Voice 101: What to Look For in a Unified Communications Platform

Jan 26, 2023

Business leaders worldwide have realized how critical cloud-based tools are over the past few years of navigating remote and hybrid workforce needs. With 66% of U.S. employees working remotely at least some of the time,1 it’s clear that flexible working models haven’t gone anywhere since companies went “back to the office.” What’s the key to keeping up with this new world of work?

Unified communications, of course.

Unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solutions have seen a lot of growth, especially since these cloud-based voice platforms enable organizations to support work-from-anywhere initiatives without limiting collaboration or productivity. In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of UCaaS and what you should look for when choosing a platform for your business.

How Does Unified Communications Benefit Businesses?

Greater mobility and remote work capabilities are among the top reasons more companies are embracing cloud-based voice platforms, but those aren’t the only benefits UCaaS offers. Other advantages include:

  • Lower costs than traditional telephony solutions
  • An agile voice network that scales as needed
  • Improved employee collaboration and productivity
  • Centralized management in an all-in-one system
  • More reliability and built-in security features
  • Easy integrations for critical business applications

What Features Are Essential in a UCaaS Platform?

The right UCaaS solution can be a game-changer for companies looking for an all-in-one communication and collaboration platform. However, not all UCaaS providers are created equal. If you’re looking to implement unified communications, you can save time and stress by choosing a platform with everything modern businesses need to stay relevant.

Here are four features to look for when selecting a UCaaS platform:

1. A Reliable Voice Network

All the bells and whistles of a UCaaS solution won’t count for much if your provider’s voice network goes down. Your provider should conduct frequent network testing and implement guidelines to ensure you always have a reliable connection. Additionally, multiple data centers help minimize latency and provide redundancy so your team can stay productive no matter what.

2. Seamless Scalability

You shouldn’t have to pay for features you don’t need or extra users to meet a minimum threshold. Many providers allow businesses to pay only for what they use, so you should avoid any company asking for more. The right provider will also make adding additional users or services easy as you scale your business.

3. Robust Collaboration Tools

From video conferencing to instant messaging and beyond, there are plenty of ways for work-from-anywhere teams to communicate away from the office. Your UCaaS platform should include a wide selection of fully-integrated collaboration tools so your staff can connect with the right people, get answers quickly, and get the job done without switching between multiple applications throughout the day.

4. Built-In Business Continuity

If the worst happens and you experience a network outage, your provider should have a backup plan. Some platforms have safeguards in place to bypass local outages or include a mobile application with the same functionality as your business phones to ensure business continuity when desk phones become unavailable.

Meet the Demands of the New World of Voice With UNIFI360

The right UCaaS platform can help you cut costs, streamline operations, improve productivity, and more – but finding the right solution to meet your needs can be a challenge. At Granite Technology Solutions, we’re committed to helping businesses throughout Montana and the surrounding states find best-fit IT and voice solutions supported by people who care. That’s where UNIFI360 comes in.

UNIFI360 is our fully-integrated communication and collaboration platform. With cloud-based voice delivered over a network purpose-built for reliability and data centers on both coasts, you can gain peace of mind knowing your phone system is always on. Check out this resource to learn more about how UNIFI360 can help you meet the demands of the new world of voice.

Sources:

  1. https://www.zippia.com/advice/remote-work-statistics/

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