2715 Saturn Street, Brea, CA 92821
(714) 577-7777 or (888) KC-4-NEXT
Remote Working is Here to Stay
Remote Working is Here to Stay
Remote Working is Here to Stay
First and foremost, Vermont’s Remote Worker Grant Program legitimizes working remotely. They’ve recognized that you don’t necessarily have to be based in a corporate office to work effectively – and they’re investing significant resources into the concept. As long as you’ve got the right tools at your disposal, you could work from anywhere, from Vermont to Versailles.
Attracting a Younger Generation
Another factor that came into play with the Vermont program was the demographics of the state’s existing residents. Their lawmakers knew full well that Vermont is a small state with an aging population, so they tried to think of new ways to entice younger people to live in the state. There’s a lesson here for businesses, too: Offering the ability to work remotely will attract younger “digital natives” who are already accustomed to collaborating online and using mobile devices on a regular basis. (Pairing it with a great incentive doesn’t hurt, either…)
How to Support Your Remote Workers – In Any State!
So, what should you do if one of your employees decides he wants to uproot himself, take the grant, and settle down in Vermont? To put it more generically: what’s the best way to support a remote worker? Here are a few tips for success:
- Establish new ways for employees to share information with each other. There is a whole new world of collaboration tools out there that make it easy to erase the barriers of distance. Internal chat tools with availability status info, one-click videoconferencing, and instant screen sharing are all easily employed today. An added bonus is that these will benefit all of your employees, not just those who are working remotely.
- Be sure to fully train your remote workers on these collaboration tools, so they’ll intuitively know how and when to use each feature. You could consider starting them off with a basic feature set, then migrate them to more advanced capabilities as their comfort level grows.
- Encourage work-life balance. Remember that an employee’s use of mobile devices doesn’t always translate into availability to work. In today’s always-on world, the ability to turn those apps and devices off is also important.
To learn more about these shifts in the modern workplace, check out TPx’s whitepapers on The New Workplace Reality and How the Cloud Stops Tech Tug-of-Wars.
Three Ways a Future-Thinking Phone System Puts Voice Front-and-Center While Supporting Converged, Digital Ways of Working:
In our data-intensive, smartphone-laden world, personal communications revolve around texting, emojis, memes and social networking. Using a phone is, well, decidedly passé for some. There are even memes about it. But any business owner knows that voice – actual, real conversation! – remains the lifeline of any going concern.
To keep collaboration on track between employees, partners and customers alike, businesses still need to make voice calls, still need those PBX bells and whistles, still depend on voice conferencing, and still make call-center functionality an essential element of every business day. But these core experiences need not be static and staid. Today, traditional voice services are being delivered in new ways to help businesses better respond to the needs and behaviors of increasingly mobile and socially-connected workforces and customer bases, which are themselves becoming more and more distributed over time.
Here are three ways a future-thinking phone system puts voice front-and-center while supporting converged, digital ways of working:
1. Looping in the Distributed Workforce
It’s anticipated that over the next few years, 50% of all employees will be working remotely, be it from the road or in a static telecommuting configuration, according to Global Workplace Analytics. As for the latter, last year alone, about 3.9 million U.S. employees worked from home at least half of the time, up from 1.8 million in 2005. For those of you feeling calculator-challenged, that’s a 115% increase.
Or consider this: The same study shows that, in more than half of the top U.S. metro areas, telecommuting exceeds public transportation as the commute option of choice; and, it’s grown far faster than any other commuting method.
Rather than having employees use their own home or mobile phones to do their jobs, a virtual PBX phone system gives remote workers access to the same office calling features – call forwarding, four-digit dialing, conference bridges, etc. – no matter where they are. This cloud PBX approach delivers the ability to place and receive calls on a VoIP phone, mobile phone or computer (and seamlessly move calls between devices), all using a single business line identity. For managers, this allows for call tracking and other employee management activities, in the same way they manage workers at a corporate location.
In other words, the office can be anywhere – and today, it’s everywhere.
2. Enriched Voice Collaboration
Voice remains a central communication avenue for business, but it also becomes more powerful when it can be used side-by-side with additional modes of collaboration. A virtual PBX can be part of a flexible, feature-rich unified communications (UC) solution which marries voice with a host of powerful features. For instance, presence and instant messaging can be used to know someone’s status, thus improving the chances of reaching someone by phone. Video calls and desktop sharing can be added for enriched conversations. And users can make use of innovative personal collaboration rooms, where you can invite anyone (external or internal) to the conversation.
3. A Better Call Center
When you combine the twin benefits of a better-supported remote workforce and enhanced, converged UC, a virtual phone system can really shine when it comes to call centers.
