| | AUGUST 20238CIOReviewReliable unified communications (UC) solutions have become even more critical as the workforce has evolved into a blend of on-site, remote and hybrid workers ­ 97 percent of employees now say access to cloud-based collaboration and software tools is essential to their jobs, according to the 2021 LenovoTM Future of Work and Transformation Study. Cloud-based unified communications solutions provide access to essential communication features, such as voice calling, video conferencing, instant messaging, file sharing and virtual meetings. Features are integrated into a single platform, making it easier for businesses to manage while allowing employees to work together efficiently. But not every solution is built to meet the demands of organizations with sophisticated use cases. An enterprise-grade UC solution can integrate into your network infrastructure while minimizing overall system complexity. It provides more visibility and control of individual apps, settings and user permissions. An enterprise-grade solution is also engineered to make support more manageable as organizations scale while meeting security and regulatory requirements.Evaluating a UC solutionIntegrating and managing a modern UC solution can come with challenges, and there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. The deployment model will depend on the organization's specific requirements, industry regulations, in-house network engineering and IT expertise, budget and risk tolerance. For many businesses, partnering with a trusted network provider for a fully managed and supported UC solution can assist limited IT resources, while offering the highest level of reliability, security and performance. With no hardware to manage, the benefits include freeing up resources and budget while eliminating the need to maintain telecommunications equipment across an organization.An intuitive, cloud-based UC system provides a seamless experience across the desktop, mobile and endpoint devices to connect remote teams and enable better collaboration. From communicating more effectively with all calls, messages and video meetings, a single, intuitive service can help users realize the benefits quickly. To ensure a reliable cloud-based UC implementation, explicitly require a high level of availability in service level agreements (SLAs) for communications services critical to your business. An in-depth SLA should specifically outline the availability rate, response time and demonstrable remedies. Benefits of a managed serviceWhether opting for a fully- or co-managed solution, organizations will realize many benefits from a managed network-based unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solution. When deployed with the reliability of a secure fiber network, users experience means dependable communications, perfectly tuned for real-time voice and video collaboration.By Joseph DeLotto, Vice President, Voice and Unified Communications Products, Spectrum EnterpriseIS YOUR UC SOLUTION ENTERPRISE-GRADE?Joseph DeLottoJoseph DeLotto serves as Vice President of Voice and Unified Communications Products at Spectrum Enterprise. In this role he is responsible for the roadmap and lifecycle management of telephony and UC products for medium and large enterprise customers. He has more than 25 years of technology development and product management experience at telecommunications service providers.IN MY OPINION
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