Cisco CEO says employees are tired of having to work from home and want to come back to the office
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Jordan Novet
Parents work from home with their two sons due to the coronavirus outbreak in Paris in 2020. Xavier Laine | Getty Images News | Getty Images
People have changed their minds about working from home since the coronavirus prompted office closures last year, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said during an earnings conference call with analysts on Tuesday. At first people liked their new, distributed arrangements, but now some people are yearning to be back at work, he said.
Cisco, whose networking switches, phones and wi-fi access points are installed at corporate sites, is among the companies that can benefit from a widespread return to the office. The state of the pandemic remains in flux, and Robbins’ words communicate the lack of certainty around the aftermath and how that will affect business.
“I think we sort of moved into that phase where people actually struggle mentally, people are — they’re not enjoying it,” Robbins said.
Just as Robbins regularly talks with customers, he also communicates with Cisco’s own workers. On the call he brought up input he had received recently to make his point.
“One of our employees said to me the other day, ‘I don’t mind the option of working from home. I don’t like being forced to work from home,’” he said.
Cisco’s workers have other pressures to deal with. In August, after reporting three quarters of declining revenue brought on by business challenges, Cisco, once the most valuable company in the world, announced a cost-reduction program that included offering voluntary early retirements. Cisco employees can work from home through June 30, a spokesperson said.
Robbins has his own idea about the role of the office beyond Cisco.
“I really believe it’s going to be hybrid where people are going to work from home and everybody is sort of landing here where they’re going to work from home three days a week and work from the office two days a week and vice-versa,” he said. “The question is what accommodations does that lead to for customers based on employees’ concern over space issues, concern over future pandemics or other concerns. That’s what we just don’t know yet.”
Tech companies are increasingly promising more flexibility around remote work when the pandemic ends. On Tuesday, Salesforceannounced the majority of its employees would be working on a “flex” schedule with one to three days in the office per week, while Twitter and Dropbox have both told employees they can work from homepermanently.
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]HEY! Did you know that the industry average for upgrading or replacing your business phone system equipment historically has been every 5-7 years? In today’s world of urber newness, that’s like 75 to 100 in tech years! I don’t know about you, but when I hit that age, I’m going to be on a beach sipping cocktails! How long has that phone been sitting on your desk? Here’s the first hot tip that your, phones checked out to South Florida sipping mojitos…It has paper faceplates covered in whiteout! COME ON it’s mean to make Grandma work that long!
We get phone calls every day from business of all sizes that are still relying on equipment that is 10 years or older. It’s really embarrassing for them. Think Zack Morris from Saved By The Bell (insert Urban Dictionary definition HERE)…Not a good look huh? While every business is interested in watching costs it is a devastating mistake to continue thinking that you will deal with it when it breaks. This puts your business in crisis mode where the decision is based on “I need it now!” not is it what is best for my business. 2020 gave us enough crisis mode let’s start planning for our best business future.
Three steps to get started planning for a new phone system
MAKE A LIST: What are my current pain points? Are there things your old technology just can’t do, or things you’ve heard of you want to know more about? Shake your head yes because there are.
PUT SOMEONE IN CHARGE: Who is detailed oriented that can help gather all the info needed? This person should also be keeping the new information
CALL TOWNER: We can help get you started evaluating your business needs. Evaluation is FREE. You have NOTHING to loose but that old dinosaur!
Get ready for your close-up with the only smart
camera that makes every video conference a true
face-to-face experience[/split_line_heading][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8154″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1605111854999{padding-top: 20px !important;}”]Meeting across sites is as natural as being in the same room now that presenters are
seen up close without fumbling with technology. Polycom® EagleEye™ Director II camera automatically zooms in on an active speaker without the use of a remote control or camera presets. EagleEye Director II takes video conferencing to the next level so meeting participants no longer have to worry whether they’re in camera view or stop the conversation to grab the remote control. For larger meetings, two EagleEye Director II cameras can be connected via Cascading Mode to ensure every part of your meeting is in view. Now, 100% of your time in meetings is focusing on the bigger issue—solving critical business problems.
Polycom Automatic people-tracking
By zooming in and framing active speakers, everyone will be able to clearly see vital
facial expressions and any subtle body language which allows for deeper engagement and more effective meetings. Utilizing the latest in speaker tracking and facial recognition technologies, EagleEye Director II continually scans the room and commands the cameras to appropriately frame everyone in the room. When someone in the room starts to speak, the system seamlessly transitions to an up-close view of that speaker, similar to a TV-production experience.
