evaluate, implement and manage UC within your enterprise. In the last year, unified communications have evolved from supporting primarily on-site collaborative activities through huddle rooms, in-room conference, and whiteboarding, and similar to uniting mostly remote workers with audio and virtual whiteboards and other tools. Another unified communication shift has begun -- the support of hybrid office and home workers.
The guide includes links to additional information and explains the importance of unified communication for business, the technologies that are associated with it, as well as the steps to creating a flexible yet comprehensive unified communications strategy for the entire enterprise.
Features and Technologies of UC
UC is a combination of new and old technologies that are woven to create the best experiences in voice, video chat, whiteboarding and other UC features. UC features most valuable to businesses:
- High-quality audio;
- Video conferencing;
- Easy of Use;
- Transcripts of meetings
- Screen sharing;
- Chat and messaging
- Mobility;
- Video backgrounds and virtual backgrounds;
- The suppression of noise and the muting.
- Translation of languages.
The 5G wireless network, which is expected to be widely adopted in the next few years, will provide a better UC experience than its predecessor, 4G LTE. It offers faster speeds, less latency, and a greater ability for multiple devices to connect simultaneously to both the network and the applications. AI can improve meeting outcomes and increase collaboration. AI features will help to drive collaboration:
- The noise suppression system is designed to reduce distractions and improve speech recognition accuracy.
- Support global employees with real-time translations and transcriptions;
- Summaries of meetings tailored to recipients' needs.
- Face recognition for better meetings.
When employees return to work, AI-driven devices such as smart speakers will prove invaluable. Users will, for example, be able to use voice commands to begin and finish conference rooms or huddle rooms. Voice biometrics powered by AI can also be used for UC tech authentication.
AI can also learn the best way to work together as a team and automatically optimize processes by mapping this information. AI bots can use advanced AI to track conversations and pass on relevant information.
Users have grown more comfortable with video calling, conferencing and live editing. This includes changing backgrounds, launching special effects, and performing other camera tricks. In addition, they expect information that was previously contained in user guides to be delivered via engaging, short videos. Video conferencing is a trend that vendors have noticed and are now integrating into their services and products.
How to Create a Strategy in Enterprise UC
To build a successful enterprise UC strategy, organizations must consider how employees prefer to communicate both internally and with their external partners. As companies build their UC plans, they should ensure that the preferred workflow of employees is a priority. This includes blending video, voice and chat for a rich user experience. Here are eight simple steps to help IT and business teams create a strategy around enterprise UC:
Step 1. Evaluate UC Needs
UC requirements can vary from departmental usage to company-wide implementation. All UC projects should involve IT from the beginning since they grow rapidly once users get familiar with the tools and wish to expand them outside of their teams.
Cost calculations for UC are affected by the move towards remote working and home offices. Cyber Infrastructure Inc.'s Arnold writes that UC may be a "nice-to-have" at work, but it will become a necessity at home. He added that subscription costs and the number of endpoints were important factors to consider when evaluating UC. It should also be involved and manage users' purchasing decisions for devices, peripherals, or applications.
Many experts think that video conferencing and calling will be more popular than meeting in smaller spaces or conference rooms, even if employees return to work at some stage after a pandemic. Companies must therefore be ready with a video-conferencing strategy to satisfy the needs of a variety of users.
Step 2. Identify Potential Challenges
When organizations are evaluating the benefits of unified communication, it is important also to consider its challenges. Are there valid reasons for keeping existing phone systems? Will this reduce the cost-savings that UC could offer you? Is the team able to handle a UC implementation, or will external assistance be required?
A legacy environment UC is likely to be introduced into, in terms of devices, applications, and connectivity, will also need to be considered. Is it possible for a new UC service or platform to work well with existing infrastructure? This is especially true if the cloud connection is involved. Will the servers and bandwidth be able to support remote workers if the move to UC was driven by the requirement to provide support to the business?
Step 3. Choose Between On-Premises or As-A-Service UC Products
When it comes to the deployment of unified communication, the decision is often made by an organization as to whether it should be done on-premises or via the cloud. It would be a big mistake to compare the total cost of ownership using a hardware-based approach, as UC, which is considered Capex, is different from UC, which is considered Opex. Look at what features are needed by the company and the IT skills of the team to decide if on-premises, cloud, or hybrid would be the most appropriate solution.
Cloud UC vendors, for example, tend to provide more advanced options, such as mobile, video, chat, analytics and reporting, contact centers, and cloud-based UC. PBX-based UC systems often have difficulty supporting this range of features.
Cloud UC is not cheaper than on-premises UC. According to a Research, cloud service costs are higher than those of on-premises solutions. Cloud services have been used by companies with less than 1,000 licenses for several years. Their operational costs have decreased. Cloud computing costs decrease with time and experience.
If you are considering an on-premises system, the reliability of your WAN connection or internet speed is a deciding factor. In the absence of either, IT needs to have control over on-premises systems. Managed UC Services are a great way to reap the benefits of deploying an on-premises system without having to dedicate staff. Managed UC can increase end-user productivity in addition to reducing IT maintenance and management. These services help to:
- Support mobile workforces
- Expand contact center remote accessibility
- Consolidate UC Service Management;
- Benefit from the public cloud.
