Every business requires internal and external communication in order to be successful, but it’s not always as easy as it sounds. The more companies invest and prioritize having strong connectivity with their teams and their customers, the more they’ll see an impact on their bottom line. To accomplish this, it’s important to consider what versatile communication tools exist and what they can do for your business. When implemented correctly, such tools have the power to positively influence operations and the customer experience for the long haul.
Are you thinking about purchasing a new communication tool and unsure how to get started? ATC partnered with RingCentral to provide you with a checklist to help you pick the right communication tools for your business.
7 Steps in the Right Direction
1. Is it optimized for mobile?
No executive or employee wants to feel tied to their desk, especially when remote and hybrid work is on the rise. Make sure your communication tool is mobile-friendly and enables you to manage your business from anywhere. Look out for a switch feature that lets you seamlessly change from desktop to mobile as you work on the go.
2. Is it multi-purpose?
Think about the big picture when investing in a new communication tool. Don’t limit yourself to a tool that only serves one need. Siloing will result in you ending up with multiple communication tools later down the road, which can become hard to manage and costly. Look for technology consultants that are able to provide multiple solutions and help you find the one tool that fits you best. 80 or 90 percent of what the leading unified communications’ solutions do is pretty much the same. It’s the last 10 to 20 percent that will make your solution a game changer, meeting the specific needs of your business.
3. Is it user-friendly?
With 83 percent of workers depending on technology to collaborate, it’s important to keep usability top of mind. Don’t stress yourself out (or your employees) with a communication tool that is difficult to use. Find one that is user-friendly and has an engaging interface that makes you and your team want to communicate and collaborate more, not less. Always opt for communication tools that offer simplified navigation and an intuitive interface to keep users engaged.
4. Is it dependable?
When it comes to communication tools, nothing is worse than investing lots of money in one just to find out that it’s completely unreliable. Save yourself the headache by getting a reliable tool that is rated highly by industry experts with over 99 percent uptime. A technology consultant that offers support above and beyond the unified communications provider ensures that you get the most out of your tool.
5. Will it increase productivity?
Did you know online communication tools and digital workplaces can provide a 20 to 30 percent increase in productivity? Team members should be able to communicate seamlessly and have a more efficient workflow. Find a tool that supports ongoing communication between employees, vendors and stakeholders. Advanced analytics can also increase productivity and sales.
6. Can it grow with your business?
As your business grows, you want a communication tool that can grow with you. View your communication tool as a long-term investment, not short-term. As you grow your team, make sure you can add new hires to your tool or platform in minutes so that they’re instantly up to speed. Integrations with your existing apps are vital, improving process flows as your business scales.
7. Will you get support during setup?
Setting up a new communication tool can be daunting, so before you hand over money from your IT budget, find out what the setup process will look like and how much support you’ll get. Often, your technology consultant can provide a better implementation experience at a lower cost than the technology provider. They should be your dedicated partner that is with you every step of the way to ensure your business has a quick and successful deployment.
ATC Can Provide the Right Communication Tools for Your Business
Building an effective digital strategy requires a deep understanding of the technology of today and tomorrow. We understand the platforms and functionality sets across the complicated technology and provider landscape because we do it; day-in and day-out. Make a phone call to ATC and begin digitally transforming your business with the right communication tools today.
