Unified communication is a framework that integrates the communication tools (asynchronous and real-time tools) of a business to improve communication, productivity and collaboration of the company. It comprises the integration of communication services such as voice calls, instant messaging, e-mail, voicemail, video and web conference calls, FMCs, SMS, data sharing, amongst other services.
Furthermore, unified communication has extended its collaborative tools to allow people to work remotely using both real-time and non-real-time communication tools. This has proven to be beneficial to businesses, both big and small.
Below are some benefits of unified communications and collaborations to small businesses and their staffs;
1. Enhanced and effective communication
Communication is improved and more efficient when a unified communications system is installed in a company as it connects staff and clients. Information is passed quickly either through a video call or other means of communication. It helps keep track of projects and reduce confusion. Employees can communicate with customers and lodge their complaints or demands immediately to the appropriate quarters of the business with ease.
2. Timeliness
Staff get to communicate with each other and access information faster. Everyone is connected to the system therefore; it is easy for staff to communicate with one another as regards their work without moving physically. This helps to save time by delivering solutions without being physically present.
Also, businesses get to render services to customers faster as automated notifications are included in the unified communications system, which in turn helps them to offer better customer services. Organisational bureaucracy is reduced to the barest minimum because there is a real-time collaboration of all the stakeholders of the business, employers and employees alike. This helps the business to make timely decisions, and this puts it in a favourable position against competitors.
3. Flexibility
Since unified communications provide real-time access to services such as phone communication, messaging, data sharing, video conferencing amongst others from a variety of devices, it allows every employer, employee and customer, to move seamlessly between them. It also gives the business the flexibility to scale up and down to reduce or increase the amount of bandwidth being used in the business.
4. Ability to work remotely
It does not matter if part of the employees are remote workers. In fact, staff get to work anywhere as long as they are connected to the unified communication plan of the business. This helps to increase productivity because it gives staffs the ability to work at any location they perform best.
5. Cost reduction
Unified communications and collaboration help small businesses to save more and reduce cost. Companies incur lesser phone cost as all communications are integrated into a single system and IT cost is also reduced because most hardware are reduced.
Generally, unified communications improve collaboration between business owners, its staff, as well as customers because they get to communicate their ideas, work, get solutions, store and share data seamlessly.