Three Ways ... Continued:
3. A Better Call Center
Continued:
A cloud-based approach to voice means that customer service agents don’t have to be tied to the main office — they can answer calls in the queue from branch locations or even at home. And agents can leverage the same UC features, like instant messaging and presence, to augment their voice-based customer service activities for increased customer satisfaction. Imagine taking care of an escalation in the background, messaging with a manager, while still keeping the customer engaged on the phone. These kinds of converged activities reduce call times and improve time to resolution, while allowing agents to deliver a more personalized, differentiating touch.
Clearly, upgrading a business phone system from an aging, premises-based PBX is not just an exercise in replacing one phone system with another – it’s an opportunity to do much more, unleashing productivity within an organization.
If you’re ready to supercharge your voice communications, KCCi is your TPx representative and can help you do just that. Our industry-leading, award-winning UC suite provides a business phone system that supports voice in a way that is decidedly future-thinking, cloud-ready and mobile-native. Reach out today to find out how we can help.
“Work” is no longer a place we go, but an activity that we do. Gone are the days when the vast majority of employees made the daily commute to a corporate office, sharing a communal space on a regular basis. Thanks to globalization, working 9 to 5 hasn’t been most employees’ reality for many years. But now those same workers — who used to arrive early or stay late at the office to get all their work done — are pushing the boundaries of where, when, and how they work.
Contrary to popular stereotypes, remote workers don’t spend so much time in their home offices that they lose all their social skills and never see the light of day; nor are they all “road warriors” dashing from the plane to an Uber to the hotel. Today’s remote workers are more likely to spend part of their time in the office and the rest of it juggling work and home life. In fact, according to the Census Bureau, the average remote worker is a 49-year-old college graduate who works for a company of more than 100 employees and earns $58,000 a year. That sounds like it could be just about anybody you know, doesn’t it?
A 2017 Gallup survey had two noteworthy findings: not only are more employees working remotely than ever before, but they’re also doing so more often. The survey of over 15,000 American workers found that 43% have worked off-site at some point in the last year. The figure is even higher — up to 61% — in industries that are more conducive to working remotely, such as finance, real estate, IT, and media. The survey also found a shift in the amount of time employees spend working remotely: the number of employees working remotely less than 1 day a week dropped, while those who work remotely 4 to 5 days a week increased by about the same amount. Needless to say, remote working is here to stay.
If all of this sounds familiar to you, you’ll be interested in TPx’s whitepaper The New Workplace Reality. It’s full of insights on how the “knowledge economy” is redefining the modern workplace. You’ll also learn about the communication and collaboration tools that can support today’s workforce, today.
We may not all be full-fledged road warriors, but we can all benefit from applications that enable us to productively work from anywhere, at any time.
Work from Anywhere, JUST Check BacK WITH THE OFFICE OFTEN..!
We're Here to Help: Call KCCi, Because Business is On the Line!
Unified Communications & Collaboration:
Welcome to today’s office – which might not be in the office after all. Unified Communications & Collaboration , also known as: UCaaS will re-energize your work day with collaboration and connection wherever you are.
Let’s Put UCaaS to Work:
• Telecommuting - Remote Workforce
• Work from Anywhere
• HD Voice Calling
• HD Video Calling
• Chat & SMS Messaging
• Virtual Meeting Rooms
• Screen Sharing
• Call and Message History
• Integration
Video calling:
Adding familiar faces to conversations helps lessen the dislocation and keeps people connected.
Instant Messaging & Presence (IM&P):
When you can’t walk down the hall, these tools make it easy for users to see whether a colleague is available for a chat, then instantly send a message.
Collaboration services:
Virtual, always-on meeting room space for ad-hoc or planned meetings so your teams can easily share information and collaborate using any combination of group chat, voice and video conferencing, desktop and application sharing, and file sending.
Unified messaging:
Remote users need access to emails, voicemails, and texts in the format that works best for them, depending on where they are and what they’re doing. Unified mailbox, notifications, and user-defined call routing increase user productivity.
Productivity tools wherever you are (Managed Office 365) Email, shared calendar and other productivity tools accessible from anywhere, anytime.
Security & Continuity
- Comprehensive firewall management (Managed Firewall): You want your remote employees to be safe within the corporate network via secure VPN access that gives them access to critical applications and helps them remain productive.
- Secure endpoints (Managed Endpoints): Your employees computers are among the most vulnerable points of entry for cybercriminals, so securing them properly is critical. You’ll want to make sure that they can easily receive security patches, Next Generation AV, secure remote control and troubleshooting support.
- Fail-over when the cable hiccups (Managed SD-WAN): For mission critical positions you want to ensure that there’s not a single point of failure looming.
Contact KCCi to see how we can help you keep your remote workers connected and secure.
How KCCi & TPx Enable Remote Work - Telecommuting!
Get tools for collaboration, business continuity, and security deployed quickly and easily.
