Overview
Unified Communications is the integration of communication services such as instant messaging (chat), presence, voice, mobility (twinning/mobile app), audio, web & video conferencing, desktop sharing, data sharing/collaboration, call control and speech recognition with non-real-time communication services, such as unified messaging (integrated voicemail, e-mail, SMS and fax). UC is not a single product, but a set of products providing a consistent unified user interface and user experience across multiple devices.
Why UCaaS?
Choosing UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) offers several advantages for businesses seeking streamlined and collaborative communications solutions. Here are some reasons you might consider adopting UCaaS:
Better Disaster Recovery
Disaster recovery capabilities are some of the most persuasive reasons to consider UCaaS. Think about the importance of maintaining uninterrupted communications. While large companies can build redundancy into their systems, this can be cost-prohibitive for smaller enterprises, or those with tight budgets. Being cloud based offers UCaaS users access to communications from any location, eliminating the need for redundancy.
Improved Team Collaboration
With features like audio and video conferencing, as well as interoperability between devices, employees can connect from any location.
Rapid Service Deployment
On-premise solutions can take months and even years to roll out company-wide. Upgrades can take just as long. With UCaaS, a new feature or service can be available to all employees immediately.
Greater Employee Mobility
Cloud-based systems provide access from anywhere, at any time, solving what is often referred to as the “BYOD” (bring your own device) challenge. UCaaS offers connectivity to smartphones, laptops, tablets and other devices.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Centralized Management
Contact center capabilities, interactive voice response, call routing, and other outstanding features will make it easy to build relationships with customers, all while seamlessly integrating these interactions with your CRM software.
One of the more significant challenges in managing any kind of premise-based application is scaling the administrative functions. This can include setting up new users, applying patches, or updating features. The tasks may need to be repeated many times, depending on the architecture of the on-premises solution. With a hosted UC solution, the administrative tasks are centralized, allowing the administrator to perform tasks once, and be confident that those changes will take place company-wide.
Why Choose NorthStar for your UCaaS Needs?
Moving your voice platform to the cloud can be very confusing due to the extremely large number of companies that provide UCaaS solutions today. Unfortunately, they are not all the same and different carriers are better suited to help different types of environments. When you work with us, we can help you pick the right UCaaS solution for your unique needs.
Assessments
We can help you identify what features you need and your security compliance requirements to choose the correct solution providers to bring in.
Audit Services
We will audit your current communications services and platform solutions to determine if you are using the best and most cost-effective solution for your business.
Design
We can recommend UC solutions based on current industry trends and best practices, so you can be sure that you are receiving a quality solution.
Selection
We are UC supplier agnostic and work with numerous providers. We can offer the best options from multiple suppliers.
Implementation
In addition to securing the correct UC solution, we can often assist you with implementing new solutions.
Cost Management
We want to provide you with a great UC solution within your budget and will work to make sure you are investing your money well.
Working as an independent solutions consultant allows us to analyze your needs and source the best UCaaS solution provider(s) that meet your requirements and exceed your expectations. This is done agnostically, letting you focus on the project at hand without being tied down by endless supplier discussions.
Is UCaaS Right for Your Organization?
UCaaS is an excellent alternative to on-premise solutions. Organizations that leverage cloud-based communications systems experience greater scalability, speed in time-to-market, flexibility, and agility during this shift in the workforce. Below is a list of drivers that are accelerating the adoption of UCaaS:
No Upfront Expenses
UCaaS shifts a business’s cost of designing solutions in an increasingly complex space to an experienced service provider. Leased phones and equipment allow companies to adopt new technologies and set up shop in various locations without worrying about features becoming outdated.
Scalable Provisioning
UcaaS allows companies can start small, deploy and move resources where they’re needed, and pull back once a project wraps up or add features as needs change.
Reduced Operating Cost
Shared data centers deliver PBX service more efficiently than onsite infrastructures. The company does not have to find rack space, pay energy bills, or configure and manage connections.
Enhanced
Security
As cloud-based services, service providers have stringent measures in place to monitor networks for known threats and potential vulnerabilities.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Contact center capabilities, interactive voice response, call routing, and other outstanding features will make it easy to build relationships with customers, all while seamlessly integrating these interactions with your CRM software.
