UCaaS Definition and Functions
With the reality of the ongoing pandemic and remote work becoming the new norm, companies must move from traditional network infrastructures to cloud-based solutions to best serve distributed workforces. Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platforms are becoming increasingly popular as a result. Since many businesses cannot deploy these technologies on their own, forward-thinking companies are looking beyond the UCaaS meaning and are partnering with experts to make the transition as smooth and easy as possible.
Effortless connectivity across multiple platforms is essential for today’s businesses. With UCaaS, your company and divisions are able to compete in real-time in an ever-changing communications environment. As explained by Gartner, a leading information technology research and consulting organization, UCaaS supports six essential communication functions:
- Enterprise telephony
- Meetings (audio, video, web conferencing)
- Unified messaging
- Instant messaging and presence (personal and team)
- Mobility
- Communications-enabled business processes
The six areas explained by Gartner are crucial to making a move to UCaaS a seamless one rather than relying on traditional telecommunication technologies. As part of your role as a technology manager, you can help your company navigate this change not only through migrating to UCaaS but also through its implementation with the most minor operational risks possible. You can achieve this edge by partnering with a supplier who makes the process seamless and straightforward for you.
You can find the right provider and differentiate yourself from your competition by taking into account the factors in the following sections.
Related: How to Choose the Best White Label VoIP Provider
Why Is UCaaS Important?
In addition to voice, video, personal conferencing, team conferencing, and voicemail, UCaaS offers a variety of enterprise communication channels. Following the pandemic, McKinsey published a study examining the role these technologies would play:
- Business interactions with customers are now more than 80% digital since the crisis.
- 50% of respondents said digital transformation was not their top business priority before the pandemic.
- In B2B industries, nearly 30% cite customer resistance to change as the main hindrance to switching, compared to 24% in consumer-facing sectors.
- According to respondents, remote working is on the rise in markets and industries worldwide, as well as shifts in customer preferences towards health and hygiene concerns and the choice to communicate remotely.
- Approximately 70% of respondents said they expect remote working to remain the most common change as the pandemic subsides.
If any of the above statistics resonate with the needs of your company, you are already leaning toward the need for UCaaS. If so, continue reading to learn about what features the best vendors include.
Features to Look for in a UCaaS Provider
Now that you know more about the UCaaS meaning, you should keep in mind that providers offer a variety of services that are worth considering when comparing their capabilities. You will want to learn the best practices and types of services available to you before you implement this cloud-based model.
Public, private or hybrid cloud type
Choose UCaaS providers based on the cloud models they offer. There are three types of cloud deployments: public, private, and hybrid. Most of the leading UCaaS providers offer hybrid options, although each one is able to offer their own distinctive advantages.
After finding out more about UCaaS meaning, it may be possible for companies to use some of their existing communication infrastructure. Companies can do this when implementing hybrid UC deployment models. Therefore, it makes sense to consider the hybrid approach if you recently purchased a communications platform.
When your company is uncertain how quickly its communications will grow, this model might be the ideal choice because it lets it move to a full cloud UCaaS model at its own pace. Your UCaaS provider will assist you in choosing the cloud type that most closely fits your business’s requirements.
Related: Unified Communications vs. VoIP: Which Is Best?
Long-term viability, monitoring, and support
UCaaS streamlines your communication needs into a single platform. Make sure the provider you choose offers excellent customer support and technical assistance. 24/7 customer care is available online, over the phone, and even in person with the best vendors.
In addition, the company you choose should offer team training. A new communication system will require your employees to learn how to use and maintain it. Training is an important part of adopting UC technology for your company.
Excellent UCaaS meaning involves networks that a leading provider maintains and supports. Therefore, you should make sure UCaaS providers have a high uptime track record. Candidate documentation should demonstrate an uptime of at least 99%.
Additionally, you should consider the long-term viability of each one of the providers. A reputable company that’s been around for a long time will be able to handle your communications well into the future.
Due to the ongoing pandemic UCaaS is becoming an increasingly significant priority for all companies. It is a poor choice to pick a UCaaS provider who can’t keep up with your changing communications needs.
Ability to scale
A significant factor to consider when evaluating providers is whether or not they can grow with your company. This is especially true when selecting UCaaS providers. You should check how quickly their platform can scale.
Make sure the provider you select is able to accommodate both increases and decreases in users without requiring costly system modifications. Also, make sure your cloud service provider can accommodate changes in your bandwidth requirements.
Administrator dashboards from the top providers allow you to manage access and permissions for your users without having to rely on them.
Increased security standards
An effective UCaaS solution needs to provide high levels of security and compliance. If you are interested in a particular security provider, you should determine your own requirements and make sure it can accommodate them. Local data centers should be available if your business depends on them.
The best choice is to find a provider who offers built-in disaster recovery. It is better to integrate disaster recovery rather than provide an add-on.
Personalization and features
There are many UCaaS providers on the market, but if you want to choose the best, you should pick a platform that offers a wide range of features. In addition to audio conferencing, video collaboration, desktop sharing, mobile apps, and text and instant messaging, a comprehensive set of features should be available.
Most of these are relatively straightforward, but third-party integration should be strongly considered. Your organization may already be using some of these traditional platforms. By working with the best UCaaS providers, these systems can be integrated into the UCaaS solution quickly and efficiently.
UCaaS Meaning: Selecting a Trusted Partner
You waste money on unused licenses when you have obsolete technology; and you also need a large group of people to manage installation and maintenance while they can be focusing on more strategic tasks. You can eliminate these outdated solutions with UCaaS, and then only pay for what you require right now, with the predictability of knowing what you will be paying every month. By outsourcing upgrades, maintenance, and troubleshooting, we can save you considerable time and resources.
You should thoroughly compare the various UCaaS providers before deciding whether to invest in these services. A company that prioritizes your business’s needs and checks as many boxes as possible will be the best choice for you. Consider your company’s characteristics carefully. Invest in a provider who takes the time to understand your business so that your network can be customized to meet your needs and scale as you grow.
Contact a BCM One solutions expert today for unrivaled service and implementation of UCaaS. You can customize and scale all of our UCaaS solutions to meet your organization’s needs. Contact us today.