Tag: communications

Why is it important for businesses to have IT support?

In today’s fast-paced digital world, technology is critical to the success of any business. The right IT infrastructure can increase productivity, streamline processes, and help businesses stay ahead of the competition. However, with so many different technologies and systems to manage, it can be challenging to keep everything running smoothly. This is where IT support comes in. Here at The Unite Group, we are proud to provide complete Managed IT services. So, you can relax knowing your covered by a team of highly-skilled professionals.

IT support is an essential service for businesses of all sizes. It provides technical assistance and advice to help companies manage their IT systems and infrastructure. As businesses continue to rely more and more on IT infrastructure for the day-to-day running of their business, it is essential to ensure you have the correct support in place. If something were to go wrong.

In this blog, we cover why IT support is so important for businesses:

Maximizing Uptime:

Downtime is a business’s worst nightmare, as it can lead to lost revenue, decreased productivity, and even reputational damage. IT support can help to prevent downtime by providing proactive maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting of IT systems. This ensures that issues are identified and resolved quickly, minimizing the impact on the business. Our clever monitoring systems, means we often can fix a fault before you even know it’s a problem. Hugely reducing the risk of downtime due to an IT fault.

Increased Security:

Cyber threats are a constant risk for businesses, and the consequences of a data breach can be severe. IT support can help businesses to implement the latest security measures, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and data encryption. This can help to protect against cyber threats and ensure that sensitive data is kept safe. We offer various cyber security options to further protect our customers. One being support to achieve a Cyber Essentials certification. This scheme is said to protect businesses from 80% of the most basic cyber threats. Click here to learn more about the Cyber Essentials scheme.

Improved Efficiency:

IT support can help businesses to identify and implement the best technology solutions for their needs. This can help to improve efficiency by streamlining processes, automating tasks, and reducing manual labour. By optimising technology, businesses can work more efficiently, save time, and reduce costs. Our team of highly qualified engineers will be able to offer recommendations for software to reduce the amount of time your staff spend doing mundane, routine tasks. Instead, being able to offer solutions to speed up processes.

Access to Expertise:

IT support provides businesses with access to a team of experts with a wide range of technical knowledge and experience. This means that businesses can get the help they need to solve complex IT problems, without the need to hire an in-house IT team. IT support can also help businesses stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends, ensuring that they remain competitive in their industry. Here at The Unite Group, we provide a price per user, not per device. Therefore you can be assured our team of experts will assist no matter what the issue your team faces.

In conclusion, IT support is an essential service for businesses that rely on technology to operate. It can help businesses to maximize uptime, increase security, improve efficiency, and access technical expertise. With the right IT support, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and succeed in the fast-paced digital world. To learn more about how your businesses could benefit from Managed IT support from The Unite Group, contact our friendly team today. Or alternatively visit our IT support page to learn more!

February 17, 2023
What is Hosted Telephony?

Hosted telephony is the latest industry buzzword, but what does it mean? The term refers to telephone systems hosted by a third party. These systems are software-based and require no hardware or cabling.

Hosted telephony is a service that offers business owners the ability to use an office phone system without having to invest in hardware and infrastructure. Instead, you can use a simple internet connection, or even your smartphone or tablet, to make and receive calls, send and receive faxes, and even transfer files all with the same ease as you would with an ordinary landline.

The Benefits of Hosted Telephony

There are many benefits to hosted telephony. The main one is flexibility. You can pick up your mobile phone and make a call from anywhere in the world at any time of day – there’s no need for expensive travel plans or complicated international calling plans. In fact, if you have an internet connection you can make calls from anywhere in the world as long as there is mobile coverage for your phone provider!

Hosted telephony or “softphones,” as they’re often called can offer many advantages over traditional phone systems, including:

Flexibility

Hosted telephony can be used from any computer with internet access. This makes them perfect for mobile professionals and those who travel frequently. They also allow for unlimited extensions.

