How Business Size Affects Unified Communication Needs

How Business Size Affects Unified Communication Needs

Nearly 3 in 4 employers rate teamwork and collaboration as “very important” within their business. The unified communication tools that these organizations are equipped with have a large impact on what is seen as a vital part of business operations. These tools can vary greatly based on business size, and deployments should be adapted to deliver the best possible results.

The Small to Medium Business

Small to medium businesses typically face unique challenges when searching for a UC solution that best fits them. A limited budget means that they have to lean towards affordable yet high-functioning devices. Relating to this, a limited to nonexistent IT staff means solutions need to require little to no back-end management. Lastly, many SMB networks are commercial and retail deployment scenarios that require a mobile and cordless solution.

1. SMBs have under 500 users in-network
2. Smaller physical spaces mean DECT portable solutions in favor of Wi-Fi
3. Large focus on external communication tools and features over internal collaboration
4. Telephony productivity is customer focused: call queue, IVR, auto attendant, hold, and transfer
5. Network needs to be scalable, adding additional phones should be easy and low cost

Small and Medium Enterprises

Hospitals, hotels, universities, multi-level and multi-site offices are all examples of small to medium enterprises. These businesses typically have large communication networks across their organization, meaning internal communication and collaboration begins to become a focus with a unified communications solution. The physical size of these enterprises means users must be mobile in order to collaborate with peers. It is important that endpoints are able to move with their users, and solutions are put in place to connect regionally separated offices.

1. UC solutions need to be customized to support the SMEs various departments across a large facility or various sites
2. SMEs have 500-1000 users. Advanced call handling features, larger phone books, and endpoints with BLF, presence, and speed dial capabilities play a larger roll in day-to-day operations
3. Cordless Wi-Fi IP phones are an ideal choice to keep employees connected while roaming throughout large multi-floor facilities
4. For SMEs with regionally separated offices, video conferencing devices can increase the effectiveness of remote collaboration while eliminating travel costs

Large Enterprises

With offices located across large geographical regions, massive internal teams that frequently collaborate, and operations that need clear communication in order to function properly, large enterprises have the most challenging unified communication needs. There are many moving parts within an enterprises’ operations, and one breakdown can cause friction and a drop in productivity as a result. A complete unified communications deployment can not only be a solution to these challenges, but also help drive a smoother operation within the business. Large data can be integrated into a UC solution that can be seamlessly provided to users within the network to assist with day-to-day functions, along with video collaboration tools to help bridge the divide between separated teams and departments.

1. Enterprise CRM data can be pulled through endpoints and desktop softphones, empowering employees with easy-to-access data automatically when a call connects
2. Large enterprises have over 1000 employees and robust IT teams, they require and can support advanced collaboration solutions such as desktop multi-media devices, video conferencing rooms, and virtual collaboration servers
3. Enterprise UC solutions need to be redundant. In the event of network outage a fail-over device needs to be ready to pickup the network’s essential functions