Unified Communications

Five Reasons to Consider an Upgrade to UC

5 Essential Benefits Driving UC Adoption by SMBs

Why should your business consider upgrading an existing phone system? If you have a Small and Medium-sized Business (SMB), there are critical advantages that you can, and should, expect when implementing the right UC solution. These five key benefits are helping drive the strong adoption rate of UC by businesses, today.

1. Abillity to do more with less - with a solution that is easily managed

Particularly important to smaller businesses is the ability to implement any technology that provides enhanced functionality while also being both affordable and relatively simple to manage. As expected, smaller organizations typically have fewer or more limited resources, from budgets to staffing, and a technology, as is the case with a UC solution, is especially appealing if it enables the organization to operate as a bigger business, but without the same costs. UC is increasingly recognized as a technology that allows SMBs to take advantage of proven increases in productivity and functionality while realizing significant savings.

2. Connect the growing mobile and remote workforce by incorporating mobility

An office is just about anywhere you need it to be, today, and it is increasingly important for remote and mobile workers to access the same phone system features, whether working form a desktop or a mobile device. By implementing a UC solution, it makes it easy to stay connected to customers and prospects, from any location, from any device. It also provides flexibility in managing off-site employees, using features like presence and conferencing, and having additional monitoring capabilities.

3. Saving money on overall operating costs

One of the greatest benefits of implementing the right UC solution is taking advantage of the cost savings it provides. This includes both savings on the initial cost of the system, as well as savings on the long-term costs that leads to a good Return on Investment (ROI). To achieve the greatest opportunities for savings, it's important to understand how to accurately compare vendor quotes. It's easy to look at multiple quotes from UC vendors and assume that the final cost quoted includes the same parameters. But not all UC solutions are created equal, and not all UC vendors can offer the same cost savings.

To get a true "apples-to-apples" comparison of vendor quotes, SMBs need to be aware of key differences in quotes that can add thousands of dollars to the cost of implementing UC solutions - both in near-term and long-term costs, and in both hard and soft costs. For example, many vendors offer quote for base features, but the business-critical features that an SMB needs, and the the features that make UC so useful - like mobility and third-party integration, require an additional fee. Licensing fees also often drive up costs, as well as maintenance and upgrade costs, down the road. To avoid these expensive add-ons, compare across vendors for biggest savings potential on overall operating costs in key areas.

4. Gaining uplift in customer service capabilities

The right UC solution should be more than a phone system, it should be a better communications system that helps you improve your customers' experience with your business. A quality UC solution allows SMBs to serve customers more effectively, using features such as call queues and IVRs to handle every call with care. SMBs should be able to use a UC solution to know more about every incoming call, in order to route each call appropriately, ensuring there are no more missed calls or lack of visibility.

5. Moving beyond basic functionality

Too often, SMBs evaluate new technologies based on whether or not the system can meet the organization's current needs - in reference to both basic features included with the technology and in reference to the current size and structure of the business. That type of decision can cost an SMB thousands of dollars in future upgrade costs when choosing a business phone system. When considering "future expansion," that term may not mean something as extensive as expanding physical locations; it could be as simple as adding or moving an employee. The right UC solution allows SMBs to opt for a flexible system that provides extended functionality and that will grow with the business..