Convenience

Customers can use softphones on their own time to make calls when it’s most convenient for them. This includes the ability to receive calls on their computer or smartphone. This can come in handy if they’re in a noisy environment or if they just want to sit down at their computer in the evenings to make calls.

Email Integration

You can send emails directly from your phone by typing the recipient’s email address into the “To” field or by selecting them from your contacts list. This eliminates the need for writing down long email addresses on scraps of paper! If you receive an email while away from your desk, it will be stored in your inbox. When you do log on again, all new messages are there automatically. This means they will be in your inbox ready for reading!

Improve employee efficiency

Hosted telephony allows employees to use their mobile devices as business phones, which makes them more efficient and productive in the workplace. Employees can easily access their voicemail, emails, and other business applications from their mobile devices, which makes it easier for them to do their jobs remotely or when working from home.

Cost

You don’t need to worry about buying new phones or upgrading them every year or so. This means that overall costs are much lower than if you were paying for upgrades yourself.

How can The Unite Group help?

With our industry knowledge, as an established Communications provider for over 13 years. We have the knowledge to offer the best solution for your business rather than offering a ‘one-size’ fits all approach. We can offer solutions tailored to your business. Our projects team will take time to understand your business’s needs. They will also ensure the transition to your services with us goes as smoothly as possible.

If this is something you might be interested in learning more about, give us a call on 0191 466 1050. Or contact us for more information.

February 15, 2023
Answer your business line anytime, from anywhere with Voice 365 – FAQs

Here at The Unite Group, we offer Voice 365 – our hosted telephony solution. Voice 365 is a cloud based telephone system that means your calls which can be accessed from multiple devices anywhere. The system offers an IP desk phone and Webex softphone for every user meaning you never have to miss a call!

This is our telephony solution for the modern business. Making incorporating remote and hybrid working even more accessible.

So what exactly is Voice 365?

Voice 365 is a hosted cloud telephony solution. It has a range of features including: call center working, call recording, voicemail, call management, functionality, receptionist software and softphones.

Will my team be able to answer calls from any location?

Yes! As Voice 365 is a cloud-based system, it can be answered from any location. One of our engineers will help your team set up the system on all handsets, softphones, tablets & mobile devices. From then, your business line will ring on all devices meaning your team can answer the phone anytime, anywhere.

Can I make video calls through Voice 365?

Yes, Voice 365 now provides video calling as well as a conferencing facility. The conferencing facility now can host up to 250 participants at a time! Using our docking system working alongside a tablet, creates a professional modern-looking desk phone. Allowing you easy access to both telephone calls & video calls.

Can the softphone be set up on any mobile device?

The Voice 365 softphone app can be downloaded from both the Android and Apple IOS app stores. Therefore any device running either of these can instantly have access to answering your business line. Meaning you don’t have to give your teams personal numbers out.

The softphone can also be set up on laptops & desktop PC’s meaning you really can answer the phone anywhere!

How does the call recording work?

Call recordings can be provided to all users or selected users. They are then stored securely in our dedicated cloud network. Recordings can then be accessed online from any location. Call recordings can be stored for either 30 days, 180 days or 7 years depending upon your needs.

Can I monitor my team’s call stats?

Yes, our Voice 365 solution has call-reporting features. Meaning call reporting, wallboards and daily reports are all accessible through the cloud-based system. This is particularly useful for call centers. Wallboard’s can be displayed on large screens within your office if necessary and our friendly team of engineers will be on hand to set these up.

Does Voice 365 have integration into office communicator software?

Yes, Voice 365 can provide office communicator software in a monthly subscription for all users. Providing a live presence display and integration into basic Microsoft products including Outlook. The software can also support integration into your existing CRM to display information based on incoming caller details. Meaning your team can have a better idea of the the call they are about to answer. Typically speeding up your answering times and meaning you can provide a more personalised service.

Can my existing telephone number be imported into Voice 365?

