How Adding UCaaS Will Make Your company more nimble

Everything as a service. That has been the headlines bemoaning the rise of anything “aaS.” There’s a reason the move to services has risen. The availability of computing power in the cloud has made the aaS move possible. With that, more computing power programs that ran on a computer can run elsewhere. Those programs can be accounting software or a phone system. If you haven’t yet made the leap to UCaaS, we’ll make the case why you should.

The Cost of UCaaS

Unified Communications (UC) can be a heavy lift financially. Your company may require an integrated system of the phone, team chat, video conferencing, and mobile. However, with a traditional UC system, those costs will range from a few hundred per employee to several thousand.

Leveraging the programming power of the cloud, UCaaS can cut those costs dramatically. In some instances, the up-front cost can be eliminated entirely. For instance, an average IP phone will run a company about $200. Even in a small office that is a capital expense of $2,000. Using a cloud system that can run on computers cuts that cost. Should employees really need, physical phone providers will include the cost as a monthly lease. In this way, companies can both avoid a substantial capital cost and adjust as needed.

Flexibility

That brings up the next big reason for using UCaaS. As your company grows, adding team members should be easy. Your provider can quickly add a user to the list of instances. IT and HR working together can bring a new hire online within minutes. By the time the new employee has gone through orientation and receives their computer, it is ready for them to chat with the rest of your business.

Reliability

No one thinks the worst is going to happen to them or their business. However, we know that disasters and accidents do happen. If your entire communications strategy were housed in your office, what happens if there’s a fire or natural disaster? You are out of communication with your employees and clients. Utilizing UCaaS can provide the backup that could save your business. Team members don’t need to be “in the office” to answer calls, communicate, or process orders. The power to work anywhere, in any circumstance, is one of the strengths of cloud-based unified communications.

Is UCaaS the right fit for your company? That is a question only you and your team can answer. The advancements in technology have brought us to a place where cloud-UC makes sense for some. Take an inventory of where your communications are today, and where you want them to go. If avoiding downtime after disasters, flexibility, and lower cost are a concern, then it could be the right fit for your firm.

Futurum Research provides industry research and analysis. These columns are for educational purposes only and should not be considered in any way investment advice.

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Author Information

Tim Albright

Timothy Albright is Analyst in Residence at Futurum Research where he covers the Collaboration, Unified Communication and ProAV space. Tim is also the founder of AVNation, an audiovisual industry B2B media firm. Taking the data, ideas, and objectives of clients and industry leaders and turning them into easily digestible content is where Timothy has lived and worked for the last twenty years. His career has lead him into broadcast television and radio, education, programming, digital media production, and has been teaching and producing podcasts since 2006. Over the last ten years, Timothy has been focused on researching where business communication is and where it is going. This includes working with education, healthcare, and Fortune 1000 companies leverage their existing infrastructure to help their employees and customers communicate more effectively and efficiently. In addition to hosting and producing a weekly AV and UC news program, he has contributed to several industry-leading publications. Timothy has lead industry discussions around the globe and is a highly sought-after moderator for his ability to bring the real-world uses into conversations and panel discussions.