Understanding Unified Communications as a Service is simpler than you might think
What is UCaaS?
Unified Communications as a Service – often known simply as UCaaS – is the term given to combination of multiple communication and collaboration tools via a cloud delivery model. The aim is to create a seamless integration of solutions, applications and services that bring people and data together more effectively for a more productive and efficient work infrastructure.
Broadly speaking UCaaS supports six communications functions. These are:
- Meetings (audio/video/web conferencing)
- Unified messaging
- Instant messaging (both personal and team)
- Enterprise telephony
- Communications-enabled business processes via integration with 200+ of the world’s top business solutions.
- Mobility
UCaaS infrastructure is typically delivered by a provider that offers applications from a common platform and licences the service for a recurring, cost-effective subscription charge.
How is UCaaS used by businesses?
UCaaS has been deployed to great effectiveness in recent years by organisations looking to move beyond basic voice, chat and video options. It also helps to streamline communications, giving team members a single number for voice, text, video and more across their devices, whether they are at their desk or working remotely. For business customers, UCaaS is utilised to ensure that there is always an agent on hand to help, creating an all-in-one solution platform.
UCaaS offers efficiency for meetings and video conferencing, allowing users to assign and track tasks, as well as sharing documents to avoid unnecessary printing and emailing. Instant messaging is also used to ensure quick communications, keeping the entire organisation engaged and connected. Full transcription and recording of all video’s is also available in some of the solutions from the major solutions.
By utilising cloud software, UCaaS grows with your business, offering a fully integrated, scalable package with remote access across multiple devices and users. It also provides a simplified administrative interface, with no-touch software and regular security updates.
What are the benefits of UCaaS?
UCaaS seamlessly integrates with existing business applications, providing an all-in-one solution that allows communications between employers, employees and customers to be taken to the next level, all within a secure platform.
This kind of model is essential for efficient remote working, which has become the default option for many organisations since the COVID-19 pandemic enforced lockdowns across 2020 and 2021. In fact, according to Gartner, more than 80% of corporations plan to let their staff work from home for the foreseeable future, and UCaaS provides a central unified hub for all communications, far and wide. It delivers a one solution, one user interface that works intuitively to support your business’s needs.
Being flexible and adaptable by nature, UCaaS removes the need to invest in software and hardware right off the bat, instead providing a scalable platform that grows with your business. Updates, including security features and any necessary patches, take place automatically. This makes UCaaS a highly cost effective option as well as a secure one, removing overhead from IT.
What to look for in a UCaaS vendor
With the ability to help businesses communicate, operate and grow more effectively, Unified Communications as a Service is quickly becoming an essential investment, and that makes choosing a UCaaS vendor one of the most important decisions facing modern businesses.
Every vendor will offer a range of benefits, so it’s important to find a supplier whose priorities align with those of your business. At Consultiv Utilities, our focus is on ensuring that the adoption of UCaaS is smooth, seamless and stress-free, with minimal interruption to your daily operations. Adaptability and reliability are also essential factors.
Your business is bound to change over time, and we aim to provide Evergreen solutions that are always current, can grow and adapt to your needs, and are a port of call you can contact whenever and wherever you require support.
Don’t be afraid to ask us questions about the process before you commit to them, as this will allow you to make an informed decision that results in the support you need to guarantee long-term success for your business.