Technology has become so ubiquitous that customers are constantly looking for the fastest, most convenient way to get what they want. Fortunately, the continuing switch from analog to digital has made it easier than ever for businesses to purchase unified communications solutions, from Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to video conferencing and file sharing. For businesses looking to keep ahead of the competition without sacrificing efficiency, convergence of services is key.
The Importance of Convergence
As of 2015, according to a report from the Pew Research Center, almost 66% of American adults own a smartphone, and 19% rely on it to access the Internet. This convergence of technologies allows them to use one device to access multiple applications; not only can it go online and function as a phone, but it can offer services like a calculator, a calendar, and a digital notepad.
Businesses that can offer customers the complete package will have an advantage over businesses that only offer a single service. This means partnering with providers to offer not only services like data storage, but also a connected VoIP system.
Value Over Features
Partnering with providers is just one half of improving a business’s unified communications with convergence. Businesses also have to make sure that their customers understand the benefits, and this can be more difficult if the customers aren’t technologically inclined. The best way to show customers that convergence is important is to explain to them the value of the new services rather than just the features.
Maintaining Customer Relationships
The value of a service comes down to what it can do for the business in terms of achieving goals and improving efficiency and costs. Customers generally want to stay with a business they’ve worked with before, especially if that business can offer them both convenience and an amicable partnership. In this way the customer avoids focusing too heavily on risks, as they might if presented with a big change that they don’t understand.
In today’s fast-paced unified communications market, businesses must stay relevant in order to remain competitive. Businesses need to take the time to explain the benefits of converged services to customers that don’t understand the impact of features alone. This will allow businesses to maintain important relationships when they make the move to a converged unified communications solution.