10 Major ways UCC can empower a remote workforce in the Public/Educational sector
Nowhere is the power of unified communications and collaboration (UCC) more evident than when a workforce is dispersed or working remotely—even in the public sector. From teachers conducting distance learning to government agencies working in the field or from home, UCC is the backbone technology that keeps them efficient, connected and productive
Examples of UCC at work in government and education
1. Ensuring faster complaint resolution:
Government agencies and schools become more responsive—a complaint, problem or request can be addressed immediately, efficiently and transparently.
2. Enabling teachers to conduct distance learning:
UCC tools enable educators to deliver live teaching sessions and presentations via videoconference and screen-sharing. They also enhance learning experiences for students by enabling videoconference review sessions and real-time file sharing.
3. Promoting faster decision-making:
Government employees can determine the availability of other colleagues who can expedite a request from a constituent. Knowing where, when and how a required resource can be reached ensures citizens are quickly directed to the right staff and department.
4. Assisting public works teams:
Many state and local governments have employees in the field. Through features like presence tracking, unified messaging and the ability to route calls to a mobile device, UCC solutions can keep remote workers connected and working efficiently.
5. Streamlining city-wide communication:
Using UCC technologies, cities can use automated attendants to deliver vital messages and route calls within or across departments, so their workers can focus on driving high value services to citizens.
6. Empowering city councils to host virtual meetings:
Some cities use videoconferencing technologies to host virtual city council meetings in lieu of meeting in person—while enabling constituents to plug in and participate, too.
7. Protecting budgets and maximizing tax dollars:
Aside from its ability to empower a remote or mobile workforce, UCC solutions can also help state and local governments save money. Even if agencies don’t have shrinking budgets, they still have an obligation to optimize tax dollars as best they can. UCC allows decisions to be made faster and helps cut down on travel time and expenditures.
8. Speeding communication between remote teams:
UCC solutions also allow state and local governments, public works departments and public safety officials—wherever they’re working—to communicate more effectively, make more informed decisions and keep important projects on track to better serve the community.
9. Enlightening public transportation and safety:
Even if city officials aren’t in the field every day, UCC solutions can keep them closely connected to what’s happening. They can use real-time data from city-wide IoT sensors to gather information and quickly respond to public emergencies. For example, sensors that monitor air quality or temperature could lead to more timely public advisories.
10. Expanding communication and protection for law enforcement:
Law enforcement teams are constantly on the move. Creative applications of UCC technology can help keep them connected and protected through handheld radios with presence features, as well as wearable devices, such as body cameras.
