{"id":2916,"date":"2016-10-13T16:44:52","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T23:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.poly.com\/?p=2916"},"modified":"2016-10-13T16:44:52","modified_gmt":"2016-10-13T23:44:52","slug":"mobile-unified-communications-helps-boost-productivity-small-business-remote-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.poly.com\/mobile-unified-communications-helps-boost-productivity-small-business-remote-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile Unified Communications helps boost productivity of small business remote workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Voyager<\/p>\n

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Today\u2019s workers are making it clear that they feel more productive working outside of the office when it comes to important work-related projects. (See: \u201cSmall business employees feel more productive working remotely, survey finds\u201d)<\/a>. In response, small businesses need to ensure employees can connect and collaborate over a range of devices whenever and wherever they are to maximize productivity.<\/p>\n

Research<\/a> conducted last year by IDG Enterprise found that 56 percent of enterprises and 66 percent of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) had plans to implement or upgrade Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) solutions in 2016. \u00a0Extending UC capabilities to remote users can help boost their productivity, ensuring a more efficient use of their time.<\/p>\n

However, to be effective, mobile UC needs to provide remote workers with the same experience as those working on site. The key to mobile UC, therefore, is a mobile-first strategy based on a simplified interface that runs across a range of mobile devices and provides a seamless experience. In this way,\u00a0 users won\u2019t end up with a mix of communication, collaboration, and connectivity applications that don\u2019t work well together.<\/p>\n

Mobile UC features<\/h5>\n

Today many UC vendors offer native mobile UC clients for smartphones and tablets. Some are free. Functionality across vendors varies, however. \u00a0With a basic mobile UC system, employees should be able to forward calls from a desk phone to their mobile devices. They also should be able to access email, voicemail and company directories from smartphones and tablets.<\/p>\n

More fully featured UC mobile apps integrate audio, video and web conferencing and support presence, which tells the user if someone they need to reach is available to talk or chat. Another useful feature is one number ring, which enables a call to ring on a number of phones \u2013 desk at the office, mobile or home phone \u2013 until someone answers or the call goes to voicemail. One number ring \u2013 also called Find me\/Follow me \u2013 means someone never misses a call.<\/p>\n

Mobile UC platforms also should ensure that business and personal information are kept separate. As an example, if someone using a personal mobile device for work places a call, the recipient should only be able to see the company\u2019s business number caller ID.<\/p>\n

Choose the right mobile UC solution<\/h5>\n

Before making an investment in mobile UC, small businesses need to evaluate what systems currently are in place and what they need to replace or upgrade. \u00a0Writing for TechTarget<\/em>, Nemertes Research analyst Philip Clarke suggests<\/a> several questions to ask to make the processing of integrating mobile UC most effective.\u00a0 Among them:<\/p>\n