In this issue, we discuss current and emerging technologies, changing workstyles, and the management challenges that arise with them. Along the way, we map out ways to improve performance that drive success. As you tackle new workplace issues, TCI is ready to assist with solutions tailored to your needs…

Contact me today to discuss how TCI can help your organization get more out of its technology investments – now and in the future. 

Tom Cornbrooks, President (703) 321-3030 cornbrookst@tcicomm.com

Finding ways to improve high-speed connections for voice and data networking, while cutting costs, is important for the financial health and competitiveness of any business.

Our decades of industry experience working with leading carriers, cable companies, cloud providers, and manufacturers give our broadband experts an insider’s view to assist in sourcing best-fit solutions for your business.

As your advocate, we recommend providers offering only the best solutions, support, and pricing to meet your unique needs.

Contact TCI at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

Roughly 70 percent of the American workforce is in frontline positions, filling essential customer-facing roles. They’re on the front lines, quite literally, of the industries making the world go round, including:

In the past few years, the frontline field has expanded as gig work like ridesharing and food delivery services becomes more prevalent. Frontline employees are more likely to have hourly, shift, or part-time positions, sometimes working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

Communication is central to the success of all frontline workers since many serve as the public’s first point of contact with their organization. Others, like construction or public safety workers, may require reliable communication methods for safety issues.

Equipping these essential employees with modern, intuitive, and durable communication tools enables them to deliver exceptional service, make informed decisions, and stay connected to their coworkers. As the frontline landscape continues to expand and evolve, investments in collaboration and communications solutions are central to supporting these critical roles.

Effective communication is vital for frontline employees to excel in their dynamic work environments. However, their needs differ significantly from those of traditional, office-based employees.

Communication requirements vary widely from job to job. A clerk in a hotel lobby may use very different tools than a laborer on a manufacturing floor. No matter where they are, frontline workers require solutions that integrate seamlessly into their unique workflows.

The ideal unified communications and collaboration (UCC) solution isn’t just about making calls or sending messages (although it must do that, too) – it should have features that enhance frontline workers’ efficiency, keep them connected, and empower them to do their best work.

1. AI-augmented Capabilities - AI can provide critical support for employees in customer service roles. AI-powered chatbots can handle basic client interactions or assist human agents with conversation histories, sentiment analysis, or even suggesting courses of action.

2. Seamless Connectivity - In professions where time is of the essence, like nursing or public safety, the ability to reach the right person can make a big difference. Simplified call trees and emergency response solutions make critical calls faster for healthcare and safety workers.

3. Hardware for Demanding Environments - The frontline workplace demands hardware that is as durable and easy to use. Whether on a warehouse floor, hospital, or construction site, DECT handsets and other devices must be high-performing and long-lasting.

4. Location-agnostic Systems - Frontline workers may not have fixed office locations, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have consistent communication experiences. Providing on-the-go tools for on-site, remote, or mobile employees means they can efficiently work wherever they are.

5. Multimodal Communications - Sometimes, a video call is faster than a text chat. Collaboration and communications software seamlessly switches between video, voice, and text, allowing colleagues to work together efficiently.

6. Industry-specific Integrations - Frontline professionals have particular needs, so it’s essential to have a communications partner who understands the unique requirements of each industry and can tailor their solutions to their customers.

Frontline work is constantly evolving. TCI offers flexible, industry-specific unified communications, collaboration, and contact center solutions that grow and develop alongside your business to ensure your workforce always has the latest technology to do their jobs.

When frontline operations require multiple systems, seamless integration is vital to efficient workflows. Need API integrations with your critical business apps? We support your need to create a comprehensive communications ecosystem that gives your employees the information they need when they need it.

We offer market-leading DECT handsets for your essential employees on the go. For instance, Mitel offers a popular, rugged 700d DECT phone series that features extended battery capacity, ambient noise filters, and secure communications. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, your frontline workers will have an efficient workspace at their fingertips.

Give us a call: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has long enhanced products and productivity, but the sudden, splashy public debut of generative AI has revolutionized how we interact with technology. It’s rapidly transforming industries worldwide, impacting an estimated 40% of jobs globally.

