Thursday, January 15, 2009

Save money with telecommuting.

As the recession deepens, many companies will be investigating cost saving measures. One opportunity that now can't be overlooked is a company-wide telecommuting program. According to Telecommute Connecticut!, a commuter service of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, more than 117,000 Connecticut residents telecommute. With telecommuting becoming more mainstream in today's corporate culture, every company needs a unified communicaitons strategy to deliver benefit to existing workers, open up a lower cost resource pool, and deliver on the promise of a seemless, distributed workflorce.

Unified Communications integrate voice, instant messaging, email, and more to provide instant access to workers regardless of their location. VoIP uses a broadband Internet connection to route phone calls, which incorporates the functionality of the Internet with that of the conventional telephone, producing one convenient communication system. Through a means of converting the analog signals of a voice conversation into a digital format, which is then transmitted over the Internet, VoIP allows individuals to make a call to another computer, or even to another phone. Microsoft's Office Communications Server and Office Communicator are two products that display this combination of software and telephony, which streamlines communications, resulting in a higher rate of efficiency at a lower cost.

By installing and implementing Microsoft's Office Communications Server and Office Communicator, we can enable employees to connect with clients and co-workers across different regions and time zones in real time. Whether from the office or from a remote area, employees will be able to collaborate from any location with Internet connectivity. And because Office Communicator is closely integrated with the Microsoft Office system, it links seamlessly with applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, and SharePoint, immediately and effortlessly converting any room in the house to an office work station. With Unified Communication services, you can save money while improving your productivity, all within the comfort of your own home.

Rick Huebner is President & CEO of VISTECH.com, a technology company based in Hartford, CT.Go to VISTECH.com for information on complete unified communications and VOIP solutions.

VISTECH.com exclusively uses Microsoft Unified Communications for its infrastructure and offers hosting, colocated, and on-site unified communications solutions.