What Is UCaaS, and What Trends Should Businesses Know about in 2020?
Over the last ten years, a new way of implementing business communications has emerged, and for businesses to remain relevant, they need to embrace this shift to UCaaS.
What Is UCaaS?
UCaaS stands for unified communications as a service, and it represents a significant shift in the way businesses approach and implement communication. When you think of telecom, VoIP, or any phone system provider today, you might not realize it, but they are all actually UCaaS specialists.
Tele-Data Solutions used to a traditional voice interconnect, meaning we installed a phone system, and it was all voice related. It had to do with intercom, outgoing and incoming calls, voice mail, auto attendant, and other voice applications. That’s still who we are and what we do, but with this shift to UCaaS, we’re a lot more as well.
Think about it in terms of an iPhone or other smartphone. You can certainly talk on your phone, but you can also do video calling or FaceTime, text messaging, Internet searches, and screen shares with other people. It’s the same thing with phone systems today.
A UCaaS phone system is a voice system first and foremost, but it has other technology services added into its suite. This means workers get things like video collaboration with coworkers, sent or received text messages with clients, a mobile application, smartphone integration (with iPhone or Android), instant messaging, and more.
At the highest level, UCaaS is a suite of services all rolled into one phone system, and it represents the biggest change to the industry over the last ten years.
3 Important UCaaS Trends
1. Work Flexibility Is Expected
Flexibility is no longer considered a perk of a job; it’s now the default expectation. This is true not just with the younger workers but with workers of all generations. The advances in communications technology coincide with how businesses operate now. With more people working remotely and expecting work/life integration, people simply aren’t chained to a desk for twelve hours a day anymore. That’s an old-school mentality. Now it’s about getting the work done, and the technology can help facilitate that by keeping everyone connected and integrated, even when they’re not in the physical office.
2. Communication Is Shifting away from Email
In a work context, email has gotten out of control. Think about how many hundreds of emails you receive every day. It’s simply not sustainable. The technology is moving so we can email less and communicate through other more effective channels. Think Zoom and other video platforms, web chat, messaging, and more.
3. Younger Generations Are Becoming Bigger Drivers in the Workforce
Nearly ten thousand baby boomers turn sixty-five, or retirement age, each day. The younger generations (Millennials and Gen Zers) are coming up and entering the workforce in their place. These younger workers were born with computers, so video, chat, and instantaneous communication are all default for them. For businesses to be relevant in five, ten, or fifteen years, these technological tools can’t be viewed as “perks” or “bells and whistles.” They’re necessities in today’s competitive landscape.
Tele-Data Solutions is a telecommunications service provider based in Union, New Jersey. We offer on-premises and cloud-based VoIP phone systems. For any questions, please contact info@telecloud.net or call 908-851-0444.
By Vincent Finaldi
Vice-President, Tele-Data Solutions
E-mail: vin@tele-datasolutions.com | Direct Line: (908) 378-1218
What brings me satisfaction is meeting with New Jersey–based businesses and genuinely helping them solve communication and business problems. As someone who has lived in New Jersey my entire life, I love working and playing here. I live in Florham Park with my wife, Lisa and our son Leo. Although it usually hurts, I will root for the New York Giants.
