If there’s one thing that every UCaaS platform seems to claim it can improve, it’s “productivity.” And it’s no wonder why that’s a top priority—more productive workers and teams create better results for your business.
But what, exactly, can drive higher productivity in today’s work environment? Organizations need the right tools and practices in place to empower their workers, so it’s important they know what features to look for in their UCaaS solution.
With that in mind, here are the top 10 UcaaS features to help improve productivity in 2023:
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Voice, video, messaging, and meetings (all in one place)
The first (and most necessary) feature for unified communications is, well, having the communications features, and making them accessible on one platform. Omnichannel communication—including voice calls, video conferencing, group meetings, and messaging—is a must. This helps teams to communicate and collaborate in any environment, whether they’re on the go and need to send a quick group message or are sitting down for a video conference.
And of course, many of these communication channels have their own key requirements. For instance, video conferencing is woefully incomplete without screen sharing, which is a necessary tool for collaboration and presentations. Similarly, messaging features should include group messaging as well as SMS messaging, so teams can communicate with the group or individuals both in and outside of their organization.
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Unified, user-friendly interfaces
These days, jumping between disjointed apps and devices to get work done is not only frustrating, but it also takes up valuable time. People expect their technology to work on the same platform and a single environment, without complicated integrations or lengthy installations. As such, a single, unified, user-friendly interface is key for team and employee productivity.
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Hybrid work support
While many businesses are returning to the office, there’s no denying that hybrid work isn’t going anywhere (and is even the preferred way to work for the majority of employees). This means that UCaaS solutions need to support employees in the office, working from home, or on the go.
This requires headset and webcam support for remote and hybrid employees, as well as meeting room kits for offices.
Mobile support is also essential for hybrid work, as employees need to be able to access their communication and collaboration tools and join meetings from any device.
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Artificial intelligence
AI is the latest (and arguably biggest) trend in communications, and it’s being used in several ways. While many companies include features like AI-enabled noise cancellation or reduction and AI-powered transcriptions, some are offering AI assistants, or features to support meetings with automatic meeting summaries or task assignment.
There’s no shortage of new advancements and developments in the AI space, so it’s important to find service providers that are staying ahead of the curve.
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Analytics
Once a team starts using collaboration tools, it’s important to know how well they’re working. Integrated analytics across communication channels help teams and managers gain new insights, which they can use to identify how they work best and where they have room to improve.
Like AI, platforms that integrate analytics into their UCaaS solution are still emerging, so this is something to keep an eye out for.
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Integrations
Once more, it’s important to emphasize the “unified” part of UCaaS. A UCaaS platform should integrate with the other tools employees use every day, including solutions like Microsoft Teams and 365, workflow solutions, CRMs, and more.
