We are experiencing a momentum in technology that feels reminiscent of the adoption of the world wide web. At first, everyone was caught up in the excitement of this unprecedented tool, then they figured out how to apply it to revolutionize communication. In 2017, we saw dramatic adoption of both Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. Our computing and VoIP technology are learning at lightning speeds and they’re more interactive than ever before. Both of these factors are fueling the Unified Communications (UC) movement. In 2018, we’re going to continue to see rapid progress in how we communicate as we learn how to best apply these technologies to our work.
Customized Solutions Delivered as a Service
There is no doubt that most organizations can benefit from a UC strategy, regardless of size. Larger organizations, with distributed locations and large amounts of equipment, will certainly see the most significant impact, but even smaller organizations can gain upside with the right applications.
The key here is that no business operates the same as another, and that means there is no out of the box solution that will fit them all. By putting UC in the cloud, it enables businesses to apply the tools that best work for them such as UCaaS, at a pay-as-needed rate, eliminating the upfront capital investments once needed to access the same tools. In 2018, we’ll see an increase in customizable UCaaS options that give businesses flexibility and scalability that can respond rapidly to changing needs.
Next Level Mobility via Smartphone
Certainly, most of us do some of our work via our smartphones. Mobility is a tremendous boon to our productivity. But, while we currently do some calling and emailing, how much actual work do we accomplish on these devices? There are several trends that are going to make our smartphones much more powerful tools for business use in 2018.
The first is the introduction of 5G, which will allow us to process more data at any time, with increased quality of service. The second is enhanced UC functions supported by mobile devices. We have seen a trend where our clients are abandoning the phone on their desk and using the UC apps as their desk phone. New apps are coming out that will include team collaboration, content sharing, and enhanced meeting support. You’ll also see the ability to begin a task on one device and seamlessly continue working on it through another.
Rise of the Digital Assistant
2017 was the year consumers welcomed AI into their homes, whether it be Alexa, Siri, or Cortana. These users are experiencing a convenience that only existed in childhood cartoons, like the Jetsons. But, application in a corporate environment has been slow to follow as the complex data required to perform operations like running reports has been disparate, and the context needed to ensure accuracy hard to define. However, 2018 will see this change. The market will demand it, and now the tools are there to make it happen. While the adoption won’t be widespread, the early adopters will certainly be paving the way for the birth of the enterprise version of the digital assistant.
Is Your Business Ready to Embrace UCaaS in 2018?
Whether you are already working in the cloud or are looking to make the move to doing so, you need a technology partner to help you navigate the way. Corporate Technologies Group specializes in assessing your current network structure and understanding your goals for the future to help plan and install a communications solution that will enable your organization to reach maximum productivity.
Interested in learning more about Unified Communications? Download our Unified Communications White Paper.
