Unified Communications has been invented to speed up communications, internally and externally by ensuring everyone can communicate via whatever platform they like (mobile, tablet, PC) but access it all from the one place whilst syncing automatically.
There is a huge demand for businesses to be flexible, agile and fast to react, ahead of their competitors. Unified Communications (UC) helps you do that by bringing together different technologies to run in sync so that a business can run effectively and competitively.
PC Mag discusses Unified Communications (UC) as “The real-time redirection of a voice, text or e-mail message to the device closest to the intended recipient at any given time. For example, voice calls to desk phones could be routed to the user’s mobile phone when required. E-mail intended for a desktop mailbox could be sent to the user’s PDA or turned into speech for a phone message.”
How does Unified Communications help Manufacturing Plants?
- Connect your staff – With Unified Communications, your staff members can communicate quickly and through any device, regardless of their location. They could be in factory, in the office or even working remotely. Instant Messaging allows you to set up a chat between two staff members or multiple. A conversation can be carried out regarding deadlines, project scopes, etc without having to physically meet. It helps to speed up any decisions.
- Crisis Management – Manufacturing Plants operate a lot of equipment which can be dangerous. Manufacturing Plants that can notify the right personnel of an emergency with a push of a button are more prepared and are safer. When a crisis occurs, lives can be saved with more efficient communications.
- Improve Efficiency – You can improve the responsiveness of your staff by giving them the tools to pick up messages, respond and work on the go. You improve their efficiency and boost the bottom line.
- Environmental impact – It has been found that on average 46% of companies that have utilised Unified Communications, realise travel savings of more than 5 days per employee annually. With the public increasingly concerned about being “green,” the implication of UC can considerably cut travel time and therefore the carbon footprint of the corporation. This also means more time spent getting the job done, rather than spent on unnecessary travel.
- Data Privacy – With the introduction of Cloud Unified Communications, you will experience greater levels of data privacy – a more exclusive company interface and a much more secure connection.
Stressline needed to implement remote working, quickly and one of the tools to implement was a unified communications tool.
Discover which tool we implemented and how it has benefited Stressline's business.
View our Case StudyA simplified example of Unified Communications
A simplified example of Unified Communications would be Google:
As a search engine, you can find the answers to your burning questions within the blink of an eye. They take it further with Gmail, Docs, Calendar, Hangouts and the use of a Gmail account for instant messaging. You can even place phone calls.
This is a really simple and easy way of thinking about Unified Communications; you have all of these systems at your fingertips, seamlessly integrated into one easy to use interface.
Similarly, with Apple products (a touchy subject for some), you can seamlessly integrate your iPhone, iMac and iPad accessing each from the other.
You’ve got it, Unified Communications.
What can Unified Communications merge?
Unified Communications can bring together multiple forms of communication channels such as voice, video, software, data etc using one device. We have gone past the desk phone and email being enough.
Some key features of Unified Communication features:
- Instant messaging
- “Availability” – knowing if the person you need to contact is free or busy
- Conferencing applications
- Teamwork applications – to coordinate work on group projects
- Video conferencing
- Voice & click to call (from any directory, e.g. Outlook)
- Voice messaging – to e-mail and phones
- File sharing
- Softphones
- Directory integration
Unified Communications Tools
We have tried and tested many Unified Communications tools and there are three tools that are a cut above the rest; Mitel MiCollab, Horizon Collaborate and Wildix Collaboration.
They all have similar features which are ideal for manufacturing plants.
The best solution is to demo all three with us. We can take you through how each one can benefit you and advise you on the costing structure. Depending on the number of users would depend on what option you’d most likely be suited to.