Inclusive experience
Maintaining engagement with everyone in the room, not just the active speaker, is
critical for every meeting. EagleEye Director II does this seamlessly, keeping everyone connected by highlighting the active speaker up close at the same time as providing a smaller view of the whole group in one video stream. To further improve engagement, two EagleEye Director IIs can see multiple angles of any room with Cascading Mode, leading to more natural and immersive meetings.
Smart data analytics
The power of EagleEye Director II extends beyond the conference room by providing powerful data analytics to measure the return on investment of video collaboration, when used in conjunction with Polycom® RealPresence® Group Series or G7500 and Polycom® RealPresence Clariti™*. Data reports include the number of participants at the beginning, middle, and end of each meeting, which can be used to ensure each video room investment is utilized to its fullest potential. Additionally, IT professionals can monitor room usage to ensure that automated conferences are being attended and not running in empty rooms.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]
More engaging and less stressful
meeting experience with automatic
camera technology that zooms
in on an active speaker without
anyone using a remote control
See nonverbal cues up close and
maintain context of the room with
single stream video of both the
active speaker and everyone in
the room
Measure return on investment
with powerful data analytics for
IT administrators*
Extend into larger rooms up to 10 m
such as boardrooms, classrooms
and assembly meeting spaces.
Easy to upgrade existing video
systems for immersive-like
meeting experience
Remote configuration is easy with
the EagleEye Director II App and
web user interface
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]When Apple’s FaceTime debuted in 2010, it signaled a new era of video
and online meetings communication. Very quickly, younger generations began embracing the
technology to the point that today, video chat is fast approaching text
messaging as the go-to personal communication tool for Millennials.
So when those younger generations entered the workforce in recent years,
so too did their lifestyles, dramatically impacting how each of us work. In
particular, their preference for video communication has led to a rise in the
popularity of video meetings. A 2018 Forrester research report showed that
74% of IT decision makers said they saw an increase in video conference
calls in the prior two years.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8110″ alignment=”right” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%” img_link=”https://townerkc.com/cloud-communication-solutions/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][heading]
BENEFITS OF ONLINE MEETINGS
[/heading][vc_column_text]In many ways, video meetings have the potential to be even more productive than in-person meetings, with built-in capabilities for
file sharing, chat, and recording, among other features, that build a stronger experience before, during, and after each meeting. The
benefits of online meetings include:[/vc_column_text][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-road” color=”Accent-Color”]The ability to connect
with colleagues,
partners, and
customers that simply
can’t meet in person.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-plane” color=”Accent-Color”]Travel cost reductions
from moving in-person
meetings to online.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-time” color=”Accent-Color”]Greater work/life
balance for workers,
who no longer need to
travel as often.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-headphones” color=”Accent-Color”]Easy collaboration with
internal and external
team members via
multimedia, including
voice, video, chat,
screen sharing,
document sharing, and
more.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-star” color=”Accent-Color”]Convenience:
the ability to connect
across multiple devices
anywhere in the world.[/text-with-icon][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][heading]
CHALLENGES OF ONLINE MEETINGS
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]The challenge for many workers today, however, is finding a video meeting solution that addresses the demands of the shifting workforce. With the consumerization of IT, workers demand more than traditional communications tools can deliver. In particular, they want high-quality HD audio and video meetings that feature a simple, intuitive user interface. They also need a meeting solution that works—fast. In the RingCentral survey, 39% of respondents said they wanted a single click to join online meetings, reflecting that current solutions require downloads that frequently cause delays for attendees, which significantly hampers productivity.
Just as importantly, workers today have expressed a strong preference to have their meeting solution integrated with their other key modes of communication, namely, messaging and phone. This consolidation of communication reflects the faster pace of work today and the need to both communicate and collaborate in real time across communication modes and devices, preferably with a single click. It also reflects the need to be able to switch communication modes on the fly—from
a chat to a phone call or a chat to an online meeting—with a single click, without losing context or momentum.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8111″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%” img_link=”http://dynamic.ziftsolutions.com/ringcentral.ziftsolutions.com/file/8a9982857449d9f901744afbea9041c9.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]It also reflects the need for workers to have a single platform that stores not only conversations and documents, but context—a powerful element of the new communications experience that makes online meetings part of a rolling conversation (across voice, chat, and meetings) that builds history and knowledge. As workers move from project to project at lightning speed, unified platforms for communication ultimately store a wealth of information around topics in
understandable and easy-to-search formats that allow team members to get up to speed much more quickly than ever before. By seamlessly integrating voice, messaging, and meetings on one seamless platform, each method of[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]communication essentially becomes vastly more powerful than the sum of the parts. This sort of dexterity requires a cloud solution, which explains the rise of unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solutions in recent years. In an on-premises solution, maintaining the sophisticated integrations necessary to develop and innovate this seamless communications experience is simply too resource- and cost-intensive for modern organizations to support. It’s no wonder then that Synergy Research Group has predicted that UCaaS subscribers will grow by an average annual rate of 26% over the next five years, primarily driven by enterprise customers[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][heading subtitle=”MEET FASTER, WORK TOGETHER”]
RINGCENTRAL VIDEO:
[/heading][vc_column_text]Among current communications providers, RingCentral’s long cloud history across voice, messaging, and meetings makes us ideally suited to build a meetings solution that addresses the concerns above. RingCentral Video delivers a fast, smart, and open solution that distinctly fits today’s agile workforce. It delivers an essential video meeting experience as part of our cloud-based, integrated RingCentral Office® solution, which includes team messaging and phone capabilities.[/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”8112″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][heading][/heading][heading]
KEY FEATURES
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]Enterprise-grade video conferencing RingCentral Video delivers a high-quality HD audio and video experience for users, with up to 720p resolution video quality and 1080p resolution for content. Our enterprise-grade platform provides global coverage for anywhere, anytime, any-device collaboration with robust security and compliance protocols to protect your data.
No downloads, no waiting
Ever had that experience of clicking on a meeting link, only to find you’ve got to download something to join? Or what about waiting to start your meeting because others are having that same experience? In your busy workday, you don’t have time to wait. RingCentral Video is completely browser-based, so there are no downloads—no waiting while attendees fuss with incompatible devices and slow downloads. Just click and you’re in. RingCentral Video offers the rich, HD-quality experience you expect, including screen sharing and annotation, with no hassle.[/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”8114″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8113″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][vc_column_text]A clean, intuitive user interface
RingCentral Video’s clean user interface makes it simple to understand who’s speaking at any time and also has the ability for any attendee to use an avatar. Users can quickly adjust screen sizes, view participants, and chat with individual
attendees or the entire group.
One app for all your communications
RingCentral Video is part of a seamlessly unified communications experience across desktop and mobile—that includes phone, messaging, SMS, and fax as well. Because it’s one integrated communications app for phone, messaging, and video meetings, RingCentral delivers a powerful contextual experience that begins prior to your meeting and extends well beyond it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][nectar_icon_list color=”default” direction=”vertical” icon_size=”small” icon_style=”border”][nectar_icon_list_item icon_type=”numerical” title=”List Item” id=”1598994822959-0″ header=”Pre-meeting” text=”Create recurring meetings from a message
in one click. Start and join meetings from a message. Meeting prep: agenda, content, and
discussions are shared in a messaging group. Messaging calendar integrations and
reminders” tab_id=”1598994822960-3″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/nectar_icon_list_item][nectar_icon_list_item icon_type=”numerical” title=”List Item” id=”1598994823081-7″ header=”During-meeting” text=”Replace meetings chat with messaging. Auto-reminders in messaging groups for
those late to meetings. Presence set to “In Meeting” in messaging status. Assign tasks in a messaging group.” tab_id=”1598994823082-5″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/nectar_icon_list_item][nectar_icon_list_item icon_type=”numerical” title=”Section” id=”1598994823137-1″ header=”Post-meeting” text=”Post meeting notes in a messaging group. Post task reminders in a messaging group.” tab_id=”1598994823138-6″][/nectar_icon_list_item][/nectar_icon_list][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Not sure about you guys, but remote working isn’t my jam—but COVID-19 is bound and determined to make everyone, even our littles embrace our new normal.
