Discover why introducing Unified World could be the answer to becoming an agile business. With an increase in employee requests for remote working and flexible hours, the businesses that will stay ahead of the curve are those that choose to introduce measures to ensure they are flexible. An essential tool to becoming an agile business is unified communications. Here are 10 steps to becoming an agile business, so you can see how yours compares.

1. Support flexible working hours

Your business must embrace the 24/7 availability culture or lose out to forward-thinking competitors. That’s not to say that you must remain open 24/7. When in a customer-focused business, if the customer has a way of communicating with your business in times of need (for example if a fault occurs) then it helps to have measures in place to support them.

2. Can manage remote working

Your staff should have the ability to work from anywhere, at any time, on any device. Agile businesses embrace flexible working. Time at the office is no longer a sign of productivity. Highlighting actual results can create a work environment that brings healthy behaviour and well-being.

3. Ability to scale capacity quickly and easily

Cloud-based services mean businesses can access a solution that allows them to easily flex to meet demand.

4. Can cope with seasonal peaks seamlessly

Rather than paying for unused services, the agile business can scale resources. This means they will have to pay for what they need.

5. Able to respond to customer needs quickly and appropriately

This means wherever, whenever, however and most importantly, quickly. Your company need never miss that important call.

6. Energises the workforce with new technology

New technologies give your staff access to the tools they need to succeed. This means that you’ll see a rise in employee productivity and satisfaction levels.

7. Integration with line of business applications

True unified communications can support integration with existing business applications, such as Skype for Business. This helps to further enhance efficiency and productivity.

8. Remains compliant

The agile business uses the most up-to-date technology to ensure they remain compliant at all times.

9. A fixed, monthly cost

Cloud-based telephony allows businesses to pay for what they need in one fixed, monthly payment. This will include installation, handsets and maintenance. This means easy budgeting for your business telecoms costs each month.

10. Embrace consumerisation

Agile businesses support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), while still managing the contracts. Allowing your staff to use their existing handsets will save you money. It will also ensure your team are contactable at any time.