Hybrid UC is another option for companies that wish to move to the cloud gradually. Certain features, such as those essential to the company's operations, can be kept on the premises platform. In contrast, others will only use cloud services. In the short term, it's fine to try to strike a balance, but in the long run, IT is likely to have to be fully on-premises or in the cloud.
The organization will also have to choose whether they wish to purchase all their UC capabilities from a single provider or several. Separate providers may offer better functionality and a broader range of features. While a single UC provider can help reduce costs and simplify management, it also creates a consistent experience for users. This comprehensive list includes product information, such as collaboration and communication features, for UC platforms.
Step 4. Choose a Team Collaboration Tool
In 2023, collaboration tools were a big hit. This was especially true as more and more users began to work from home. It's not easy to choose a collaboration tool that fits an organization's workflow and culture. The collaboration platform takes on the user's identity, which allows employees to connect via audio, video, or chat and track their conversations for reference and compliance. Some people use the platform as the center of their work.
Head-to-head comparisons can be useful for learning about the features, functions, limitations and ease of use. They also provide information on security, compliance and pricing. This is a quick comparison between Microsoft Teams and Zoom, as well as a Webex Teams comparison with Microsoft Teams. A detailed comparison between cloud-based videoconferencing tools is also available. Our chart will help you understand the key features and integration abilities of each tool.
Step 5. Address Unified Communications Security
IT must prioritize security, regardless of whether the platform is located on-premises or in the Cloud, as UC will become essential for the business.
Listed below are some of the most common UC Security Issues:
- Theft of Service
- Denial of Service
- Hacking Tools
- Mobile threats
- Unauthorized access
By configuring the UC correctly, an organization can balance security with ease of use. They tolly emphasized that the core of a company's UC Security plan should be centered around choosing security options which provide the most protection while not interfering with the UC User Experience. Video conferencing security is also a problem. Every platform has two vulnerabilities: an algorithm backdoor that could be exploited and the way the platform was implemented.
Cyber Infrastructure Inc. explains the primary concerns of videoconferencing, such as encryption during transit and rest, as well as security policies and updates. She also explains how to maintain usability without compromising on security.
Step 6. Implement and Integrate UC
UC implementation is based on the integration of enterprise components and the application's capabilities. In a WFH environment, this is more difficult because the users must be able to access both their UC applications and back-end systems, like file servers or storage, seamlessly. This is easier to do with the more cloud-based systems there are.
Many people, for example, have given up their landlines at home. However, they don't have reliable service on their cell phones. To ensure that users have access to voice calls, companies may have to offer softphone clients, which can be tied directly to the company's telephone system. These clients have the same features as desk phones.
Microsoft Teams: How it supports remote working:
- Near-real-time message sharing and resource sharing are available for emergency communication.
- Access to digital files -Uploads, Downloads, and Sharing;
- The ability to use your computer, smartphone or tablet as a phone at a desk;
- Virtual meetings allow you to attend and host virtual events.
- Protection of communication and data through safeguards
Step 7. Manage UC
Managed UC companies must have insight into security, performance, and provisioning, as well as the capability to optimize ongoing administrative management. Vendor management tools often lack these features and are not interoperable with critical HR applications.
Service-level agreements based on cloud technology for UC ensure that service providers adhere to security and performance standards. By reading the small print in service-level contracts, an organization can avoid being exposed to unnecessary risk.
Managing UC can be a daily experience, where IT teams are required to keep abreast of the most recent industry news. Cyber Infrastructure Inc. editors compiled a list of UC blogs that you can follow to keep up with product announcements.
To ensure that they do not miss opportunities for innovation, IT leaders need to continue future-proofing their UC strategies. Cyber Infrastructure Inc.'s suggested three best practices:
- Ensure vendors support all UC deployment models.
- Drive end-user adoption proactively.
- Assess worker preferences and needs for collaboration.
Step 8: Train Employees on UC
To get the best out of a UC implementation, which includes conferencing, chat, and collaboration tools, users must be trained in the features and compliance rules that will optimize their workflow. Creating a cheat sheet of tips and techniques for your organization's UC application will improve the adoption rate and allow users to interact with it fully.
Compliance measures can be implemented within platforms for industries with high regulatory standards, such as healthcare or finance. This will protect corporate data and prevent employee and customer information from being leaked. Microsoft Teams offers eight helpful tips, including how to teach users to safely and legally connect with external users.
Cyber Infrastructure Inc. Enterprise UC Solutions
We at Cyber Infrastructure Inc understand the importance of communication in every company, especially with the increase in remote work. We empower businesses of every size with Enterprise Unified Communications Solutions.
Cyber infrastructure inc integrates messaging, calling, and presence tools in a single, secure interface. Integrate the VoIP or call server of your business to provide crisp and clear corporate calls, as well as access powerful Unified Communication features. Our solutions are all scalable, cost-effective and secure. VoIP can be added to your existing communication system or switched off. This will provide immediate advantages, such as real-time collaboration.
