Enabling a remote work strategy is no longer an option, but a requirement, for many workers.  Throughout the last 10 years, remote work programs have grown 159% as employees have increasingly placed work/life balance as a priority for their lives.

The reality is the old way of thinking isn’t working anymore.  Check these stats out from UC Today:

✔️ 70% of professionals work remotely for at least one day each week.

✔️ 39% of people working from home complete their tasks faster than those in fixed workplaces.

✔️ 48% of remote workers say that working away from the office helps them to improve their motivation levels.

✔️ 30% of remote working employees said that telecommuting helped them to accomplish more in less time.

✔️Companies of all sizes report large reductions in operating costs when using remote working strategies.

The last one bears repeating.

Companies, regardless of their size, have realized significant reductions in operating costs when using remote working strategies.

More and more employees are looking to connect with coworkers in real-time and from a variety of devices and locations.  One way businesses are enabling this type of real-time connectivity is through the use of unified communications tools that are available across a range of devices.

Unified Communications is Empowering Collaboration

The advances in digital collaboration tools have affected both internal and external communications.  In fact, FastCompany predicts that digital communications will become preferable to face-to-face communications both for remote workers and those who work in the physical office.  One way digital communications are bridging the gap between internal and external parties is through the use of unified communications.

There are several features that are essential to any business unified communications platform, especially for one who is embarking on a remote work strategy.

Voice and Video – Voice connectivity is obvious – but what about video?  Video communications can be essential for remote workers, especially as it enables them to feel more “connected” to their on-site colleagues.  Viewsonic reports that only 7% of verbal interpretation is done through purely the words that are spoken. The majority of interpretations come from visual cues, such as facial expressions and body language.  These are missed during a phone conversation where the only messages that are able to be sent and received are those of the words and the tone of voice. This can lead to miscommunications – so businesses need to ensure they have a video communications component along with voice communications.

Mobile Applications – Mobile applications have become an essential part of any unified voice communications platform, especially when enabling remote work options for their employees.  A mobile application will essentially turn your employees personal mobile device into an extension within your network, meaning that the same number you call to reach a desk phone (should they have one) can be used to reach their personal cell phone – without the need for your employees to share their private information with customers.

Instant Messaging – In our 5 Ways blog, we mentioned instant messaging and how “Instant messaging makes asking questions and sharing ideas easy and instantaneous, and promotes more frequent communication between workers.”  And this statement is still true, but along with that is a shift from just instant messaging (internal communications with just co-workers and those on the corporate network) but to Business SMS or Texting (internal AND external communications with co-workers and customers.)  The reality is as the world becomes more digital, and users become increasingly comfortable with using mobile devices and text communications, businesses need to have the option to respond to customers questions with this ‘new-age’ communications tool.  And these statistics show the power and demand for businesses to incorporate this tool as a part of not only their remote work strategy, but also their overall business strategy:

• 90% of consumers prefer to communicate via text message than voice
• 64% of consumers would see a company who communicates via text in a positive light
• 75% of Millennials prefer text for appointment reminders, delivery notices, coupons, etc.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

Bring Your Business into the Future of Work with Unified Communications

According to a 2011 Gallup poll, 89% of workers were disengaged from their work.  89%. Employees were not doing anything more than the work required to keep being employed.  Businesses who miss out on this key statistic and don’t make changes to increase employee engagement will miss out.  Not only with those high performing employees heading towards employers who have strong employee engagement (and yes, remote work) programs but also by disengaged workers simply not working to transform and help you grow your business.  Unified Communications enables you to easily transition your telecommunications from a static solution, to one that will grow and change with you and your business as you grow and change. Not only is the solution flexible and mobile, but it is also provides significant cost savings.  We invite you to read more in our free whitepaper, “Time to Upgrade Your Phone System?,” or by speaking with our team today.