Using Presence as a True Resource to Improve Productivity and Reduce Frustration

In my years of working with Business Owners and C-Level decision makers, time is one of the most valuable commodities a company must work to preserve. Real-time presence information is changing how we communicate with each other at PanTerra. Presence makes it clear when people are available. We are now discussing true Unified Communications and not just a VoIP Phone Service. A simple change in how we conduct business that means a lot less time playing the ‘phone tag’ game.  That brings us back to the value of Time… which is a precious resource in today’s fast-paced business environment.

You probably have an idea about how real-time presence works from using instant messaging. When other people have their IM client turned on, you have visibility as to their potential availability. At PanTerra, through our Virtual PBX (VPBX), the real-time presence status tells me whether the person is at their desk, on the phone, on mobile, in a meeting, or otherwise occupied; and, people can even carve out time for themselves to concentrate on a task by setting their real-time presence status to "Do not Disturb." Communications and collaboration with colleagues are real-time by utilizing PanTerra’s Unified Command Center; a standard feature included with the PanTerra Cloud PBX Solution.

Real-time presence data becomes even more powerful when we can combine it with additional information about people, like where they’re working from (Location) or what team they’re on (Business Network) or what topics they are passionate about (Expertise tagging). Oftentimes, you just want your questions answered by anyone who is knowledgeable and available. Combining an expertise database with real-time presence information not only lets me find the person(s) with the answer required, but more importantly which expert is available to provide an answer the soonest.  This is one way a company improves its agility when the entire workforce has this capability. Not only are these features helpful in an office environment, but also in a Virtual Call Center.

Real-time presence information is available to me when I’m using PanTerra’s Unified Command Center or ConnectMe features; these solutions integrate IM and telephony services.  This provides a single communications tool where, based on real-time presence information, I can intuitively decide how best to reach my co-workers and easily do so.  I have a unified interface, which offers a rich set of options that lets me easily connect with other employees. If anyone has ever worked in a telecommuting environment, such as road warriors or home-based positions, they will understand quickly how valuable this presence piece is to the entire company.

What I like the most about real-time presence information is that it helps me to work more effectively. I know when people are available, and when they aren’t.  Conversely, others have the same awareness about my availability.  I can more quickly identify and involve the right people to help me with my tasks.  And as I review how my daily interactions have changed, I see those same changes apparent in others with whom I work.  Rich presence information within our company has fundamentally improved how individuals and teams coordinate and organize their activities.  Bottom line: I spend less time dealing with the frustration of how to get hold of others and spend that time in more meaningful activities.  This feature becomes almost priceless when working remotely. That not only benefits my blood pressure, it also improves my productivity and value to my company. And, I have found that the richer the information I have about what I’m doing and what others around me are doing, the better we can make decisions about how to bring the right people and resources together for the team to perform at a higher level.

If you have a company comprised of remote workers, you too can benefit from PanTerra’s real-time solution. Fill out the form to the right to have a PanTerra sales associate contact you today.