Many businesses are resorting to work from home to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Having employees work remotely, whether due to COVID-19 or other circumstances, requires proper tools to ensure proper collaboration, business continuity, and security. Many of TPx employees have been telecommuting for years, using the same tools TPx offers to customers who are deploying a remote workforce. We have helped many customers in emergency situations, including wildfires and hurricanes – and we are here to help your business 24/7/365 to weather this storm as well.
KCCi is the modern choice in telecom companies for today’s agile, mobile and always-on company.
• 24/7 Emergency & After-Hours Support
• Phone Systems, (IP PBXs Premise or hosted)
• Internet, SIP & Voice Services
• Structured Network Cabling
• Telecommuting - Remote Workforce
• BYOD & Mobility
• VoIP, SIP trunking & SD-WAN
• Adding, Moving or Changing Technology
• Station Adds, Moves & Changes
• Video Surveillance
• NEC Touch Screen Telephones
• Call Center Applications
• Call Recording
• Message-On-Hold
• Paging Systems
• IP DECT & WiFi Systems
• UC, (Unified Communications)
• Disaster Recovery
• FREE Telecom Services Audit
• Video/Audio Conferencing
• AT&T Mobile & Push-to-Talk Services
• Cloud Computing
• Lease Financing
• FREE Phone System ???
• Licensed Contractor, CA & WA
WORK FROM ANYWHERE
Remote Workers Are Redefining “The Office”
Remote Workers Are Redefining “The Office”
Remote Workers Are Redefining “The Office”
“Work” is no longer a place we go, but an activity that we do. Gone are the days when the vast majority of employees made the daily commute to a corporate office, sharing a communal space on a regular basis. Thanks to globalization, working 9 to 5 hasn’t been most employees’ reality for many years. But now those same workers — who used to arrive early or stay late at the office to get all their work done — are pushing the boundaries of where, when, and how they work.
Contrary to popular stereotypes, remote workers don’t spend so much time in their home offices that they lose all their social skills and never see the light of day; nor are they all “road warriors” dashing from the plane to an Uber to the hotel. Today’s remote workers are more likely to spend part of their time in the office and the rest of it juggling work and home life. In fact, according to the Census Bureau, the average remote worker is a 49-year-old college graduate who works for a company of more than 100 employees and earns $58,000 a year. That sounds like it could be just about anybody you know, doesn’t it?
8 Benefits of Employees Remote Working
- Less time spent commuting.
- Improved employee retention.
- Access to a wider pool of applicants.
- More autonomous employees.
- Lower costs.
- Make better use of technology.
- Reduced salaries.
- Increased productivity.
Remote Working is Here to Stay
Remote Workers Are Redefining “The Office”
Remote Workers Are Redefining “The Office”
A 2017 Gallup survey had two noteworthy findings: not only are more employees working remotely than ever before, but they’re also doing so more often. The survey of over 15,000 American workers found that 43% have worked off-site at some point in the last year. The figure is even higher — up to 61% — in industries that are more conducive to working remotely, such as finance, real estate, IT, and media. The survey also found a shift in the amount of time employees spend working remotely: the number of employees working remotely less than 1 day a week dropped, while those who work remotely 4 to 5 days a week increased by about the same amount. Needless to say, remote working is here to stay.
If all of this sounds familiar to you, you’ll be interested in TPx’s whitepaper The New Workplace Reality. It’s full of insights on how the “knowledge economy” is redefining the modern workplace. You’ll also learn about the communication and collaboration tools that can support today’s workforce, today.
We may not all be full-fledged road warriors, but we can all benefit from applications that enable us to productively work from anywhere, at any time.
Call KCCi, Because Business is on the Line…!
• Local: (714) 577-7777
• Toll Free: (888) 524-6398
eMail: Jason@KC4Phones.com
eMail: Matt@KC4Phones.com
BYOD Vs. BYOA: Mobility
Remote Workers Are Redefining “The Office”
BYOD Vs. BYOA: Mobility
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Smart phones, tablets, laptops, regardless of the device, the Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD phenomenon, is on the rise in organizations everywhere – even yours.
BYOD: THE DEVICE IS KING
The personal dynamics of mobile devices and, in turn, mobile device management, has made adoption of mobile technology a tricky business across the board. For most organizations, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are still complex and perceived as risky. But, with the global workforce’s rapid adoption of the mobile work style, integration of BYOD policies have been necessary for most organizations to maintain the high levels of productivity needed to sustain business success.
BYOA: THE APP IS QUEEN
The BYOA trend centers on employees’ use of third-party applications in the workplace. But BYOA is really the key driver of a much larger trend that's growing in popularity; IT consumerization. Why? Because BYOA and its associated benefits for employees include greater engagement and satisfaction, and improved productivity, the chief cornerstone of the IT Consumerization movement.