It goes without saying that we’ve all experienced a very steep learning curve, not just with working from home, but with virtual school. Without the ability to walk down the hall and collaborate with our peers, or ask the teacher in real time, frustration has certainly built. The silver lining of owning a company that actually helps businesses transition their communications to virtual work environments, is that we kind of had a good index of processes and systems to streamline the remote work and virtual learning experience.
It goes without saying that if your team isn’t wonderful at communicating in the office, your virtual communication is going to SUCK! So how do you execute fluid communication? BUILD YOUR SKILLS. Although slightly annoying when you first take on this challenge, consistent, clear communication is keystone. I call this Transparent Working.
Transparent Working
No matter is your working from the office, or working from home, failures in projects, and efforts can almost always attributed to a breakdown of communication. Transparent working clearly gives your entire team visibility to what your working on and allows everyone to be on the exact same page in real time.
Ensuring that a team has easy access to everyone’s work, tasks, and information, means deadlines aren’t missed, work isn’t duplicated, information doesn’t fall through the cracks, and most importantly productivity is as peak.
How do you achieve Transparency in your work?
Only a few simple steps
Ensure Your Processes Can Be Easily Tracked
Your partners and you will have much easier lives if you have simple and easily tracked processes. Depending on your industry, these processes can be customer facing as well.
Don’t Burn Out
We get it working from home is hard! But ya gotta keep your chin up. Set clear boundaries between your work life and your home life. Be ready to set down and focus when you’re on the clock and unplug when the whistle blows. If your burned out if shows in every aspect of your life and impacts your soul.
Never Loss Information or Data When You’re a Man Down
Transparency and all access to information means nothing is lost or gets slowed when you’re a man down. Projects don’t stall because someone is on vacation. All balls in the air have a place to fall.
Lines of Communication Must ALWAYS Be Open
Keeping the lines open means that you’re available when someone needs to communicate with you. It also means that you us the proper communications tools for the situation. EMAIL is not always the best way to communicate!!! Collaboration platforms such as MiTeam Collaboration Software and Mitel Teamwork offer soft phone capabilities, chat, docushare, and an entire host of other very valuable ways to communicate with your team in the best way possible.
Centralized Information
There’s nothing more maddening than when you can’t find files or information that you need when you need it. Folks love saving to their desktop, and it’s hard to know when your working off the most up-dated files. Getting everything saved off in the same spot and enforcing this practice is critical to Transparent Working. Put that ‘ish on SHAREPOINT
SOP SOP SOP
When expectations aren’t clear and processes and procedures are muddy, zero teams are successful. Get those SOP’s in order and make sure everyone is clear on expectations.
When Something isn’t Working FIX IT
When there’s an SOP that doesn’t work or can be improved on fix it asap. Make sure everyone knows that the rules can be adjusted to make the team successful.
The biggest take away from transparent working is that it makes everyone accountable. It takes the doubt of “Are they really working” away because there’s working proof of productivity. Working from home doesn’t have to be a lonely dark place of hohum. It can be a vibrant and although may seem independent, collaborative way to work if done right.
Stay connected, keep communicating, and be transparent!
America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 5000
For the 2nd Year in a Row Towner Appears on the Inc. 5000,
Ranking No. 2349 With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 177 Percent
NEW YORK, August 12, 2020 – Inc. magazine today revealed that Towner Communications is No. 2349 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
“Excited and very proud of my team for pulling off great growth for the second year in a row.” CEO Julie Towner
Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12.
“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.”
The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/Z_DoBOdCQCg”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
You do not have to choose between your children or your job during this ever changing back to school season. If you or your company have not already embraced work from home or just need some tips for how to make it a better experience Towner is here to help.
Top 5 Ways to Make Work From Home Successful
5. Get Plugged in
When you can use a data cable to plug your computer directly to your home internet. This will ensure you have reliable access especially if you have other people at home fighting for Wi-Fi Signal. You may also find it helpful to designate “me time” for internet so you are not sharing bandwidth when you have an important conference call.
4. Get Connected
Towner can help deploy Unified Communications (or UC) for you in your home & connect to your desk extension. We have a solution for all our systems that will allow you to make and take calls from home but look like you are at your desk extension. You can implement as a softphone from your laptop or even from your mobile device.
