Unified communication applications for businesses with remote workers

Reader Question:
We're considering UC, but are unsure which UC applications would provide the most immediate value to our organisation - considering that a good portion of our workforce is remote or spend a good deal of time working from the road. What do you recommend?

EXPERT RESPONSE
Often the remote or mobile worker needs to have their cake and eat it too. They want and need to feel like they are part of the team but often can not work in "real time" so Unified Messaging applications might be a good place to start. Are voice messages processed and annunciated to their mobile devices? Are their voice messages easily retrieved though their mobile devices? Are emails provided to them in a concise manner, without the need to open attachments? Can they retrieve critical data on a small screen device with the same effectiveness as they would if they were at their desks? Is your mobile workforce reachable wherever they are, in a seamless manner?

Sometimes just being able to have employees retrieve office voicemails from their mobile computers or handheld devices is revolutionary enough to get the creative juices flowing.