Since BYOA employees choose their own applications, each employee can use the apps that he or she is most comfortable with. Not only does this improve productivity by allowing employees to have more control over the software they use, it also enhances efficiency by letting each individual person use the tool that best matches their work style.
Remote Office
The ‘On-Demand’ Workforce
BYOD Vs. BYOA: Mobility
Remote Office allows you to use your home phone, your mobile phone, or even a hotel phone as your business phone. It’s useful when you are traveling and need to stay connected to the office, but don’t want to share your personal telephone number.
When active, this service rings the Remote Office number with all inbound calls for your business phone. Call from Phone requests from the UCx for Desktop application will also ring to the Remote Office number. Additionally, you can place phone calls from the Remote Office phone and have them billed to your business.
Mobile UC ensures a centralized environment for the entire workforce. It’s a good bet that any modern company will find itself with employees working from outside the office perimeter at some point. Rolling out a comprehensive platform means that mobile users, communications platforms and business applications aren’t relegated to a patchwork of fragmented silos that not only hamper collaboration, but also present potential security holes. Mobile UC apps instead ensure that businesses have a level of control over how their sensitive information and services are accessed.
Additionally, Mobile UC allows businesses to offer a greater degree of workplace flexibility to their employees. Work-life balance is more than just a lofty goal: remote working or flexible hours, enabled by solid mobile access, is a crucial piece of the strategy for many companies. They recognize that working 9 to 5 hasn’t been most employees’ reality for many years, so they need to provide ways for employees to take calls and participate in meetings outside of “traditional” business hours and locations.
The ‘On-Demand’ Workforce
The ‘On-Demand’ Workforce
The ‘On-Demand’ Workforce
The way we do business and the way we communicate is changing rapidly. Mobility has become the norm. Customer expectations have soared and budgets have shrunk.
The ‘On-Demand’ Workforce
With the advent of all the communications technologies in the market, customers expect to be able to reach someone at a business to get immediate answers and information – without having to leave a message. To assist in maintaining a positive customer experience and a high level of service, businesses today need to have workforces that are available and ‘on-demand’ from any location. A great customer experience usually generates repeat business.
• Work Smarter – Apps to increase efficiency
• Remote/home office workers
• Stay connected while on the move
• On the road
• In the office
Running your business on an outdated system or forcing employees to use old devices that are ill equipped to handle their multi-faceted communications needs is bad for business. To facilitate smarter work environments, NEC has developed the next generation of desktop telephones.
Personalization is important to the creation of motivated personnel.
Call KCCi, Because Business is on the Line…!
• Local: (714) 577-7777
• Toll Free: (888) 524-6398
eMail: Jason@KC4Phones.com
eMail: Matt@KC4Phones.com
The Agile Mobile Workforce
The ‘On-Demand’ Workforce
The ‘On-Demand’ Workforce
Welcome to today’s office – featuring an increasingly borderless workforce, set free by the rise of smartphones and tablets. Smart mobility has given companies the opportunity to recruit a larger pool of talent unfettered by geography, who can optimize their productivity with anytime, anywhere access to messaging and email. If you want your business to truly capitalize on the benefits of the mobile workplace, however, you need to embrace mobile unified communications (UC).
Getting email on your phone is one thing; having true collaboration and connection tools wherever you are is another.
Put simply, mobile UC applications provide rich communications features and access to company resources to geographically dispersed, traveling and highly mobile workers. These apps seamlessly hook into enterprise UC platforms, giving everyone the ability to use the same full suite of key UC business applications regardless of whether they’re in the office, at home, or on the road. This untethered UC enables teamwork in dynamic environments and empowers the mobile worker for true collaboration from any location.
Beyond UC, companies have the option of bundling in our suite of managed services, including SD-WAN, managed endpoints, managed security, virtual fax and more – which further boosts mobile strategy across the digital enterprise.
Your business doesn’t have to stop when you leave the office. Call your TPx representative today to see how we can help you to support your mobile workers and take full advantage of the modern digital workplace.
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KC Communications Inc. / KCCi
Backed by 32+ years of experience, innovation, infrastructure investment and industry knowledge. KCCi is a trusted, national leader in communications technology.
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Access. Anywhere. Anytime. Any device. Keeping it simple. Keeping your business productive.
Flexible and resilient, KCCi is perfect for businesses with remote workers, multiple locations or across geographic regions. Fast, agile and "always on." Complete suite of customizable, reliable, secure business communications services. Powerful collaboration without barriers, borders or boundaries that's reliable, efficient, secure and cost-effective.
Call KCCi, Because Business is on the Line…!
KC Communications Inc. / KCCi
2715 Saturn Street, Brea, CA 92821
Local: (714) 577-7777 • Toll Free: (888) KC-4-NEXT or (888) 524-6398
eMail: Jason@KC4Phones.com
eMail: Matt@KC4Phones.com