Features that enable more flexible, agile businesses can improve organizational efficiency and success by allowing more informed, quicker decisions. Research found that 65% of organizations felt they could improve competitiveness by reducing delays, 67% could save time improving internal project communications, and 60% could save 10-30 minutes daily using click-to-dial functionality. Unified communications increases productivity for small-to-medium enterprises through a single contact number, presence information, click-to-dial emails and websites, audio/video conferencing to replace travel, and instant messaging as an alternative to email.

1. Features such as this provide the infrastructure to enable businesses to become
more flexible, agile and competitive. Research indicates that by making more informed
decisions quicker, the efficiency and success of the entire organisation can be improved.
65%would improve competitiveness by reducing business delays1
would save time if they could see a co-workers availability2
63%
would save time by improving internal communications for projects6
67%
would save 10-30+ minutes per day using click-to-dial3
60%
would save time if they could reach a decision maker using a single number4
73%
would improve efficiencies by reducing delays in reaching decision makers5
81%
1 Source: Forrester Consulting. 2008. Unified Communications Offers Value to Small and Medium Businesses.
2 Source: Forrester Consulting. 2008. Unified Communications Offers Value to Small and Medium Businesses.
3 Source: Forrester Consulting. 2007. Unified Communications Delivers Global Benefits.
4 Source: Forrester Consulting. 2008. Unified Communications Offers Value to Small and Medium Businesses.
5 Source: Forrester Consulting. 2008. Unified Communications Offers Value to Small and Medium Businesses.
6 Source: Forrester Consulting. 2008. Unified Communications Offers Value to Small and Medium Businesses.
1. A single, personal telephone number or extension, which enables employees
to be reached easily, regardless of their location
2. Presence information, which shows the real-time availability of co-workers and
therefore how and when they can be successfully reached
3. Click-to-dial functionality, which allows telephone numbers in emails
or web browsers to be dialled with a single mouse click
4. Ad hoc audio and video conference sessions, to facilitate instant and rich
communication without incurring any travelling time or expense
5. Instant messaging (on-screen text chats) with individuals or groups, as a quicker,
more interactive alternative to email
5 ways to increase your productivity with VoIP
Unified communications enables SMEs to communicate and collaborate more
productively in 5 key ways: