Increase your efficiency with the new science of unified communications

Nel Reed — In a basic sense, unified communications (UC) aims to integrate various devices such as telephones, chat services, and e-mail into a single interface, in turn offering a consistent user experience.

Even if you're not familiar with it, you have probably already participated in UC to some extent. For example, by sending an e-mail on your desktop computer, then checking for a response on your iPad, that's an example of UC. Many businesspeople believe that it holds the key to streamlining communications with employees and clients.

However, an IT company called Webtorials recently performed a study which found that just over 20% of companies are fully reliant on UC principles. Keep reading to learn why you should get ahead of the curve by using this practice in your company, or trying it to simplify personal communications.

See who’s available at a glance

If you've ever become frustrated trying to track down a colleague or figure out if a client is near a computer, UC can help. Once the interface is up and running, it's possible to interact with others who are also using UC, and be able to see their communication preferences at a glance.

For example, a symbol might indicate if a fellow user is solely reliant on their mobile device for a certain period of time. With that information, you could choose to keep your communications short and relevant, knowing that the recipient would appreciate concise information, particularly if they're viewing your message on a smaller screen.

Friendly for the Budget

A recent blog post from communication provider AT&T also shed light on the financial benefits of UC, particularly in a business sense. In many cases, companies can pay a monthly per user fee which remains constant regardless of how frequently someone uses the available services.

Also, since many UC options are cloud-based, it's possible to update communication capabilities without being too reliant on costly physical equipment or going through a lengthy integration process. Both of these alternatives could interrupt the workflow and sacrifice profits.

As communication methods have multiplied, that's often meant that people have had to wrestle with keeping track of several sets of usernames and passwords. Thankfully, UC technology makes those headaches a thing of the past.

Gaining access is a snap, even for people who are working remotely. Many options on the market allow users to wirelessly tap into their company's internal network from anywhere in the world.

Within seconds, a conversation which began as a text chat can transition into a telephone call or videoconference. Traditional methods of communication often meant that people spent significant amounts of time finding a mutually agreeable communication format. Now, UC takes that difficulty out of the equation altogether by offering plenty of choices

Also, Microsoft has helped some colleges and school districts use UC to host teleconferences and offer distance learning options. In one example, the Miami-Dade County School District says that their UC platform saves a quarter of a million dollars per year.

Statistics from The World Bank website found that as of July 2012, approximately 3/4 of the global population had access to a mobile phone, and that there were about 6 billion subscriptions for mobile-based services.

This data should make it clear that anyone who hopes to engage in effective communications with friends, clients and coworkers can no longer depend on a single communication device. Rather, it's necessary to consider UC platforms that let people stay connected in ways that suit their needs.

 

About the Author

Nel Reed is a writer contributing to various business sites. If you have an interest in learning how technology can reach more people, a mass communication degree from the University of Florida may be of interest.