As AI – generative or otherwise – continues to advance, its influence spreads across a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing to healthcare. The way it’s being leveraged is equally diverse. Companies use it to automate repetitive tasks, augment human capabilities, and transform business models.

One of the reasons generative AI has been so revolutionary is its ability to process language in a way that feels natural to users. Unlike previous forms of AI, which might require expert technical knowledge, anyone can interact with generative AI by simply typing in a query.

AI can enhance human capabilities by taking over mundane, repetitive tasks and freeing employees to focus on higher-level, more strategic work. AI-powered tools can encourage creativity, empower communication, and boost efficiency.

Current AI models are estimated to be able to automate tasks that take up 60% to 70% of employees’ time. However, its potential benefits vary widely across different industries and roles. The top occupations reshaped by AI include:

Frontline workers like nurses, teachers, laborers, and public safety officers, whose jobs require their physical presence, manual skill, and knowledge, may find AI enhances their work. AI may take over some time-consuming tasks but cannot replace their core responsibilities.

While the impact of AI is felt across the economy, certain industries are seeing particularly dramatic changes to their standard operations. Here’s a closer look at five key sectors:

Of course, there are many more applications for AI across all industries, and more uses will arise as technology advances.

Contact TCI today: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

With the majority of workers now back in their offices or working a hybrid schedule, conventional wisdom says there is nothing better for team collaboration than a face-to-face setting. There are lingering concerns regarding remote work like social isolation, lack of engagement, and challenges with direct supervision.

If you already work on a globally distributed team, you likely find virtual meetings using collaboration tools the norm. Even working locally, with the on-demand gig economy, many professionals find themselves on teams with people they have never met. But still, it works—often very well.

With today’s cloud-based tools, you can easily create a rich team communication experience via high-definition video, audio conferencing, content sharing, and web collaboration—virtually anywhere, on any network or device.

So, here are 10 ways virtual meetings may produce better experiences and results than conventional in-person meetings.

In a virtual setting, the focus is on the business content at hand—what is being discussed and shown—not on the physical presence, appearance, and distracting behaviors of those sitting around us or the environment surrounding or passing by the meeting room.

Your results may vary, but some team members may feel more apt to contribute to the virtual conversation (via voice, text, or content sharing) than a physical meeting. This helps mitigate the focus of ‘all eyes,’ which can be intimidating and yield silence among those less than extroverted.

Virtual meetings require less planning for location and travel logistics, can be set up more quickly, and can take place anywhere without travel costs (not to mention being a greener option).

People can be added and dropped as needed quickly; participants can arrive late or leave early with minimal, if any, disruption to the group. In contrast, it is relatively complex (if not impossible) to physically bring in ad-hoc participants on the fly.

With modern collaboration tools, you have more ready access to collective knowledge, specialized skills, and creativity regardless of where your people are located—even if they are mobile or traveling. Meanwhile, co-located team members may have a more common experience, culture, knowledge, or background, which may seriously limit the diversity of input.

When your team members don’t have to endure daily commuting to and from the office, their moods may be lighter, and stress levels may be lower. This may lead to happier people coming together to accomplish common goals rather than thinking about traffic jams and crowded transit systems.

Traditionally, face-to-face meetings are often limited to predefined content immediately at hand, whereas in a virtual setting, anyone can instantly share relevant content. Dynamically sharing digital content is hard to replicate in a face-to-face team setting.

The inevitable virtual side conversations via the text chat backchannel are far less disruptive than the physical passing of notes or distracting whispered conversations in a meeting room. How often in face-to-face meetings have we heard someone call out, “People, let’s have one meeting in the room, please!”. With virtual meetings, that problem is largely alleviated.

Given the cold and flu season, no one has ever caught a bug from attending a virtual meeting. Your workforce may remain healthier and more productive with fewer sick days.

And… being virtual means you don’t have to find and book that scarce meeting room and ensure enough chairs!

For those who have used them, today’s collaboration tools can re-create a face-to-face scenario's richness, immediacy, and immersive nature—and potentially deliver a lot more on other less apparent dimensions but still have a real impact.

