Technology is giving businesses today the option to build and grow their operational capabilities in a cost-effective way. Among the most popular tools available are SaaS-based productivity and collaboration platforms that offer flexibility for large and small businesses alike—Unified Communications (UC), for example.
Despite its ubiquity, not all UC platforms, or providers, are created equal. In fact, if you’re considering using one right now, there are a few important considerations that you should look into before signing up for it.
1. Cost efficiency
Your UC solution should be able to give you tangible cost savings. Investing in a platform that’s meant to streamline your team’s communication and productivity should be able to yield concrete results. And what better way to gauge this than by looking at how it will help reduce unnecessary expenses for your company.
For example, with a UC platform, you may be able to remove redundant technology and use a centralized communication platform. It may also help reduce travel costs since you now have the option to reach out to colleagues in real-time. How much do these new efficiencies save in terms of money and time? Peg that against the amount of money you’re investing in the technology.
2. Streamlined instant messaging options
Instant messaging (IM) proved to be a game changer for businesses. It’s less expensive than traditional text and allows colleagues to reply faster and in real-time. For quick coordination, people today rely on IM to get things done. Where they can let calls go straight to voicemail or leave emails on unread, IM demands attention and commands immediacy.
That said, a built-in, centralized IM feature that everyone in the team has access to can shorten response times and make coordination more efficient. It can help improve collaboration between team members and even boost rapport.
3. Comprehensive data security
A UC platform is built to facilitate the exchange of important company data. To that end, how will your provider protect each endpoint? You want to make sure that your UC platform is not opening your business to risks such as viruses or malicious hackers.
4. Access to tech and customer support
Granted, UC platforms are intended to be intuitive, simple, and easy to implement and use. However, it’s inevitable that you will come across something that needs troubleshooting, or you somehow can’t get the platform to work on someone’s device. Whatever reason it may be, you want a provider that will readily have a team on hand to attend to your questions and concerns.
Ask if they have round-the-clock phone support and technicians that they can deploy if needed. Nothing is more frustrating than sending out a question via email only to get a reply a week later, or being put on hold for hours before speaking to someone.
The main takeaway here is that you have to look beyond the technology and consider the kind of service and quality that your provider has to offer. If you want to explore options, start with GoToConnect—get in touch with us today!