Unified Communications
Unified Communications ensures your employees stay connected - wherever they’re working. With Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) you’ll benefit from VoIP, video conferencing and messaging.
Unified Communications
Hybrid and remote working is now the norm and for many organisations, that means they must find ways to embrace Unified Communications. Whether at home, in the office, or on the go, team members should only need a device and a stable internet connection to do their job. And of course, events in recent times have only catalysed a change in attitudes towards flexible and remote working.
Team members now expect freedom when it comes to where they work. The responsibility is therefore with an organisation to provide that ability to them, using Unified Communication Solutions.
As technology continues to rapidly evolve, many IT departments simply don’t have the resource, time, or expertise to facilitate these needs. That’s where Sharp’s Unified Communications services come in.
We can support your organisation in identifying the tools needed to support better communication and collaboration amongst your office, remote and or hybrid workforce. We make it possible to unify emails, telephone and much more.
So, what is Unified Communication (UC)?
Unified Communications gives your organisation a cost-effective, manageable, and convenient way to keep teams connected wherever they are. From messaging, voice calls (VoIP) and video conferencing, to file sharing and editing, with Unified Communications you have the confidence that your teams have the tools to work productively together. Unified Communication Solutions cover almost every touchpoint in an organisation, connecting dispersed workforces. These solutions include:
- Instant messaging e.g. Microsoft Teams
- Voice and video calling, also applicable to Microsoft Teams
- File sharing
All of these should be integrated to enhance collaboration and ensure information is accessible for all your employees.
What are the benefits of Unified Communication?
The beauty of Unified Communication Solutions is the cloud-hosted element of most of them. This removes the need for hardware and infrastructure. This means you’ll have less upfront investment costs, paying for your usage on a per month and per user basis. You can also consolidate different solutions into just a few providers, reducing administration but also providing cost-reduction benefits. Finally, your organisation can reduce travel costs, with meetings taking place online instead of in-person.
Unified Communication reduces the barriers to effective communication for employees. They can operate with less and more reliable tools, removing the need to switch back and forth. This means they have more time to focus on business development and their day-to-day roles. Additionally, when employees in-office and remote can collaborate with ease, online meetings are just as effective as in-person meetings which reduces time spent on the road travelling.
Unified Communication relies on a simple internet connection, meaning your team can connect and collaborate from anywhere. This gives you the flexibility to recruit the best talent nation or worldwide. Location is no longer a barrier when it comes to collaboration and communication.
For small businesses starting out, initial hardware investments can be costly, particularly when you only have a few employees. However, with Unified Communication the solutions grow with you. The user licencing model means you can increase and decrease as you need to which ties back to its cost-saving benefits.
Great technology and Unified Communication solutions are no longer a nice to have. Gen Z and Millennials entering the workforce expect great tech. In fact, by 2025 27% of the workforce in OECD countries will be Gen Z. As an organisation it’s now your prerogative to make effective technology changes that satisfy employees’ expectations. Taking the time to explore and invest in Unified Communication solutions, demonstrates your commitment to improving your employees working environments for both existing and prospective employees.
What industries can use Unified Communication?
Put simply, all industries can benefit from some form of Unified Communication. Whether that’s switching to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as opposed to traditional ISDN lines, which are ending in 2025, or investing in Microsoft Teams. Every industry can benefit from using this kind of technology to streamline and improve communication in their organisation.
What size of business can benefit from Unified Communication?
From small businesses to corporates, Unified Communication is scalable and operates on a pay-for-what-you-use basis. This means you can the number of licences you need up or down, depending on your growth phase. It’s also far less cash-intensive for those businesses that are just starting out - they simply don’t need to invest in expensive hardware.
What is the pricing structure for Unified Communication?
Unified Communication pricing depends on the solutions you have chosen as part of your strategy and technology stack. Typically, cloud solutions operate on a subscription-based model. But there can also be add-on features which may increase this per-month cost.
Cost will also be impacted by the size of your organisation, in terms of the number of users and the brand of solutions you select. For example, whether it’s entry-level or premium cloud-software solutions.
Unified Communication Solutions
File Sharing
File sharing is simply a digital way of transmitting files from one person to another. Files can be shared with a singular person, a group or an entire organisation. This includes many types of files, from JPEGS to PDFs. Teams can collaborate on documents together, reducing duplication and managing version control effectively. It also eradicates the need for physical storage. Yes, there may be some scenarios where this is still required, but ultimately if you have access permissions and an internet connection, you’ll be able to view and edit files from anywhere.
In addition, file sharing also provides peace of mind as documents are stored on the cloud and cannot be destroyed physically. Should a computer break or a server shut down, organisations can still access their files. As online files are vulnerable to cyberattacks where physical files aren’t, it’s critical organisations take the necessary cyber security precautions to protect their data.
Telephony (VoIP)
A large part of Unified Communications is VoIP, also known as telephony. As we move closer to 2025, more organisations are being forced away from traditional ISDN telephone lines as we prepare for the “Big Switch Off”, whereby the phase-out of outdated copper-based networks will take place. Telephony or VoIP refers to a modern approach to voice communication services. It’s a virtual phone system hosted in the cloud, meaning it leverages the internet to enable users to make voice calls just like they would via traditional phone lines. It’s an integral, if not core part of Unified Communication.
Video Conferencing
Another prominent element of Unified Communication is Video Conferencing. It was already on the rise pre-pandemic but was accelerated into every organisation as work from home became a must. It simulates face-to-face meetings and allows what would once be physical meetings to operate over the internet.
What is Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS)?
UCaaS is a delivery model for Unified Communication tools, bringing together all the solutions that are part of a Unified Communications strategy together into one platform. With all data and communications living in one platform organisations have better visibility and control. It also reduces the time moving from one platform to another.
These types of platforms typically encompass chat, voice, video, calendars, file sharing and many other features. A great advantage of these platforms is the speed of deployment, you are dealing with one software vendor not multiple. You’ll also save time and money; with just one system you’ll feel the benefit of economies of scale.
However, because these platforms are so reliant on cloud-based technology, a strong internet connection is required for optimal performance.
We’re a Technology Partner for all your Unified Communication requirements.
Our Unified Communications portfolio includes bespoke IT collaboration software, VoIP, internet telephony, and video conferencing to support the needs of your customers and employees alike. Our team of technical experts work with you to create Unified Communications that meet your organisation’s needs. We have software that includes cloud-based applications and tools designed to enable smarter collaboration and communication, facilitating effective and efficient hybrid and remote working for your teams.
What’s more, as a full-service technology partner we also offer a range of other IT Services including Cyber Security and IT Support. Our technical experts can also offer input when it comes to Print, Audio Visual, and integrated technology products and solutions, helping you level up your workplace technology.
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