Some managed service providers are reluctant to offer unified communications because they think it’s a lot of time-consuming deployments for an on-premises VoIP system. Well, we have good news: hosted VoIP is here. With the unified communications as a service (UCaaS) model, it only takes a good internet connection for your clients to start enjoying a stable, cost-effective business phone solution. Making a profit offering unified communications is easy.

When customers are looking for a unified communications solution, they want to manage computer-related communications and phone capabilities altogether.

Let’s take a few examples.

1) An organisation wants to make sure missed calls are always followed up

The business owner needs a business phone system with voicemail. Also, each employee must be notified by email when someone leaves a message on their voicemail extension. Unified communications provide that integration between phone and email.

2) A company wants to better manage communications costs for mobile employees

The business owner needs every call made from the company phone system. But, some employees are always on the move. A unified communications solution will help roaming staff call from the company phone system using an internet-connected smartphone or laptop. These features are called WebRTC (or Virtual Phone) and Softphone.

3) A business wants to keep using fax, but wants to cut expenses on fax machine and paper

With unified communications, fax service is integrated to email. This feature is called virtual fax. So, sending and receiving fax can simply be done through the user’s mailbox. There is no fax machine needed and a fax message is only printed when required, from the email.

A good VoIP solution will provide all unified communications features to respond to every business need. 

Unified communications as a service is the new trend

Cloud solutions offer a business flexibility because they can stream expenses for better control. If your customers have already adopted subscription-based services like email, productivity applications and online CRM platforms, there’s nothing to stop them from considering Unified Communications as a Service for their business phone needs.

Customers want to be free from heavy hardware costs and they’re willing to go to the cloud. So, why keep offering a solution that can only be deployed on-premises? If you’re willing to stay competitive and keep your business sustainable, you have to give your customers what they’re looking for. Failing to do so could spell the end of your business.

Today’s buyer is more aware than you think

Maybe you’ve been offering on-premises VoIP and you’re comfortable doing it. Are you planning to attract more clients? Or, do you have a plan to renew your current clients’ contracts? Even though things look good now, you can’t be sure they’ll stay that way.

Today’s buyer is a lot more savvy. Before they decide to make a purchase, most business owners will do a lot of research to compare your Unified Communications offering with others on the market. By the time they’re ready to buy, they’re well aware of their business phone options.

Be smart when adding unified communications as a service to your offering

You have to offer hosted VoIP because that’s what your customers want. But you also have to understand their expectations so you can choose the right UCaaS provider. Don’t choose a provider based on price alone.

Here’s what your business phone customers are expecting from a unified communications as a service provider (in no particular order of importance):

• Good voice quality
• Network integration
• Good pricing
• Mobility
• Flexible billing
• Interesting features
• Security

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