Single User Experience is the Heart of BYOD
Single User Experience is the Heart of BYOD by UCStrategies Staff
Recent reports show that the average company employee travels with three work-related mobile devices, and for some, mobile phones will replace desk phones within the next two years. This indicates a workforce that is becoming increasingly mobile, one that will enable a single user to access unified communications (UC) services and applications regardless of whether their preferred device is a tablet device or a smart phone.
Until now, the topic of BYOD for enterprise has focused on the best ways to secure and manage the wide range of devices, networks and applications that are available to employees. This concentration may cause businesses to overlook one very important issue: the enterprise and technology benefits that BOYD offers may be subverted if end users are unable to utilize a consistent experience.
This raises a number of questions. What should the single user experience entail? What challenges must be met in order to deliver it, and how can enterprises be certain that enabling more devices will enhance productivity and collaboration rather than inhibiting it? In order for a single user experience to function across all these levels, BYOD must provide:
- A unified identity – End users must be able to manage their contact options and be able to access their contact information via the cloud regardless of which device they are using.
- Access from all devices – The wide variability of available mobile devices should facilitate communication rather than complicating it. All communication services should be accessible from all devices including laptop, mobile phone, desk phone or tablet.
- HD video and voice – A consistent single user experience should enhance the quality of communications with HD video and voice calling.
Another important component is real-time synchronization. This will ensure that calendars and contact information are regularly updated and remain current without weighing the user down with large amounts of duplicate information.
Enterprises must take the time to assess user interfaces to make sure that they have optimum interaction design, usability and a seamless UI, so that everything can be perfectly coordinated and collaborated. This is not as simple as it may sound. Integrating multiple UC applications across different desktop and mobile devices is complicated. It necessitates a solution that is able to unify all the varied telecommunications protocols and that it is capable of recognizing different devices and their platforms.
In spite of the challenges, by ensuring a single user experience for BYOD within the mobile workforce, companies can rest assured that mobile and unified communications and collaboration can be utilized to their full potential. (CU) Link