What You Need to Know from Your UCaaS Provider

Companies can hugely increase workflow efficiency by adopting Unified Communications as a Service or UCaaS, but with all the options it can be difficult to figure out what would be the best choice for your company. Here are some questions to ask to start the collaboration process with your provider, so you can get results that you’re happy about.

1.  What types of services do you provide?
Try to find out all the different packages and applications that your provider is capable of providing – some might not be fully relevant to your firm, but there’s often a wider array of potential solutions than some businessowners assume.

2.  What do your clients say about their experiences?

Consider previous success stories and weigh out how other companies have benefitted from UCaaS before making your own decision. Sometimes you might even see ideas that you hadn’t even considered before.

3.  How can my employees connect to the network?
UCaaS is a software based, Cloud computing system – this means that there should not be any additional devices or appliances which need to be purchased for everything to get going. Be sure to find out how your employees stay connected, whether it is by company computer, personal laptop, smartphone or tablet. You may also want to ask about fringe cases, such as Surfaces

4.  How could our current hardware support UCaaS?
Good UCaaS platforms will be adaptable and accessible from a variety of sources – if your company has laptops, tablets or a digital whiteboard lying around, they could easily continue their function with greater efficiency.

5.  How are your services hosted?
Different providers have different server situations, some own their own, others outsource to tech companies. Knowing which option your provider uses can help with potential tech outage or security issues.

6.  What applications would you recommend for my firm?
It’s always a good idea to see what solutions the UCaaS provider is proud of, and by asking this question, you’re also asking them to closely understand the way your firm operates. Take suggestions with a grain of salt, but also do remember that your provider may have helped a firm just like yours, and might know a strategy that you hadn’t even thought of.

7.  Where do your costs sit compared to other competing options in the industry?
Do your own research as well, of course, but remember too that all UCaaS solutions are designed as cost-saving enterprises – recognise that you’re paying for the potential to save money in other aspects of business management, and UCaaS companies coexist and compete knowing this.

8.  How is your tech support contacted? 
Aim to have a good working relationship with tech support at your UCaaS provider – avoid simplistic arrangements only a troubleshooting hotline or a ticket-tracker, instead, ensure that your team are confident that they are well supported by their platform provider at every turn.

9.  How can your firm ensure my data is secure?
With the huge load of information that usually goes through a business on a daily basis, it’s important to know it’s kept in the right hands and out of the wrong ones. A good UCaaS provider will be passionate about their security protocols, and know them inside and out.

10.  How does the UCaaS package compare to the traditional Unified Communications package?
As each company’s operations are different, it is good to be aware of the pros and cons your provider sets out for you. Different providers have different priorities and different sets of infrastructure, so it’s good to be informed.

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