What are the best Unified Communication solutions for small businesses?
Achieving the desired quality and support from your communication platform largely depends on the technology utilised. As enhanced communication is an indispensable part of running a successful business, it is only understandable to comprehensively analyse the communication technology to be used. The communication requirements also vary from business to business and help decide the communication solution to deploy.
If you are running a small business with few employees, your concern might be to leverage communication technology with minimum investment and for maximum benefits. Unified communication is one of the best options for small businesses. In this article, we will let you know about some of the best UC solutions you can get for your business and more. Let’s get started.
What is Unified Communication?
Unified communication is a concept that involves integrating various enterprise communication services such as VoIP, instant messaging, extensions, web, and audio, etc. to help improve business workflows. It enables interacting with staff and customers from one platform only.
You do not need to open various file sharing and communication platforms. Only one dashboard will allow you to connect with the required people. For small companies, it can be done with only one application. Some of the types of communication services that can be merged into one include:
· Video calling
· File sharing
· Text messaging
· Screen sharing for collaboration
· Video conferencing
What are the best UC solutions for small businesses?
Some of the leading UC solutions that successful small businesses in Australia use include:
1. NEC Unified Communications Suite for Businesses
This suite is designed to meet the requirements of any size of business. It can integrate contact centre functionality with unified messaging and desktop telephony applications. Some of its distinguishing features include:
· Agent
· Snapshot
· Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
· Virtual call centre
· Announcements
· Unified messaging
· Presence
· Mobility
2. NEC SV9100 Unified Communications Suite
This is specifically designed for NEC SV9100 telephone systems to upgrade and enhance basic communication in an organisation. It comes with the NEC Unified Communications Suite Client that provides a simple and cost-effective way for your organisation to functionally implement UC. Some of the leading features of this suite include:
· PC attendant console
· Enhanced message management
· UV web client
· CRM integration
· Detailed call history report with call logging and recording
· Voice mail management
· NEC softphone with video conferencing
· Authorised NEC channel partner
3. Microsoft Teams
NEC UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT offers two fully integrated options when adding cloud-based unified communications to Microsoft Teams. Businesses can select whether to integrate CONNECT with MS Teams application or use an MS Teams-specific version of CONNECT to work along with MS Teams based on their requirements. Both these options can help enhance your business communication.
Some of the features of NEC UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT for Teams include:
· Azure Ad single sign-on
· Basic PBX
· Contact sync
· Presence sync
Some of the features of NEC UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT with Teams include:
· Azure Ad single sign-on
· Native CONNECT calling experience
· Basic PBX
· Advanced PBX + Call centre
· 3rd party CRM integration
· Contact sync
4. NEC SV8100 Unified Communications Desktop Suite
This is a UC solution specially designed for small businesses. It uses the SV8100 communication server to help enhance efficiency and productivity in an organisation. It enables businesses to do more with less resulting in enhanced customer satisfaction. Some of the striking features it includes are:
· Innovative desktop application
· Simplified call management
· Quick messaging to multiple colleagues
· Microsoft Outlook calendar integration
· Realtime status and availability of colleagues
What are the Benefits of Unified Communication?
Small businesses can reap several benefits by using UC in their workplace. It leads to saving time, costs, and boosting productivity and more. Let us have a look at some of the benefits in detail.
1. Improves team productivity
The first and one of the most important benefits of using UC is that it simplifies the process of sharing and communicating information. Collaboration between colleagues and employee teams is easier and faster than using traditional modes of communication which required dialling numbers and/or emailing documents. This simplification saves time and enables employees to concentrate on tasks that matter. Rather than wasting time and effort on sharing a piece of information, employees can work on productive tasks.
2. Enables online collaboration
As we know, screen-sharing and video conferencing options make online collaborations hassle-free. Employees or teams do not require to be present personally. Remote working employees can equally take part in information exchange and proceed with their work. This feature has particularly proved helpful during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
3. Enhances customer experience
While talking to a customer, the traditional business phone systems might require you to hang up a call and then share information through emails or other old methods. While using UC, you can share information the same way you do this with employees. There is no need to switch platforms, and this often leads to a better customer experience. There are no information sharing delays.
4. Supports business continuity
In case your workplace needs a shift to different communication and collaboration methods, UC will help reduce business disruption. For example, many businesses closed their workplaces overnight and shifted to a remote working model which was never done before. It was possible due to unified communication platforms that employees were able to continue with work easily.
5. Enhances employee experience
The features of providing ease of use, saving time, and ability to access regardless of geographical location, make unified communication a favourite amongst employees. They can carry out their important tasks without any disturbance or delays.
6. Increasing revenue at reduced costs
Buying and deploying a unified communication for small businesses can be a one-time cost that pays back over many years. These solutions come at an affordable cost for small businesses and help increase revenue. Consider all your UC options before investing to realise the maximum advantage.
Conclusion:
Unified communication can be a smart choice for small businesses as it offers maximum results with minimum investment. It covers a wide range of services that are otherwise difficult to manage individually. If you own a small business in Australia and intend to provide your employees with a seamless communication platform, some of the above-mentioned options can work for you. Contact your nearest communication experts today to know more.