We can now break through the limitations of the conventional “walled” meeting room by seamlessly including those who are mobile, off-site, in other countries, or even on different continents—tapping the collective skills, diversity, expertise, and authority of the greater community.

Plus, teams thrive on relevant content and information that can be shared seamlessly in a virtual setting to enable easier information sharing, faster decision-making, and real-time content collaboration that is difficult to replicate in a traditional meeting room scenario.

TCI designs, deploys, and supports the communications and collaboration tools that will connect your remote, hybrid, and in-person teams. Contact us today: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

As hospitality leaders gear up for the busy summer season, plenty of technological tools are available to streamline operations and provide an overall improved and immersive guest experience.

Whether it’s enabling multimodal technology for frontline workers, AI-powered tools, or hybrid cloud solutions, investing in modern UC solutions is something every property manager should take time to consider.

Hospitality thrives on exceeding guest’s needs and expectations, and modern technology infrastructure plays an integral role in attaining that outcome. In today’s environment, guests expect quick, personalized, and effortless communication, which can put a lot of pressure on frontline hospitality employees.

Modern UC solutions allow properties to combine frontline, back office, and vertical workflows, ensuring the entire workforce is on the same page. Whether working on-site or remotely, multimodal technology allows staff to collaborate seamlessly on guest requests through the best medium for the situation – voice, video, chat, SMS, or a combination.

For example, an on-the-go property manager can carry a wireless DECT handset, which offers a reliable signal anywhere on a property. Fully integrated into the property’s communications solution, it ensures secure access to voice calls, interactive messaging, and critical alerts from colleagues at the front desk or an off-site contact center.

Frontline hospitality staff are essential to delivering memorable experiences. They often provide a guest’s first and last impression of a property. By giving them the right communication tools for their job, you empower them to do their best work while boosting the customer experience. This builds a property’s reputation as both a fulfilling place to work and an enjoyable place to stay.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a popular topic today, but it is important to look beyond the hype and pinpoint its real-world value. That’s why it is essential to focus on opportunities to deliberately deploy AI to better serve guests. With modern UC solutions, this can be done through simple, integrated experiences built for the hospitality space.

Generative AI (GenAI) chatbots and voice bots can help streamline on-site customer service requests during busy and demanding times by handling simple but time-consuming tasks that would otherwise fall to frontline staff. If the bot cannot resolve the issue, an AI-powered agent assistant can smoothly transfer the call to a live agent along with call notes, ensuring the guest does not need to repeat information.

Besides streamlining workflows, the valuable data collected through AI interactions with customers can enhance the guest experience. For instance, when integrated into contact center platforms, AI can instantly transcribe and summarize calls and provide detailed call trends to supervisors. AI integration can also identify and track caller sentiment, which can be used to train staff for specific situations.

Augmenting UC solutions with AI is about more than finding efficiencies. It’s about quickly tapping into unique guest insights to deliver better personalization, ultimately leading to higher customer satisfaction.

For many properties, the decision between relying on legacy on-prem infrastructure that still delivers value and embracing the flexibility of the cloud is a real challenge. That is why hybrid cloud-based solutions are increasingly becoming the chosen route, as they are tailored and scaled to fit specific needs with size and budget in mind.

Hybrid cloud solutions are ideal for hoteliers who are not entirely ready to ditch their legacy infrastructure. They allow security and flexibility and offer a proven mix of private cloud, public cloud, and on-premises solutions. Hybrid cloud solutions are reliable and provide robust security features, data privacy, and regulatory compliance to ensure hospitality organizations protect themselves while streamlining communication. With the proper guidance from a trusted, vertical-focused UC provider, property managers can choose the best path for their needs.

Migrating to the cloud goes beyond a mere destination. It involves implementing solutions that offer maximum flexibility and ensuring that each property has the right communication tools to effectively support its customers, staff, and stakeholders now and in the future.

Let’s talk about new ways to elevate your property and serve guests better in your evolving marketplace. TCI hospitality experts are here to help: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.