Government Organizations Increasingly Turning to UC to Cut Costs

These days, it’s hard to walk into a reputable business and not see an array of unified communications tools in use, including audio and video conferencing, caller ID, voicemail, call waiting, instant messaging and intelligent presence. While the advantages behind an organization implementing a UC platform are pretty obvious, what you may not know is that the government isn’t far behind in its unified communication adoption.

Video conferencing, specifically, is enabling government entities to interact with geographically separated divisions without ever having to leave their desks. Imagine each and every time a government official needed to have a face-to-face conversation with someone in regard to a time-sensitive issue, they needed to book a plane ticket.

Unified communications reduces the need to travel continuously, in addition to the high price tags associated with relocating.

In fact, according to a recent blog post from unified communication expert Teo, the Defense Department has already seen multiple benefits from leveraging UC, such as reaching a much wider amount of users – 800,000 to be exact – through the Web. Also, the Navy had powered online training sessions with nearly 1,500 participants in tow. 

Over 90 percent of these seamen, when polled, rated the video conferencing experience as either good or excellent.

In spite of the fact that conferencing can assist a company in expanding its footprint globally, there are several tips to remain mindful of.

First, ensuring you are always focusing on what is going on during an important business meeting, whether it’s in real life or virtual, is key to the successfulness of your firm. Constant incoming e-mails or instants messages appearing on your desktop may cause you to forget to pay attention, so closing any program you won’t need during the meeting could actually help you in the long run.

Next, fully prepare yourself for the conference. If you have a video session scheduled for a certain time, it’s essential early in the day that you, yourself, prepare for the event and for the physical location it’ll be taking place. Say, for example, that the video conference will be in your office. You must make sure your area is tidy and nobody will barge in, causing an interruption during the set period.

Last but definitely not least, moderation is vital. If you have an agenda outlined and ready to go before the Web-based conference begins, all members of the team are in the know regarding the topics slated to be discussed.

Even more important is the fact that colleagues are keenly aware who will be running the meeting to avoid individuals from talking over one another.

Although UC can enhance efficiency within your organization while simultaneously reducing costs, you must take some steps on your own so that your video conference delivers the results you were intending.