The final piece of unified communications (UC) is collaboration tools, including planning software, polls, webinars, desktop sharing, and workflow applications. Along with unified messaging, video conferencing, and mobility, collaboration apps bring teams together by giving them convenient ways to share ideas and strategies. Besides offering an efficient and succinct way to communicate, collaboration tools save money by defraying travel costs and opening up valuable time to complete projects.
Collaborative tools in a UC environment allow people to work together from remote offices and across devices. Real-time communications such as instant messaging, desktop sharing, phone services, and video conferencing connect users instantly to boost productivity and efficiency. Other systems include on-demand training and tutorial videos, workflow production tracking apps, and email. UC brings all these tools together under a single interface so information can be shared quickly and easily.
Teams that work together with efficiency, clarity, and timeliness contribute to a business’s success. The right tools, including high-speed Internet, can empower employees to optimize the flow of ideas, accelerate learning, and manage projects with ease. Interconnected users can also work from the road or in home offices, and communicate with clients from their laptops or smartphones.
The freedom to work remotely and the familiarity of many communication tools under one UC system leads to higher employee satisfaction and productivity. Workers can more easily do their jobs without the annoyances of outdated or stand-alone software by utilizing one portal anywhere they have access to an internet connected mobile device.
By connecting with team members, employees can readily share information and be more accountable. For example, a quick video call to an IT expert can solve a common computer problem in minutes, not hours. Designers, developers, and managers can even monitor employee work and leaves notes of encouragement or guidance, accelerating workflow and productivity. Ideas, suggestions, and opinions all can be shared instantaneously, and projects can be accessed 24/7.
Beyond the internal communication, the ability for a company to quickly respond to customers and clients is vital for success. With UC, customer service reps can access dozens of solutions for customers, check on the progress of projects, and pass specific issues to the experts best equipped to handle them. Speedy response times can be paired with automated notifications to follow up on a case or simply check in with a client.
The real-time advantage of collaboration helps businesses thrive in a fast-paced setting—and that increased productivity and work satisfaction comes at a lower cost to business owners. Cutting costs on travel, stand-alone apps, and communications is multiplied by the team’s and company’s overall efficiency.
Ultimately, collaboration reduces confusion and helps keep projects on track and on budget. UC takes the best parts of teamwork and gives employees the tools and flexibility to work cohesively and confidently. Having access to knowledge, insights, and training lets modern workers learn at their own pace and at times when they can best absorb knowledge. The combination of real-time solutions, on-demand access to information, and diligent project tracking allows businesses to function as true teams, working together without technological limitations hindering the process.
Most businesses already have many components of effective communication in place. Unifying them is a logical, efficient solution. As the workplace evolves, UC will strengthen teams that can operate remotely with the same consistency as an office-based team.
If you’ve missed any of our articles on unified communications—unified messaging, video conferencing, and mobility—click to read about the various facets of a complete UC package. The consolidation of unified communications is, itself, a collaborative idea that sprung from the need to merge many different forms of efficient communication.