3. Get Audio
A good noise cancelling headset will save you during conference calls at home. The noise cancelling feature will reduce the amount of background noises around you like the playing kids or barking dogs allowing your caller to hear your voice better. We work with leading headset manufacturers and can offer the best solution based on your specific needs. Our FAV includes 3 convertible wearing styles, and connectivity for use on PC, desk phones and mobile phones. It is a true multitasker!GET A QUOTE
2. Get Statistics
If you are a supervisor or manager its vital to be able to MEASURE what you cannot see. With so many employees working from home you need the tools to be able to see their success. Towner can bring you live dashboards to show you statistics for your department like how many calls have they taken, how long have they been talking on the phone today, how long have they been unavailable, AND MORE!
1. Get In Touch
Schedule weekly video calls or conferences for your team or other employees to discuss work in progress. Many of our UC tools have these capabilities. This will keep everyone accountable even when they are in their comfy pants on the couch. Plus you can quickly access any remote working issues and get them addressed instead of having employees unable to efficiently get their work done.
Julie Towner, CEO of Towner Communications, is a leader in business and advocate for women’s success. Discover her journey and impact on Kansas City and beyond.
From Strategic Foundations to Visionary Leadership
Julie’s professional journey is marked by experiences that shaped her into a seasoned and highly effective leader. Early in her career, she honed her operational and strategic expertise as a Production Manager at GAP Inc., overseeing complex supply chains across the Americas. Her ability to streamline processes and manage global teams laid the groundwork for her future success.
In 2008, Julie demonstrated her entrepreneurial acumen by acquiring a struggling business and transforming it into a profitable venture. This hands-on experience in business revitalization taught her invaluable lessons about resilience, innovation, and leadership—qualities she would later bring to Towner Communications.
Transforming Towner Communications
In 2016, Julie acquired Towner Communications with a vision to modernize and professionalize the company. Under her leadership, Towner Communications:
Achieved certification as a women-owned business in Kansas, Missouri, and federally.
Expanded its client portfolio to include national and international accounts.
Secured recognition as one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing telecommunications firms.
Julie’s ability to balance strategic foresight with a people-first approach has made Towner Communications a trusted partner for businesses navigating the evolving telecommunications landscape.
Recognition and Influence
Julie’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, solidifying her reputation as a trailblazer:
Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses (2024): Selected as part of Missouri’s inaugural cohort, recognizing her as a leader in small business innovation.
Enterprising Women of the Year Award (2020): A national distinction celebrating her entrepreneurial achievements.
Inc. 5000 Company: Towner Communications has twice earned this recognition under Julie’s stewardship.
Julie’s ability to inspire and lead has made her a sought-after voice in the telecommunications and business communities.
Thought Leadership and Advocacy
Julie’s impact extends far beyond her business. As a thought leader, she is deeply committed to advancing the next generation of leaders and fostering innovation. Her roles include:
Board Member, Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KC Rep): Supporting the arts and strengthening community connections through culture and storytelling.
Circle of Red, American Heart Association (since 2020): Advocating for women’s heart health and awareness.
Vistage Member (since 2018): Engaging with top executives to drive impactful business strategies.
Stanford Graduate School of Business Leadership Graduate: Refining her strategic expertise through one of the world’s most prestigious programs.
Mentor and Advocate: Actively supporting initiatives such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City and NAWBO to empower emerging leaders.
Julie’s leadership is grounded in service and collaboration, making her a role model for aspiring executives.
Public Speaking and Media Features
Julie is a sought-after speaker, frequently invited to share her insights on leadership, innovation, and the future of telecommunications. Her appearances include:
Keynotes at industry conferences: Highlighting best practices for navigating technological advancements.
Panel discussions on leadership: Offering her perspective on fostering inclusive and effective organizational cultures.
Media features in business publications: Including articles in the Kansas City Business Journal and other prominent outlets.
These engagements showcase her expertise and reinforce her position as a thought leader in the industry.
Case Study: Driving Client Success
Under Julie’s leadership, Towner Communications successfully overhauled the telecommunications infrastructure for a multi-location healthcare provider, resulting in:
A 40% reduction in communication costs.
Enhanced reliability through a shift to cloud-based solutions.
Improved patient satisfaction due to streamlined contact center operations.
This is just one example of how Julie’s strategic vision translates into measurable impact for clients.
By the Numbers: Julie’s Impact
8+ years leading Towner Communications.
40% cost reductions achieved for key clients.
2x Inc. 5000 recognitions for Towner Communications.
Dozens of mentorship hours invested in aspiring leaders.