Any existing numbers can be ported to our cloud network. This process typically takes 10-20 days to complete.

Is The Unite Group team on hand to help if I encounter any problems?

Yes, our dedicated team of engineers provide support from our dedicated remote helpdesk facility meaning issues can be dealt with promptly. Meaning you can be confident your telephone system is in safe hands.

What is the cost of Voice 365?

Voice 365 starts from £15 per user. This includes 5000 minutes per month per user. All users also will receive a handset upon installation. As well as support to set up any necessary softphones.

Are you interested in this service and want to learn more? Arrange a discovery call with one of our telecommunications managers who can discuss in further detail the best options for your business.

November 21, 2022
September 2022 – Newsletter

Here we are again with our monthly newsletter! As The Unite Group we love keeping our customers up to date with the latest deals, tips, industry news as well as what our fantastic team are getting up to! Read our September issue to see what we have got up to in the past month!

In this newsletter: We attended the Network+ Back to Networking event, we welcome Craig to our team, we share the upcoming Expos we will be attending, share info about the Cyber Essentials scheme, share the the next Network+ event & have a special offer from the Social+ team for all our customers!

To read The Unite Group’s September Monthly Newsletter, click on the image below!

To be added to our mailing list drop us an email, info@theunitegroup.co.uk or to speak to our friendly team call us on, 0191 466 1050

September 28, 2022
A chat with Craig, our Systems Administrator

A chat with Craig, our systems admin

In continuation of our Meet The Team blog series, we are excited to introduce you to Craig. Craig is the newest member of the team here at The Unite Group having started working with us just a few weeks ago. Craig has settled into our team greatly and always brings a sense of positivity to the office!

We recently had a chat with him to find out a bit more about Craig and the role he will be undertaking here at The Unite Group…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Growing up, I always wanted to be a soldier. I spent 4 years in the South African Defense Force as an operational medic. I thoroughly enjoyed serving my country, and I am very proud of this.

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

My role here at The Unite Group is a Systems Administrator, it’s a new role but I have worked in IT for almost 30 years now.

I started in sales at an IT retailer after leaving the military. From there I quickly progressed to completing my MCSE on Windows NT, and joined Siemens as a network administrator. I then worked in Saudi Arabia for ARAMCO oil company supporting their knowledge management system. Thereafter, I worked in Botswana for their largest mining contractor as their general manager. We mined Nicol 24/7 and we also built asphalt roads for the government. Back in 2018, I emigrated from South Africa to the United Kingdom with my wife and son.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the United Kingdom, and I am overjoyed to be working with such a brilliant team here at The Unite Group. I also enjoy working with people, and I enjoy working in a team. As a team, we are always on hand to jump on and help one another when needed! I also take great pride in providing solutions to make our customers’ lives easier.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

My typical day is busy and we always start off with a laugh and a cup of coffee. My main role is to work closely with Mike and Dean on researching and planning projects for our customers. Alongside this, I offer tech support and help wherever I can. I am also working on some very interesting projects, and I want to see our customers pleased with the outstanding service we offer.

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job has got to be working with people, supplying solutions to customers, and keeping my brain active. I can’t say I have any negatives. I always try to be positive about everything in life.

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement is stopping smoking cigarettes after 35 years, stopping alcohol, and losing 50 pounds by going back to the gym 6 days a week. I am fit now and have never felt better in my life. This has helped tremendously with focusing, and just being accepted into The Unite Group is a massive achievement.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

The greatest piece of advice I have ever been given is to “never burn your bridges”.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

In 10 years time, I see myself as a success contributing to the success of this company and my team. I want The Unite Group to be successful, and I want to be part of that.

How do you unwind outside of work?

Outside of work, I like to go fishing, you can often find me at some of our beautiful locations like Derwent Reservoir. Also, I enjoy exploring, and being new to the North East there are so many wonderful places to explore, I have not even seen a fraction of them.

