Unified Communications

UC integrates several modes of business communication into a single user-friendly interface. Simply put, everything an employee typically uses for communication (such as Call Handling, Voice Conferencing, Email, Fax, Texting, IM, Voicemail, etc.) are available to the user on his/her PC as well as from the telephone set.

Customers, Employees and the Organization all gain from more efficient, flexible and more functional communications. Employees are given the flexibility to communicate with coworkers, customers and suppliers using methods that best suit their needs. This gives the business a leg up on its competition when it comes to customer service and recruiting new employees.

Standard features:

VOIP: IP desk telephones that are connected to the business’s LAN & can use the same cable as the user’s PC
Call Control: Call handling, such as answering, transferring & conferencing voice telephone calls via the user’s PC
IM/Chat: Instant messaging co-workers via user’s PC
VC: Video conferencing via the user’s PC
VM: Voicemail retrieve and listen via the PC
Email: Voicemail to email integration
SMS: Texting via the user’s PC

Nonstandard (typically, optional) Features:

Remote Home/Office IP Telephones: Connected via the WAN/Internet
SIP TRUNKS: Central office lines over the business WAN/Internet
Mobility: Cloning cellular telephone & home/office telephones with the user’s desk telephone
“BYOD” (Bring Your Own Device): Ability to use your smart phone as your main extension, with all the features of your desk phone including extention to extension dialing, transferring, etc.
FAX: The ability to send & receive fax messages on the user’s PC
Call Record: The ability to record calls on demand or always(real-time)

Mobility allows individuals who are away from their desks to answer calls on their mobile phones. This technology provides the employee with an alternative to endlessly retrieving voicemail. It allows seamless switching from mobile phone to desk phone and vice versa during a call depending upon the needs of the situation.

Wi-Fi Mobility Circumvents Roaming & Long Distance Charges:
Calls from mobile devices can use Wi-Fi networks to connect back to the telephone system eliminating cellular telephone roaming and LD charges.

Retrieving and managing voicemails using the telephone keypad has never been very convenient. UC allows voicemail messages to be retrieved via PC with a visual interface much like an email client. Employees are able to scroll through voicemails to find the most important messages. You may forward or reply to voicemails in the same fashion as an email, by simply clicking a command. This allows them to give customers better service which improves the value/image of the organization.

Call Record allows businesses to document the interactions between its employees and its consumers. This allows the company to be compliant with federal regulations. It also protects customers as well as the business and its employees from liability including accusations of improper activities, errors/omissions, or malpractice.

Some businesses have an IT department and some do not. In either case, the network implementation requirements of UC are well-documented and straightforward. Preparation and training make for a smooth transition. More important is end-user training. This is the most effective way to ensure that the new technology will be used as planned.

The goal is to have everything “play nice” on your network. It is necessary to recognize that voice is real-time data and data from your business operations software & CRM is not. It is proven that hard-wired VLANS and wireless VLANS are part of the best practice for UC. It allows integrators the ability to separate the data forms so that each can be managed separately. This prevents any network traffic congestion that could disrupt activity.