Julie’s Leadership Philosophy
Julie is known for her unique blend of strategic vision and approachability. She believes in empowering her team, clients, and community by creating opportunities and fostering meaningful connections. Her leadership is characterized by:
Focus on Excellence: Setting high standards and consistently exceeding them.
Commitment to Growth: Investing in continuous learning and innovation.
Empathy and Accessibility: Leading with authenticity and a genuine desire to uplift others.
Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: great leaders don’t just drive results—they inspire others to achieve their fullest potential.
A Vision for the Future
Julie’s vision for Towner Communications goes beyond business growth. She is committed to ensuring the company remains at the forefront of technological innovation while maintaining its reputation for exceptional customer service. Her emphasis on fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture positions Towner Communications as a model for modern business leadership.
Interested in collaborating with Julie Towner or learning more about her story?
Five Kansas City area women business owners have been recently chosen to receive a national “2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award” by Enterprising Women Magazine. The publication is the nation’s only women-owned magazine publishing for female business owners.
The 2020 Enterprising Women Award winners are placed in categories based on 2019 gross revenues of their enterprises. They are as follows:
The honoree from the Kansas City area in the “over $10 million and up to $25 million in annual sales” category is Gail Worth, owner of Gail’s Harley-Davidson, Grandview, Missouri, and Shawnee Cycle Plaza, Shawnee, Kansas.
The honoree from the Kansas City area in the “over $3 million and up to $4 million in annual sales” category is Neelima Parasker, President and CEO of SnapIT Solutions, LLC, Overland Park, Kansas.
The honorees from the Kansas City area in the “over $2 million and up to $3 million in annual sales” category are Martina Derra, President of DiverseID, LLC, Kansas City, Missouri, and Julie Towner, President of Towner Communications, Mission, Kansas.
The honoree from the Kansas City area in the “up to $1 million in annual sales” category is Jy’ Juan Maze, President of Maze Freight Solutions, Overland Park, Kansas.
In a special honor this year, Enterprising Women Magazine is presenting a Top 20 in 2020 Award to Jeanette Prenger, President of ECCO Select, North Kansas City, Missouri. She is a prior “Enterprising Women of the Year Award” honoree and the recognition is for her outstanding record of success and leadership in business, and her continued support of women’s entrepreneurship.
The winners are pictured below, except for Neelima Parasker.
Everyone loves a good upgrade. Especially when it means quick new features, and slick and easy use. That’s why Effective April 1, 2020 the Atlas end-user dashboard is being retired and replaced by BOOMEA!
About Boomea
Boomea is a business-driven chat application, available across multiple platforms, built from the
ground up with Unified Communications in mind. Bringing people and teams together with the
ability to chat anytime, anywhere, Boomea provides that often missing chat integration to your
business. Ever had to work remotely and the only convenient way to talk to your team would be
to call them? Now, you can simply open the Boomea app to chat with your co-workers. With the
seamless, easy-to-use ability to send photos, videos, and any other file type, you can feel confident
that you’ll be prepared in any situation.
Features
Chat
Send chat messages to other users in your account. Emojis are included and file attachments are
supported. Public Channels
• Any user can create a public channel
• Any user within the account can join a public channel and read the entire chat history within the channel so keep it PG!
• Any user can invite any other user within the account to join the channel Private Channels
• Any user can create a private channel • Only the channel creator can invite other users within the account to join the channel
• Only the channel creator can eject other users from the channel Direct Messages
• These messages are between you and your coworkers! Direct messages include one-on-one messages as well as group messages
• Mentions
• Use the @ symbol followed by the user’s name to direct a chat to a singular person when in a group or channel. The user will receive a notification that they have an unread mention and the channel or chat will show a badge of the number of unread messages. Outside Messages
• With contacts integration, Boomea now allows you to chat directly with your contacts who also have the Boomea UC client! When a person outside your account initiates a chat with you, a chat access rule is presented as a question for you to answer regarding whether you want to accept their request to chat, ignore the request for a set period of time, or block the user. This chat access rule is per-person and can be changed at any time in your Boomea account settings. Imagine how this can help by chatting with support!
• When communicating with a contact in another Boomea account as an outside message, you may also define whether you wish to share your chat presence with that contact.
