When unified communications was first introduced, it was as a technology that would combine voice calls, email, and applications into one. It promised to streamline communications and improve productivity, representing a rare instance in which all the promises of a coming technology were fulfilled. Enterprises embracing unified communications immediately saw its benefits.
Where unified communications is now: The technology has continued to evolve to meet the needs of a changing workforce, and the availability of this technology is also shaping increased collaboration and even hiring practices. With shared workspaces, video chat, instant messaging, and the ability to plan agendas, advancing innovation in unified communications is changing the pace at which business can progress.
In addition, collaboration can happen across time zones and even countries and continents, making geography less of a consideration when hiring, and significantly reducing travel costs for meetings. Virtual teams can easily collaborate through shared workspaces and video conferencing.
Where unified communications is headed: The development of technology for collaboration will continue to advance to meet the needs of the dynamic modern work style. For instance, most people rarely work a standard 9-to-5 day, but instead utilize their smartphone and other personal devices to access systems for a more fluid work schedule. Unified communications must adapt to this style of working.
What comes with this adaptation is a need to address security concerns that creep up when collaborative, shared tools are developed for agility and flexibility. The challenge is achieving both a secure system and one that flexes with employee needs for enhanced productivity. The priority is an approach that encrypts and protects the company’s data while allowing for accessibility.
The good news is that while cyberthreats continue to change, technology is also innovative and dynamic in its response to those threats. It’s expected that unified communications will soon address cyberthreats through the use of artificial intelligence to predict where a threat is most likely and address the vulnerability before an attack is under way.
It’s also expected that hybrid cloud will be commonly used to address cybersecurity concerns surrounding unified communications. Companies may utilize an on-site, private cloud solution to house unified communications systems, allowing them more control to handle cybersecurity issues. A private platform also allows for more customization, so that the enterprise is able to utilize the system to optimize productivity.
If you’d like to discuss how unified communications could impact the collaborative nature of your organization, contact us at eXemplify. From reduced costs to more opportunities to innovate, unified communications represents a truly disruptive solution for many enterprises. We look forward to talking with you about this technology.