- Unified Communications (UC) is critical to digital transformation. It provides users with a wide range of modern collaboration tools and technologies.
- Successful collaboration ensures a simple experience for both users and IT administrators.
- A technology partner best able to help with UC will have experienced people and flexibility in deployment models.
Modernizing the workplace through digital technologies is one of the defining movements of our time. The disruptive impact of digital transformation is affecting every industry. This is clear as organizations massively scale up their initiatives.
Unified Communications (UC) is critical to digital transformation. It provides users with a wide range of modern collaboration tools and technologies. When used in concert with one another, these technologies empower users. They'll work more efficiently and be more productive. Unified communications also help businesses deal with the challenges of “IT consumerization." This is a workplace phenomenon triggered by the widespread use of personal digital technologies.
The prospect of upgrading workplace technology is exciting. But, implementing a more modern UC solution can be a big challenge for any business. With the right resources, though, modernization can be smooth sailing.
![[Read the cognitive collaboration whitepaper]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/979031/e508b14a-aaa3-429c-8156-ced35a0c51d7.png)
First Evaluate Unified Communications Then Deploy
The first step in ensuring a successful deployment is to define what your organization wants to accomplish. Next, determine the challenges and obstacles that must be overcome to achieve those goals. Each company has its own goals and obstacles. There are, however, certain characteristics common to successful collaboration.
These characteristics tend to focus on ensuring a simple experience for both users and IT administrators. Successful deployments also deliver the features and functions needed for today’s workplace. Examples include mobility, access from a variety of devices, and the ability to utilize a broad range of tools. Enabled users will then choose the right technology for their application.
IT decision-makers should look for solutions that can deliver these benefits:
- An intuitive and consistent user experience
- Availability at all times and from all locations
- Management and user simplicity
- A full set of collaborative tools
- An end-to-end approach
Choose the Right Unified Communications Partner
Besides finding a technology platform that holds the most benefits, you also want a unified communications partner who can deliver a complete end-to-end solution. This should include best-of-breed technologies throughout. Successful collaboration is dependent upon a robust, reliable communications infrastructure. A partner that understands the underlying networking challenges can save your organization a lot of grief.
A technology partner that’s a good fit for your business will also have the right people. They will have experienced, hands-on engineers and service professionals. These committed individuals will be at the leading edge of technology. They'll also be focused on customer satisfaction and meeting certification requirements.
A partner who offers flexibility in deployment models is essential as well. They will customize a solution to meet your company’s business and compliance needs. Your partner should be able to point you toward flexible licensing and subscription plans. These provide options to deploy in a way that makes sense for your business. For example, you should be able to combine on-premises and cloud services in a single subscription.
In the UC and collaboration space, your technology partner may recommend Cisco. The company has been an acknowledged leader since the technology’s inception. While many other providers and technology platforms have come and gone since then, Cisco continues to drive the market. It is a consistent leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for unified communications.
This is a critical time for IT decision-makers. Digital transformation is not a fad—it is the future. Companies that embrace it are building a foundation for success, and those that ignore it do so at their peril. Decision-makers who don’t embrace and lead the coming change, for their organization’s sake and their relevance, will be left behind.
Ready to boost collaboration with AI? Download:The Future of Collaboration is Cognitive to learn more.
Comments