Call Routing
A user may manage their own call routing by defining which devices to ring, in which order, and for what duration of time. Other configurable options include: No Answer Route
• This is where to send the call if the user does not answer Busy Route
• This is where to send the call if the user rejects the call Outside Timeframe Route
• This is where to send the call if the caller at- tempts to call the user outside their defined time frame Time Frame Schedule
• This is how a user can set the time frames that callers may reach them
Voicemail
When the user gets a voicemail on the Atlas platform, the voicemail will be sent to the Boomea application and the record will appear
without the need to refresh anything. The user may then listen to the voicemail, download, and/or delete the voicemail. When a voicemail
is deleted, it removes it from the user’s voicemail in their phone as well for easy voicemail management!
Call History
Call records from the Atlas platform are pushed to the Boomea application in real time so a user can be up-to-date with their calls,
both missed and answered! No refresh is necessary as the records will appear as they are created.
Call Recording
When a user is recorded on the Atlas platform, the recording will be sent to the Boomea application and the record will appear without the need to refresh anything. If the user has access to other user’s recordings via management permissions, this user will be able to review, play, download, and/or delete all recordings they have access to. The user may only delete a recording if they are given the delete action specifically by management permissions. Call recordings are ordered by date and time and display the name of the user that was recorded.
Call Center Console
A user can access the Atlas platform call center console from the Boomea application. This enables a user to monitor the status of their queues and agents in real time. The interactive display allows the user to click on an agent and see their specific queue statistics. User can login, logout and set themselves away on the application. Admins can login, logout, and set agents away and ready in the application.
Agent and admin can also see callers waiting in the queue.
Contact Integration
Boomea Contacts the first milestone in our goal to provide the most robust UC product on the market. Contacts was the center point of all our communications, and this new feature integrates your contacts with Boomea. Current integrations are with the following providers:
o G-Suite (Google)
o Office365
This integration includes avatar images and contact sync between Boomea and your integration point. You may also choose not to integrate at all. In that situation, we provide the user the ability to upload a CSV file with their contacts and they may manage that list within the
Boomea interface. Integrating your contacts with Boomea provides a variety of new features and enhancements to Contact Management
o Click-2-Call your contacts
o Click-2-Email your contacts
o Outside Chat Messages
o Communication History
Contact Management
Boomea Contacts allows you to view and manage your contacts by syncing your contacts with your integration point. The integration includes avatar syncing. Any updates made to contacts in Boomea will be pushed up to your integration point. The converse also applies – any changes made to the contacts in your integration point will be pushed down to Boomea
Click-2-Call and Email
Using the contacts list, any contact that you have a telephone number assigned to, you can click the phone icon to initiate a call to that phone number. If the contact has more than one telephone associated to them, the contact information is expanded downwards to show you all their numbers and allow you to click on a specific number to call. Click-2-Email the contact’s email address. If the contact has more
than one email address associated to them, the contact information is expanded downwards to show you all their email addresses and
allow you to click on a specific email. The Boomea application will then automatically open your computer’s default email client and
pre-populate the ‘To’ field with their email address
Outside Messaging
With contacts integration, Boomea now allows you to chat directly with your contacts who also have the Boomea UC client! When a person outside your account initiates a chat with you, a chat access rule is presented as a question for you to answer regarding whether you want
to accept their request to chat, ignore the request for a set period of time, or block the user. This chat access rule is per-person and can be
changed at any time in your Boomea account settings. Imagine how this can help by chatting with support! When communicating with a
contact in another Boomea account as an outside message, you may also define whether you wish to share your chat presence with that contact
Meetings
Tasks
Boomea Tasks module is the first productivity tool created for the Boomea application. The tasks module allows a user to manage their personal and organizational tasks within the Boomea application. Features include:
• Personal and Organizational Task Management
• Task Delegation
• Task Sharing
• Task Activity Log
• Task Notifications
• Link UC Objects to Tasks for Quick Referencing and Centralization
For More information on Tasks please visit our website https://boomea.com/boomea-tasks
Mobile Tasks
The new tasks module wouldn’t be complete without a mobile app! Take your tasks on the road with Boomea Tasks Mobile available for iOS and Android platforms. Enjoy the same robust functionality on your mobile device as your desktop application.
What do you need to know?
If you’re currently using the Altas dashboard you need to contact us!!
Towner will ensure that we work together to make a smooth transition!
3. Get Audio
