How Unified Communications Can Impact the Manufacturing Industry

The business world has seen a lot of radical changes over the past few years. These developments are also evident in many aspects of business communications across various sectors. In particular, the manufacturing industry has greatly benefitted from the availability of new technology, resulting to an improvement in processes and an increase in productivity.

Manufacturers have started embracing unified communication solutions as a vital part of its market. Analysis and research firm Gartner defines unified communications as “products (equipment, software and services) that facilitate the interactive use of multiple enterprise communications methods.” Such products integrate communications channels (media), networks and systems, IT business applications, and in some, consumer applications and devices.

Because of unified communications or UC, manufacturers are able to interact with customers directly for inventory concerns. Employees can provide after-sales customer service to patrons as needed. A lot of these new capabilities are brought forth by new technology, which has improved the means by which modern day manufacturing industry players communicate.

Mobility benefits

Smartphone usage has exponentially increased in the last decade. With this, mobility and BYOD (bring your own device) options have become extremely viable for businesses. It won’t be surprising if mobile devices one day surpass PC, mobile, and desk phone usage in offices. When such work arrangements are in place, people in the manufacturing industry can take advantage of features supporting business phone calls, email, audio and video conferencing, and data sharing.

Engineers can use video conferencing and collaboration tools to increase overall efficiency. Sales and support personnel can have an easier time marketing their products and providing support to customers, respectively, with a mobile UC system in place. Workers who use their mobile phones can have a means of monitoring or controlling workplace situations. Similarly, manufacturing-related data shared over mobile devices can contribute to an improved supply chain management.

Conferencing benefits

Those in the manufacturing industry can take communications a notch higher by incorporating video conferencing in their respective workflows instead of relying on the usual audio calls. For instance, a manufacturer in China can communicate with a potential wholesaler in the U.S. via video meetings, thus, reducing the need to travel or do frequent on-site inspections.

Using video can also help resolve customer issues upon the initial contact. When a client needs to be shown a demo of how a certain industrial equipment should be configured, an expert from the company can conduct a video meeting using his tablet or smartphone and instantly show the client how the machinery should be handled.

Collaboration benefits

Using a centralized messaging service across all office locations, plants, and warehouses can aid a manufacturing company in streamlining textual communications. It also allows for supplementary electronic paper trail that can be restored and reviewed for later reference.

Meanwhile, engineers or programmers working on software used to control machines or actual computer-aided manufacturing workpieces can take advantage of collaboration tools with task management capabilities to simplify project creation and related processes, ensuring that everyone remains on the same page until the product delivery.

Business process benefits

Most modern production processes rely on tools that UC solutions can further enhance. An efficient phone system that serves as a main component of a complete unified communication platform can aid supervisors in reaching out to their best available technical staff to resolve problems quickly through presence and directory features.

Automation in the production and supply chain departments can also be greatly complemented by unified communications tools, be it in the inventory of products and raw materials, the communication with suppliers, or the availability of personnel. Manufacturing managers can automatically communicate details like production quantity or quality so that raw material suppliers and production line workers can take immediate action. By incorporating such practices into the business process, companies are able to maximize efficiency and minimize delays, thus improving production, sales, and distribution.

In conclusion, unified communications or UC truly presents promising benefits to the manufacturing industry. In order to reap these benefits, companies should not be afraid to adapt to modern communication products and services designed to aid them in their usual processes. Incorporating UC into various aspects of business communications can drive a manufacturing company into success.