If you would like to learn more about how Craig and The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

September 13, 2022
July 2022 – Newsletter

Here at The Unite Group we are always looking for ways to keep our customers up to date with the latest deals, tips, industry news as well as what our fantastic team are getting up to! We are proud to produce a monthly newsletter to do this.

In this newsletter: we share the charity golf days we are participating in, celebrate 1 year of our newsletter, welcome 2 new team members to the Social+ team, showcase one of our fantastic customers Tumble Activity Centre, introduce the next Network+ event, talk all things cyber essentials & are looking for an individual to join our team!

To read The Unite Group’s July Monthly Newsletter, click on the image below!

To be added to our mailing list drop us an email, info@theunitegroup.co.uk or to speak to our friendly team call us on, 0191 466 1050

July 2022 Newsletter

July 26, 2022
Cybersecurity – 5 reasons why your business should outsource it

Cybersecurity with The Unite Group

Maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture is a significant challenge for most businesses. With complex cyberattacks becoming more common, all businesses are at risk of falling victim. To reduce this risk, businesses typically implement new technologies that focus on prevention, detection, and remediation.

However, this technology alone will not prevent a cyberattack, it will need to be supported by skilled security professionals. Many businesses choose to outsource this to a trusted third party to ensure their business is as safe as possible. In this article, we will discuss 5 reasons why businesses should outsource their cybersecurity.

Access to experienced professionals

Many businesses rely on their in-house IT teams to manage their infrastructure, as well as their cybersecurity. Depending on the size of the company, and the workload of the IT department, this can be an overwhelming task. This can then result in a poor security posture and an overworked team. This is made harder as there is a cybersecurity skills shortage. This makes it difficult for businesses to employ experienced cybersecurity professionals.

When a business outsources their cybersecurity to a trusted third party, they gain access to a team of cybersecurity specialists. Their experience ensures they will be able accurately find and plug gaps within a business’s security posture. And most importantly they are aware of the current cyberthreats, and the best way to avoid them.

Reduce costs

For businesses of all sizes, employing a new security professional or training an existing employee can be extremely expensive. For smaller businesses, it can sometimes be difficult to justify having an employee that is dedicated solely to security. In addition to the cost of employing or training someone, a business will still need to pay for cybersecurity technologies.

Whereas if a business outsources its cybersecurity, the cost is typically a fixed amount per month. This includes the technology, as well as access to the team of cybersecurity professionals. Whenever a business is considering the cost of outsourcing security, they should also consider the average cost of a cyberattack. Looking at the cost to the business if this was to happen can help estimate the return on investment.

Decrease workload for in-house IT teams

If your business has an in-house IT department, it is highly likely they already have a full workload maintaining the IT and assisting with support requests. This often leaves them with insufficient time to work on the perfect security solution, or threat monitoring.

With outsourced cybersecurity, the third-party provider is responsible for the planning, implementation and monitoring of a cybersecurity solution. This gives in-house IT departments more time to spend providing IT systems that help grow the business and provide better experiences for other employees and customers.

Improved incident response time

After a business falls victim to an attack, it is imperative that they respond quickly to reduce further damage and limit downtime. If a cybercriminal enters a network or system during the weekend, an in-house IT team may not notice until Monday morning. This will give the threat actor enough time to move laterally across a network and inflict even more damage. For example, it only takes 18 minutes for Russian nation-state hackers to move across a network.

Many cybersecurity providers offer 24/7 protection, detection and remediation to ensure that regardless of when an attack occurs, there is someone ready to swiftly take action. This is also a more cost-effective method of around the clock protection, as it would be extremely expensive to hire an internal team to work throughout the nights and on weekends.

Access to advanced technologies

There are many cybersecurity technologies out there which are designed to fulfil specific roles, including endpoint protection, email protection, autonomous detection, and many more. For an in-house IT department, they will not have experience with all of these advanced technologies, and it would be too costly and time-consuming to provide training for all solutions.

