Having disparate IT systems in place is no way for a business to achieve efficiency and improve employee collaboration. With successful unified communication and collaboration (UCC) solutions, companies can experience a number of benefits that will take their operations to a whole new level.

A recent TechTarget reported suggested that video that is integrated with UCC can yield quantifiable results that would otherwise be difficult to measure with outdated technologies. Such an infrastructure can help firms reduce operating costs, boost employee response times and increase worker productivity.

“Enterprises have had disparate UC tools, like email, voice and maybe a conferencing platform at the baseline,” explained Diane Myers, principal analyst at Infonetics Research, the news source reported. “Now, it’s becoming a question of how to bring this UC architecture together to create productivity, and if the costs will justify the gains in terms of flexibility and improved productivity.”

Cloud, mobile also influencing UCC tools
Cloud computing and enterprise mobility are two of the most significant trends to impact IT in recent memory. Companies supporting both can breathe new life into employee collaboration efforts and productivity because the cloud allows staff members to access work-related content anywhere, regardless of physical location.

Perhaps the even greater advantage of migrating to the cloud and supporting mobile initiatives is the potential cost savings. Rather than purchasing costly on-site IT systems that require an upfront capital investment – whether they are used to full capacity or not – companies only pay for what they use with cloud services. Bring your own device (BYOD) also helps businesses reduce spending because they no longer have to issue corporate-owned smartphones, tablets and laptops to the workforce.

Meyers said the cloud is ideal for helping companies manage their UCC applications by minimizing delivery costs. This in turn has resulted in more businesses embracing the cloud-based UCC model.

With mobile devices in place, employees have access to both cloud environments and on-site systems, noted Wainehouse Research Senior Analyst Bill Haskins. The influx of employee-owned gadgets, however, has made it critical that companies provide flexible video solutions to support the workforce.

“Users can’t walk into a room and start a video call with the same ease as they could with their own personal video solution, which has resulted in poor utilization in the past for telepresence,” Haskins said, according to the news provider.

Managing a complex IT architecture that integrates a variety of solutions is not an easy task for even the most tech-savvy firms. Luckily, there is a way for companies to address any internal challenges they may have, which is why a managed service provider such as FlexITy is so helpful for aiding clients with the implementation of UCC, cloud computing and mobile tools alike. FlexITy is one of Canada’s leading MSP vendors and has the expertise to ensure organizations’ IT investments are optimized and deliver results.

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