Benefits of UC
Unified communications offers a measurable benefit for
companies by value-enhancing usage to allow easy communication combined with
simultaneous exchange of information among users in their daily communication.
To further explain the term unified communications (UC) at
this point, the word unified means to bring everything together in real-time
communication (RTC). In contrast to unified messaging (integration of
telephony, fax, and voicemail), the idea behind unified communications is a
merger of all available communications services, especially instant messaging
systems (which are the integration with presence features) to facilitate the
accessibility of communication partners.
The further integration of this technology in our work and
business processes is an important focus and also an increasingly frequent
request to the technology vendors and manufacturers. Unified communications can
be understood as an extension of unified messaging because unified messaging
refers to the integration of messages in an application and is in fact a form
of asynchronous communication. Unified communications takes this a step further
to create real-time communication as it aims to integrate synchronous
communication media together.
Also note that the possibilities of unified communication
from the portal and social networking platform technologies have also
increased. You will certainly have heard of Google+, Netlog, SkyDrive,
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, XING, and other platforms. These platforms allow
not only the exchange of personal and business-related information, but also
the integration and availability of further real time communication and
collaboration add-ons like instant messaging, document-sharing, Internet telephony
and even integration with line of business applications.
We do not only focus on the way information within the
companies is changing but also we have to keep an eye on how the consumer
environment is changing.
The integration of such services has shifted from a pure
consumer to a business or consumer/business mixed variant and very often,
communication with business and private contacts overlap.
Let's take a look at Facebook. Facebook created at first a social networking platform
to give people the opportunity to get connected, exchange content like pictures,
personal information, friend lists, and more. Several years later, Facebook created
a new platform inside the original Facebook application with the name Branchout.
Branchout's idea was derived from Facebook. Branchout sets out to provide similar
features to Facebook but for business. The idea is comparable to other social
networks like Linkedin or XING where people get connected, create business, or find
jobs and career opportunities. With Branchout, Facebook went into a more business
related and focused area—integrated in the private social network.
Social networks offer an important platform for product information and sales.
International studies have shown that in the future, more products and services
through social networks and platforms can be distributed and rated, just like
departmental stores or shops.
The technology allows us to communicate with "friends" and contacts about the
quality of the product and to write a review providing information on the product.
This is only one example of social networks. Another good example is product
marketing. How companies provide information about their services and products
changed completely with the development of social networks. Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and other companies changed how customers
receive information when shopping for products and services. The technology trend
is clear: this change will continue. Online shops, marketing, and access to products
and service information through social networks will be the standard for the new
generation of end users and buyers.
Other trends include increased networking with business applications for
companies. Many manufacturers and software companies also increasingly offer
their solutions to integrate and coexist with social platforms. For example, Microsoft,
Cisco, and IBM offer networking with Facebook and other social networks in its
collaboration solutions. They are simplified to integrate communication, information,
and contact databases. It will be no surprise that solutions available on the desktop
and office computers will also be further extended to mobile devices such as tablets
in the near future.
