SME mobility: Challenges and solutions
Mobility is becoming a greater priority for businesses, particularly SMEs. In fact, more than 75% of nearly 15,000 C-level executives see mobility as their top priority in the workplace, according to an Accenture report.
Ilan Rubin, Wavelink managing director, says, "The benefits of the bring your own device (BYOD) model and mobile application management advances let businesses expand outside the traditional office space.
"They also reduce overhead costs and improve customer service.
"However, it is critical that businesses ensure company information is secure and that applications work across multiple platforms.
"They should provide a clear separation of business and personal boundaries on mobile devices, and ensure mobile workers have the same communications experience as employees in the office," he says.
According to Rubin, unified communications can solve various mobility challenges SMEs face.
"Many businesses are turning to mobile unified communications solutions to address this challenge, giving employees the flexibility to work when and where they want without losing the inherent functionality of an office-based phone system," he says.
Specifically, mobile unified communications solutions let SMEs integrate the office with its mobile or remote workers.
It gives businesses the ability to:
- provide employee access to primary business data applications
- change voicemail greetings and check voicemail messages remotely
- make and receive calls from the office extension remotely through Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC)
- activate and change call rules
- access the company directory including visibility of internal contacts, and their availability, from the mobile device and desk phone
"Additionally, having a workforce enabled to work off-site can form an important part of your disaster recovery plan.
"It means that your business will be able to function in the event of a natural disaster, or any type of event that could disrupt business at your primary site," says Rubin.
