If you’ve implemented cloud-based unified communications, you may have made the switch because of its collaborative potential for your organization. Between shared workspaces, videoconferencing, and status indicators, the technology has the potential to shorten decision-making timelines by improving communication and access to information.
Unified communications has allowed organizations to save on travel costs, removed barriers and obstacles in project management, and offered flexibility in how teams communicate.
But there’s even more potential for unified communications to advance your organization. By combining unified communications with internet of things (IoT) technology, you can shorten response times and enhance access to real-time information.
What Counts as IoT?
IoT describes a broad set of technology in which devices are equipped with a sensor that is essentially a computer chip designed to monitor and communicate information. It has extensive applications from a heart monitor that continually provides updates on a patient’s cardiovascular health to a tank of bulk motor oil that can be “read” for its level from a computer in the office.
IoT technology is in the home, too. It is appearing in refrigerators that alert a smartphone when the temperature has dropped below a certain point. It is the thermostat that can be adjusted before the family arrives home from a lengthy vacation. IoT is showing up everywhere, and when combined with unified communications, it gets smarter.
Combining IoT with Unified Communications
When smart devices are combined with the collaborative benefits of unified communications, that’s when you see the benefits of each technology multiplied. For instance, a company that makes deliveries can implement automated updates to their customers based on speed, traffic conditions, and weather-related circumstances.
A smart fridge can detect a failing part and automatically schedule a service call to the manufacturer, alerting the homeowner with information about whether their food safety will be compromised and how soon the repair will be completed.
The heart monitor can not only provide an update to a chart but also use data analysis based on other readings to offer insights into treatment options and other health indicators.
In an office setting, the combination of unified communications and IoT may help make for a smarter workplace. A workplace equipped with this technology could measure usage of any resources from lighting to 3D printers and make recommendations about how to best accommodate the needs of employees for an efficient and cost-savings work environment.
It’s not enough for devices to simply take readings and report on the status. This is important information, but now the potential for efficiency improvements and streamlined operations are making it critical to combine IoT with unified communications for enhanced insights.Is your company making the most of your fleet of IoT devices? Learn more about how unified communications can expand the benefits of your smart technology when you contact us at eXemplify.