If a business chooses to outsources their cybersecurity requirements, they will be protected by a team of professionals that have experience in the cybersecurity technology. As this team live and breathes cybersecurity, they will also be able to accurately provide insights into which technologies are worth a business investing in.

Looking to outsource your cybersecurity?

In 2022, all businesses need to invest in cybersecurity, before it is too late. There are many advanced threats out there that most in-house IT departments are not prepared or able to defend against. For this reason, it is logical for businesses to outsource their cybersecurity to a trusted third-party provider. To find out more about how we can keep your business safe, contact us today.

July 21, 2022
Six common IT challenges for fast-growing businesses

Extended periods of rapid growth are positive for most businesses. It means that the business is acquiring new customers, which is driving increased revenue and better business outcomes. These periods are exciting and necessary for the longevity of a business, but it also creates new challenges. We often see this regarding IT and technology. In this blog we will delve into 6 common IT challenges for fast-growing businesses. In this blog, we will look at how these problems can be solved with the help of a trusted IT provider.

Budgeting for Scaling Up

As businesses grow, they will also need their IT systems to grow with them. This includes everything from software licenses to cloud servers. If businesses are not careful, their IT spending can get out of control. This can leave them with a large invoice, exceeding their budget and eating into their profit margin. Often, fast-growing businesses are not getting the most value from their IT spend and deployment and implementation of technology is reactive, rather than proactive.

If a business partners with a third-party IT provider, the provider will typically be able to give a simple monthly cost per user, with everything included for the set-up. IT providers can also proactively forecast the cost of larger projects, making it easier for businesses to stick to their IT budget.

Receiving Adequate IT Support

As businesses grow, they have different requirements regarding IT infrastructure, as well as IT support. For businesses that already have an internal IT department, the team typically is forced to dedicate their time to research, and then setting up the new systems to support the growth. This results in less time dedicated to actioning support tickets which can decrease productivity within other departments and slow business growth.

If businesses involve a third-party IT provider, they can either outsource the implementation of new technologies or outsource their support desk. This gives IT departments more time to do what they do best to support the continued growth of the business.

Onboarding New Employees

Hiring new employees on short notice is always a challenge. However, this is only made more difficult due to the current chip shortage. Hardware procurement can be a lengthy process, and even if a business already has the device, it still needs to be reimaged and set up for the employee. If onboarding is not a smooth experience it can give a poor first impression of the company.

A trusted third-party IT provider can assist with the onboarding of new employees through the procurement and deployment of new devices. This ensures that every employee receives the right equipment and it is ready to use from day one.

Safeguarding Against Cyberthreats

Most cyberattacks that we hear about in the news are high profile multi-national enterprises. But we find that small businesses and fast growing businesses are just as likely to be targeted. This is due to the fact that cybercriminals view these companies as easy targets as they typically have invested less in security. If a business does get attacked, not only can it harm its reputation, but it can also lead to a large amount of downtime.

This challenge can be solved by looking into a strong security solution. Such a solution typically includes multiple layers of defence to ensure that even if a hacker gets through one layer, there are still many more to stop them from accessing confidential data. Most security solutions also include backup and disaster recovery functionality to ensure swift recovery after an attack.

Lacking Capital Expenditure

In the early stages of rapid growth, businesses may not have sufficient liquid cash to invest in upgrading IT systems. This is particularly true for infrastructure such as servers, which require a significant capital investment. Thankfully, with the rise of cloud servers, businesses can move away from capital expenses and move to operational expenses. As there is no upfront investment, but rather businesses only need to pay for what they use.

Managing Customer Relationships

Whilst small businesses can get away with using spreadsheets, this is not feasible once a business reaches a certain size. This can be solved through building in a customer relationship management solution. This is not a quick process, businesses should invest in a CRM solution early, to prepare for growth. This is something we as a company can help support with.

How we can help

For any business that is currently growing, or looking to grow, you don’t want IT to be holding you back. Our role as a third-party IT provider is to ensure that your IT works as intended. If you want to find out more about how The Unite Group can help your business, contact us today.

