| Unified communications (UC) has become a popular | | | | you're physically somewhere else. You can provide |
| term used to describe the vast family of technologies | | | | real time input and conference with colleagues |
| and organizational practices used to streamline | | | | throughout the day no matter what your physical |
| communication. These include different processes | | | | location is. This 'telepresence' can be invaluable during |
| such as phone conversations, email, video and Web | | | | times of crisis when you need to 'be' several places at |
| conferencing, instant messaging (IM), voicemail, fax, and | | | | once. |
| SMS messages. | | | | UC is also a valuable tool when you have several |
| Hosted VoIP allows employees to instantly access | | | | branches to your office and need team members to |
| and reply to messages anywhere from any type of | | | | be able to communicate quickly and effectively. Mobile |
| compatible device, making VoIP an important | | | | technology lets one team member access messages |
| component of unified communications. This reduces | | | | from home or on the road, while another team |
| response time, making every facet of your company | | | | member is at their desk in a different time zone. This |
| run more efficiently. VoIP can be used for both internal | | | | versatility makes it easier for employees with varying |
| and external phone based communications, and be | | | | schedules to work together. |
| combined with voicemail options that can be retrieved | | | | While many view unified communications as a |
| via PC browser or mobile device. | | | | collection of hard and software solutions that can be |
| Hosted VoIP ushered in the era of the true | | | | mixed and matched to suit the needs of their |
| telecommuting worker, reducing costs of setting up | | | | company, the term is also used to refer to best |
| work-from-home employees by allowing them to tap | | | | practices. Hosted VoIP can make everyone's workday |
| into the company PBX. There is no loss of | | | | a little easier, but the concept of real time |
| effectiveness, and overhead expenses can be | | | | communication goes beyond the actual nuts and bolts |
| reduced significantly in terms of office space and | | | | and concerns how you run your business. |
| equipment. | | | | Take a look at what modes of communication your |
| Unified communications can be implemented in some | | | | employees already use both in-office and with |
| way in nearly every structured situation. Even with | | | | customers (email, voicemail, phone) and how closely |
| limited budgets, there are things you can do to | | | | they stay connected to the office when away from |
| streamline your operation. From large companies to | | | | their desk (mobile devices, home phones connected to |
| small businesses, non-profits to grass root campaigns, | | | | the office VoIP system, fax). This will help you |
| utilizing VoIP and leveraging other types of technology | | | | determine exactly how to unify your own |
| to facilitate real time communication can make any | | | | communications to work in the most cost effective |
| organization work more efficiently and effectively. | | | | and productive manner possible. |
| UC strategies allow you to be 'present' even when | | | | |