For organizations looking for ways to increase flexibility and resilience with cloud technology, a unified communications solution is often the first step. With UCaaS, teams can stay productive, engaged, and connected, whether they are working from home, in the office, or on the go. Before adopting any new technology, however, it’s important to learn as much as you can about how it works, what it can and cannot do, and potential challenges. We’ve put together this list of UCaaS questions and answers to help you start the research process.
What Is UCaaS?
UCaaS, or unified communications as a service, is a cloud communications solution that offers all the main types of business communications from one platform. Users can access everything from one app.
What Features Are Included?
This is something that can vary a lot between cloud providers, so be sure to do your homework and ensure the platform you use has everything you need. Often, UCaaS comes with video, voice, chat, and file sharing,
You’ll also want to look at the more granular details such as advanced voice features like voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID, as well as a contact center solution to power your customer success. Other details to look for include rich video conferencing features, including interactive presentation tools, screen sharing, and HD video, and a real-time backup and restore function for your file management.
What Do Users Need to Access the Technology?
As a cloud solution, users simply need to download the application to their device and log in to the platform to get started. Your employees can chat with co-workers, launch video meetings, share files, and more from any location as long as they have an internet connection.
The software is hosted on secure off-site servers, so there’s no need for on-site hardware, nor for extra IT resources to manage and maintain the technology. You can, however, purchase specific hardware such as desk phones, headsets, and webcams to work with your technology.
Does My Company Need a New Phone System to Make UCaaS Work?
UCaaS relies on VoIP (voice over internet protocol) technology. This means voice data is transmitted over the internet, so there’s no need to have a traditional phone line to make and receive calls. In fact, this is one of the largest draws of cloud phone systems – your business can likely save on your phone bill by switching from a traditional phone system to VoIP technology.
Can Employees Use Desk Phones Through the UC Platform?
Yes, they can! You can use feature-rich desk VoIP phones to make and receive calls, send messages, and more, all through the same unified communications app you have on your computer, mobile phone, or other devices. These desk phones are plug-and-play, so you can set them up yourself right away.
Is Communicating Through a UC App Secure?
As with any type of cloud technology, security can be a big concern. To ensure your teams can use your UCaaS solution with confidence, it is important to inquire about the security practices your cloud provider uses.
Your provider should be able to explain how they offer a worry-free experience. Here are some of the security best practices to expect from your cloud services provider:
- Third-party audits to validate their security controls
- Adherence to all applicable compliance standards such as HIPAA and PCI-DSS
- Advanced encryption for email services
- Ongoing network monitoring and detection
- Highly secure data centers with security guards, controlled access, and 24/7 monitoring
- Rigorous background checks for employees
How Can UCaaS Increase Productivity?
With a unified solution, employees no longer have to juggle between applications for communication and collaboration. This prevents workers from losing focus every time they have to switch apps, while also saving time overall by making everyday tasks like sending an email or sharing a file more efficient.
Also, a lot of UCaaS solutions integrate with common business applications. This streamlines workflows even more. And, because users can log in from wherever, work tasks don’t have to wait for someone to return to the office.
What Does the Onboarding Process Look Like?
Unlike onboarding for on-premises platforms, onboarding for UCaaS is refreshingly simple with the right provider. Keep in mind, however, if your provider tells you to do the migration yourself, you may run into more complexity.
For the best onboarding process, work with a cloud provider that moves your IT to the cloud for you at no extra cost. This way, your users can get started with minimal interruption.
How Reliable Is UCaaS?
Reliability is critical. If your software doesn’t work for your teams, you could run into problems with productivity and employee frustration. To ensure the UCaaS solution you adopt will perform, look for, at least, 99.99% service reliability and accessible technical support.
How Much Does UCaaS Cost?
One of the huge benefits of UCaaS technology is its affordability. Because it uses a subscription-based payment model, there’s no need to make a large IT investment to get started. You pay for the number of users you need.
You can also scale up or down by adding or subtracting users. To enjoy the cost-efficiency benefits, look for a provider that offers transparent, flexible pricing and doesn’t require a contract.
Start Benefiting with a Leading UCaaS Solution
Whether you want to save money with cloud-based communications, unlock your teams’ potential, boost resilience, or all of the above, UCaaS can be game-changing for SMBs. Elevate from NTELogic is a comprehensive unified communications platform that comes with all the features your business needs to thrive. Reach out to our team today for a quote.
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