What is Unified Communications?
Cisco Unified Communications solutions bring together voice, messaging, video,
and desktop applications designed to enable companies to adapt quickly to market
changes, increase productivity, improve their competitive advantage, and deliver a
rich media experience across any workspace. By unifying your communications,
you can improve productivity and collaboration to gain a competitive edge.
Unify Your Network. Unify Your Communications
The Cisco Smart Business Communications System (SBCS) is designed to “unify,” or bring together,
your phones and computers so you can deliver the following capabilities to your employees - wherever they are:
- Communications: integrated voice, data, and video
- Messaging: voicemail, email, instant messaging
- Basic call center capability
- Common user experience: desktop, phone, mobility
- Audio conferencing and video calling
- Integration with business applications such as Microsoft Office, customer relationship management, and third-party applications
- Presence: see others’ status and how to best reach them, via IP phone or a desktop client
When you deploy SBCS, your employees will have the same secure access to your network when
they are away from the office that they have at their desks. SBCS allows your employees to do what
they do best, even better.
Why Use Unified Communications?
“Work is no longer a place. Work is wherever you are.”
—Alan Sears, President, TBL Networks, Inc.
The Cisco Smart Business Communication System (SBCS)
enabled a small networking firm to look like a world-class
company and helped that company fulfill its promise by
making its staff easy to reach—in the office, at customer sites,
at home, or on the move. When customers or coworkers need
to reach someone, they can dial a single number that rings
a staff member’s office phone, cell phone, and home office
phone. Customers appreciate the simplicity, and the staff
appreciates the time saved.
“Video changed the way we work with suppliers.”
—Claire Evans, amaZulu, Inc.
When you’re working with suppliers halfway around
the world, selecting materials can be a real challenge.
However, with Cisco Unified Video Advantage—part of a
complete SBCS solution—a phone call can become a
video conference. Your people can use the online video
capabilities to compare samples, make decisions, and
begin product shipments in a fraction of the time.
“My staff spent four hours a day making appointmentreminder
calls. Now the system places the calls.”
—Dr. Sunita Jayakar, medical practice owner
For medical practices, one of the most powerful Cisco
productivity tools is the automated appointment reminder
system. Cisco can also provide on-screen voicemail and
separate mailboxes for patients, doctors, pharmacies, and
insurance companies, increasing productivity by reducing
the time spent managing messages.