The world of work has undergone a major transformation over the last couple of years. Companies were compelled to embrace remote and hybrid work models in response to the pandemic. While there are many advantages to using these models, they also present substantial setbacks for businesses, particularly when it comes to facilitating effective communication and teamwork.  

The unique communication and collaboration issues of a hybrid workplace are the result of workers working both in the office and remotely. To face these difficulties, businesses must implement essential unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) solutions that make it possible for employees to accomplish their jobs efficiently from anywhere. 

In this article, we will explore some of the essential unified communications and collaboration solutions that employees need from a hybrid workplace and why businesses need them.

Why bring UC&C to the Digital Workforce

While there is an explosion of incredible communication and collaboration tools designed to accomplish a specific task or provide an end-to-end solution, your strategy should always begin with determining why you need one and what type of UC&C solution is right for your business. 

Here are some of the reasons why businesses are investing in UC&C solutions: 

1. Unified Communication – offers a single platform for all communication and collaboration tools, such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing. This makes it easier for employees to meet and work together, regardless of location. 
2. Increased Productivity – provides a variety of tools like document sharing and task management that can help them work more efficiently. This can boost productivity, resulting in quicker decision-making and enhanced business results. 
3. Enhanced Customer Service – enables employees to interact and collaborate effectively with customers and clients regardless of their location. As a result, customers may feel more valued and loyal to the brand. 
4. Mobility – accessible from anywhere on any device, facilitating remote and mobile work for employees. This can increase employee satisfaction, enhance work-life balance, and reduce the need for traditional office space. 
5. Cost Savings – saves businesses money on travel, office space rent, and other expenses. This can increase profitability and give you an edge in the marketplace.

Essential Unified Communications and Collaboration Solutions 

The rise of hybrid, mobile, remote, and frontline work is shaping the UC&C market, and vendors will have an impact on how customers perceive working in these types of environments. 

Here are some essential UC&C tools that every employee and employer should consider: 

1. Video Conferencing – In a hybrid work environment, video conferencing is an integral part of everyday communication and teamwork. It makes it possible for workers to easily communicate and work together, regardless of their physical location. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet are among the most widely used video conferencing platforms. 
2. Instant Messaging – For seamless, real-time collaboration, group chat apps like Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp are fantastic. With the help of these apps, workers can instantly communicate with one another, share files, and work together on projects, no matter where they are in the world. 
3. Cloud-Based Storage and Collaboration Tools – Employees in a hybrid workplace really need cloud-based storage and collaboration platforms like Google Drive and OneDrive. With these tools, employees can safely keep, access, and work together on files and documents from any location, at any time. 
4. Project Management Tools – In a hybrid workplace, tools like Asana are essential for keeping track of tasks and workflows. Thanks to these collaborative technologies, tasks can be delegated, due dates can be tracked, and progress can be debated in real time. 
5. Virtual Private Network (VPN) – Remote workers in a hybrid workplace absolutely require the use of a VPN. All data sent and received by employees over the internet is encrypted using a virtual private network to prevent unauthorised parties from obtaining sensitive company information. 

Benefits of Unified Communications and Collaboration Solutions 

A unified communications and collaboration solution is an all-inclusive platform for communication and collaboration. 

A UC&C solution is more all-encompassing and cohesive in its approach to communication and collaboration than a UC solution on its own. While both may provide voice and video calls, a standalone UC solution may not be compatible with your company’s other software and hardware. This might cause ineffective and inefficient communication and collaboration between departments. A UC&C solution offers a more unified approach, allowing for consistent communication and collaboration across various platforms.

With a UC&C solution, you can expect features such as: 

1. Presence: You can see the availability status of your colleagues in real-time and communicate with them through various channels such as chat, voice, or video. 
2. Voice and video calling: You can have voice and video calls with your coworkers and clients, as well as video chats. 
3. Messaging: You can send and receive instant messages, share files, and collaborate on documents. 
4. Email integration: For seamless communication between colleagues and clients, you can access your email within the UC&C platform. 
5. Mobility: You can access the UC&C platform from any device, anywhere, which gives you more freedom and efficiency. 
6. Integration with other business applications: The UC&C platform can be integrated with other business applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, to streamline workflows and improve efficiency. 

UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) and hybrid work 

The ability to communicate and collaborate efficiently, regardless of location, is a major benefit of UC&C solutions for remote and hybrid workers.  

1. With UC&C solutions, remote and hybrid employees can access a wide range of communication channels, including voice, video, messaging, and email, from a single platform. This allows seamless communication among employees, colleagues, and clients, regardless of their physical location. 
2. UC&C solutions provide a range of collaboration tools, such as document sharing and screen sharing, that can help remote and hybrid employees collaborate effectively, which can lead to increased productivity and faster decision-making. 
3. By providing employees with easy access to communication and collaboration tools, UC&C solutions can help remote and hybrid employees stay productive and focused on their work. This is especially important for employees who are working from home, as they may face more distractions and interruptions than they would in a traditional office setting. 
4. UC&C solutions allow remote and hybrid employees to work from anywhere on any device. This can give employees more flexibility and mobility to manage their work and personal lives in a way that suits them. 
5. UC&C solutions can help businesses save money by reducing the need for physical office space or travel expenses. This could be immensely helpful for companies that employ a lot of freelancers or workers who work from home. 

UC&C buyer checklist 

If your company is in the market for a UC&C solution, use this buyer’s checklist as a starting point. 

• Business Needs: Identify the specific communication and collaboration needs of your business. 
• Scalability: Choose a UC&C solution that can scale up or down as your business grows or changes. 
• Flexibility: Look for a UC&C solution that can support employee mobility and remote work. 
• Integration: Ensure that the UC&C solution can integrate with existing business systems. 
• Security: Verify that the UC&C solution provides adequate security features to protect sensitive business information. 
• Usability: Consider the usability of the UC&C solution and whether it will be easy for employees to use and adopt. 
• Customer Support: Evaluate the level of customer support provided by the UC&C solution provider and whether it will meet your needs. 
• Cost: Assess the total cost of ownership, including any upfront costs and ongoing expenses, to ensure that the UC&C solution is within your budget.
• Return on Investment (ROI): Determine the expected ROI of the UC&C solution to ensure that it will have a positive impact on your business. 
• Future-proof: Choose a UC&C solution that is adaptable and can keep up with technological advancements and changing business needs. 

How can Hexicor help you with

Unified communications and collaboration solutions are essential for employees working in a hybrid workplace. Video conferencing, instant messaging, cloud-based storage and collaboration tools, project management tools, and virtual private networks are some of the most essential tools for communication and collaboration in a hybrid workplace. 

Businesses, regardless of their employees’ locations, can benefit from UC&C solutions by creating a more connected and productive workforce. Employers can help their remote and hybrid employees thrive by equipping them with the right communication and collaboration tools to execute their jobs well.

Azentro helps large enterprises, mid-market organisations, and small businesses streamline their communication, collaboration, and connectivity. Our UC&C solutions can provide a range of benefits for organisations of all sizes, including enterprise mid-market organisations and small businesses. 

Contact Hexicor today and learn which Unified Communications & Collaboration Solutions are best suited for your hybrid work environments. 

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