A unified communications service provider offers an integrated platform for collaboration, calling, and presence. These three core functionalities are essential to modern business, especially in the era of work anywhere, but not all unified communications (UC) service providers are created equal. Most say similar things, so it’s important that you have some criteria to use when assessing what a UC platform can offer and whether it really does have what you need to succeed.
Because we know it’s hard to research technology — especially complex systems that need to plug into your existing tech stack — here’s a handy guide with boxes any worthy UC provider should check. You’ll prioritize based on your company size, current software use, and more, but these ideas will get you well on your way to picking a unified communications service provider that can help you crush your goals.
Want to make this a no-brainer? Three trends point to where the industry is headed and why businesses of all sizes trust Evolve IP to help their team work from anywhere.
Okay, let’s now take a closer look at the three main services UC performs: Collaboration, Calling and Presence.
The point of unifying communications is to make it easier for people to get things done, right? Chances are that your company used a Collaboration suite like Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, or Zoom during the Pandemic. And that tool that has now become the center of your work universe. As your business is starting to figure out what “normal” looks like going forward, it’s important to decide if you are leveraging that platform for good, or you’d consider alternatives.
Here’s what you want to look for:
Here’s what you may also want, depending on your business:
While your collaboration platform likely sits at the center of your Unified Communications story, it’s not the only consideration. In fact, as businesses begin to consider what a partial or hybrid return to work looks like, they are now faced with how to get their new collaboration tools to “play nice” with the more traditional communications requirements that they have in the office. Desk phones, receptionists and assistants, overhead paging, shared devices in common areas and conference rooms, contact centers, and mission-critical reliability still have a place in modern business. Getting all of this, and tying it seamlessly into your modern collaboration tools, is truly what makes UC, well, unified.
Centralizing the communication of remote teams, hybrid workers, virtual-only employees, and in-office personnel and systems is critical.
Here’s what you want to look for:
Here’s what you may also want, depending on your business:
One thing is for sure in the new era of work, gone are the days of yelling over the cubicle wall to find out if your associate can chat. Knowing when your associates are available or not facilitates faster communication and creates a sense of place, despite the various locations we are working. It was all so simple when we could look at our bosses’ line to find out if they are available for a critical consult.
Presence and internal calling services should facilitate communication and coordination among staff members and teams who may be working in different locations. But what happens when we’re on the phone or in an online presentation and our calendar displays us in a meeting? When there are 4 places to check, we might as well just place the call and see if they answer.
Here’s what you want to look for:
Here’s what you may also want, depending on how your business operates:
The one factor that applies to each of these three broad categories is scalability. Your business will grow. As it does, will the unified communications service provider you choose be able to scale with it? It’s key to not get locked into something that works “for now,” without an eye for what will work in the long-term. Think about how your needs may shift in the next three, five, even ten years, and factor that into your choice.
Feel intimidated by the lists? We get that vetting, then moving forward with, a unified communications service provider can be a little intense. But in the modern business world, collaboration is non-negotiable, and more and more teams are running operations online. This dynamic is not only inescapable, but it also has massive potential to change business as we know it.
Teams that have adopted unified communications platforms early on understand its value, and run sleek, agile, efficient businesses. If you are ready to push play on this important tech, or upgrade from a platform you’re underwhelmed by, contact Evolve IP today. We’re here to help you scale, making it simpler to future-proof your technology footprint. Our team of experts serves businesses of all sizes with a full range of UC services and offerings. We’ll be happy to help.