June 28, 2022
A chat with Chris, one of our Senior Service Engineers

Continuing on in our meet the team series, next up we introduce to you Chris one of our Senior Service Engineers. Chris joined us just over a year ago and is often out the office working on our customer sites solving any IT issues. We recently had a chat with him…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Growing up I wanted to be a rally car driver. Clearly this dream never became a reality, however, I am so happy with where I have ended up. Each day is very different and there is never a dull moment.

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

My role here at The Unite Group is a Senior Service Engineer. My career started out in an apprentice role, after which I then worked in IT for 18 years. Back in May 2021 I joined the Unite Group and am really enjoying being part of a team that works so well together.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

There isn’t a ‘typical’ day, the good thing about my role is I get to experience many aspects of IT. From spec’ing and quoting bespoke IT solutions to meet a client’s requirements. To fully installing and supporting them. Everyday is different for me and that’s why I love my role!

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

My most favourite part of the job is when everything comes together, and a project is completed to the highest standard possible making our clients happy. However, my least favourite part of the job is when stock levels are low as it makes it very difficult to supply hardware, as you can imagine in the world we are in at the moment this makes things more challenging.

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement has got to be buying my first home and my 2 children.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Take pride in what you do and try your best!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

In 10 years’ time, I hope to be successful and to have worked through many new and exciting projects. I wish to have expanded upon my skillset and knowledge within my role. I also see myself making many more fun and exciting memories with my beautiful family.

How do you unwind outside of work?

Outside of work I like to spend time with my family and friends. Also on the rare occasions when I get “me time” I like to watch football or play video games.

If you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

June 16, 2022
Patient Partner and how it can benefit your Practice

Patient Partner is a brand-new service that we are offering at The Unite Group.

Since the pandemic, telephone appointments in medical practices have been the norm.

Despite telephone appointments improving patient access, call traffic and waiting times have increased massively.

Patients are being triaged and assessed over the phone and it is likely that this will continue to stay.

Patient Partner streamlines the processes over the phone and allows telephone appointments to continue with ease.

The new service removes the middleman and allows patients to book appointments with their medical practice without having to speak to a member of staff.

Voice 365 Technology

Using Voice 365 technology, Patient Partner acts as a virtual receptionist and works for those who are already registered with the practice.

There are routine appointments such as smear tests and asthma reviews can be booked using Patient Partner.

With this system the patients will be able to choose from a menu that is automatically read out to them.

The Triage module leads patients through a list of options which creates an appointment with the correct clinician.

On booking an appointment, the patient is required to record a message which details why they need an appointment.

This feature will then allow the clinicians to prioritise calls that are deemed as urgent.

Patients can also access external services when utilising the self-referral mode.

Appointment menus can be seasonal, adding flu jabs to the menu in the winter months.

Patients can also order repeat prescriptions and reveal test results.

Patient Partner is a low-cost and simple service which improves patient access to practice services.

To access Patient Partner, patients need their date of birth, telephone number and PIN number.

The practice has the ability to decide what time of day they offer specific services, creating structure for the medical practice.

Patient Partner is a 24-hour service, allowing patients to call and make appointments at any time.

A benefit of Patient Partner is that the virtual receptionist can alleviate staff pressure.

Call traffic is reduced massively, helping those who need to speak to a member of staff, get through to reception sooner.

Patient Partner is currently available in 11 languages to help meet the needs of the patients registered at your practice.

This is another benefit, as it helps breakdown language barriers for those whose first language isn’t English.

How can we help?

There are a number of benefits to using Patient Partner in your practice.

And if this is something that would benefit your practice, then The Unite Group can help.

Starting with a free consultation, we can walk you through the process and discuss the tool in depth.

We can schedule an easy installation with little disruption to your working day.

If you would like to learn more book your free consultation here, call us on 0191 466 1050 or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk.

September 16, 2021