Improve Efficiency with Unified Communications for the Transport Sector

With approximately 5 million vans on UK roads between 2021 and 2022, according to data featured by TruckPages, the transport industry is more essential than ever.

Given the critical role it plays and the complexities involved in moving goods, those in the transport sector need to use the most effective communication tools to maintain efficiency throughout the process.

However, outdated business communication tools can hinder success, leading to late deliveries, incorrect shipments, and a range of other logistical issues.

Fortunately, unified communications (UC) systems offer a comprehensive solution, helping enterprises in the transport sector enhance time management, streamline communication, and address various transport-related challenges.In this blog, we’ll explore how unified communications solutions from Elite Group can improve your communication efforts, allowing your transport enterprise to quickly see the benefits. Keep reading to learn more or speak to an Elite Group UC expert today.

What is Unified Communications?

Unified communications (UC) is a cloud-based technology that brings together all the essential communication tools a business needs, conveniently integrated into a single platform. This system can be accessed across multiple devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.

The tools available in UC systems include:

• Email
• Text
• Voice chat
• Instant messaging
• Video conferencing
• Digital collaborative spaces
• File transfers

UC systems are incredibly beneficial because they allow access to critical tools and files via an internet connection, instead of relying on on-site hard drives and servers. This is particularly advantageous for remote workers who need to access information from any location to improve productivity. Better still, UC systems can be integrated with your existing systems, ensuring reliable communication in a way that suits your business.

If you’re unfamiliar with the difference between unified communications and legacy systems, check out our comparison table below:

Common Communication Issues Unique to the Transport Sector

Here are just a few common problems within the transport sector caused by outdated communication tools:

• Poor communications across time zones
• Failing to update teams on the move
• Ineffective emergency notification protocols
• Low staff engagement
• Uncommunicated weather alerts and road closures

How Unified Communications Can Benefit the Transport Sector

Improve Staff Engagement

Staff engagement and morale can suffer when employees feel they’re not communicated with promptly.

If important messages are scattered across various platforms, employees might miss critical information. In the transport sector, this could lead to delays, missed deliveries, or confusion—ultimately impacting field workers.

With a shared UC solution, employees at all levels of the transport sector can view and respond to messages on the same platform, instantly notifying all relevant parties. This streamlines communication, fostering positive engagement and ensuring that staff can respond to updates quickly.

Enhance Collaboration

Transport companies often have branches spread across different cities or even countries, making collaboration challenging.

For example, in fleet management, an issue might be reported to the head office, but if there’s no central communication channel, it’s hard to confirm that the message has been received, especially if employees are constantly checking emails or phones.

By adopting a unified communications system across the entire company, updates like these can be sent and received instantly, ensuring smooth communication and effective collaboration across departments.

Simplify Reporting

Transport professionals are regularly tasked with providing updates on vehicle performance, delivery times, fuel usage, and more. With traditional communication or storage systems, this can be cumbersome. Staff might have to relay information over the phone or wait until they return to the office to deliver the update.

With a UC system, such information can be uploaded directly to the cloud as soon as it’s available, allowing relevant staff to access and use it efficiently.

Streamline Timekeeping

Drivers in the transport sector know how important it is to meet delivery deadlines. Whether it’s a team on the road or those back at headquarters, keeping track of these times is essential to maintain client relationships and manage resources effectively.

A UC system allows time-related data to be stored in the cloud, providing all relevant staff with instant access. This facilitates quick adjustments and enables better management of vehicles, staff, and client expectations. Additionally, UC systems can house and monitor critical data such as driving times, payroll records, and employee information, helping transport enterprises comply with labour laws and regulations

Improve Security

According to the Cyber Breaches Survey 2024, around 50% of UK businesses reported a cyber attack, highlighting the need for strong cybersecurity measures.

For transport companies, robust cybersecurity is crucial to protecting sensitive product and delivery data, as well as client information, including financial details. Using traditional communication methods, such as email, to share such data can be risky if the account is compromised.

UC systems provide excellent peace of mind because all messages and files exchanged are end-to-end encrypted. Even if a hacker breaches the system, the data would be useless without the decryption key.

By consolidating communications into a single platform, transport companies can reduce the risk of a successful breach by limiting the number of communication channels that could be exploited.

Cost Savings

Research from Elite Group shows that cost savings are a major reason businesses implement unified communications.

The same research highlights that 7% of large corporations are still using six or more separate communication methods, even though UC systems are readily available. This represents a significant amount of money spent on unnecessary subscriptions.

By switching to a UC system, transport companies can save money by housing all communication tools in a single, affordable platform.

Improve Reliability

Effective communication is key to keeping any business on track. That’s why it’s essential to partner with the right communications provider.

Elite Group has years of experience helping businesses maximise their communication systems with the latest business technology. A great example of our work is with General Tyres, who turned to Elite Group to solve communication issues that were hindering sales and customer relationships.

“Elite have provided us with outstanding support for the last 12 months. We have used other companies in the past and Elite are far better than others we have used. Their Mitel knowledge is superior to other companies we have relied on previously. Elite are always competitive when looking at new projects, which also helps.” – Saajid Umarji | IT Manager | General Traffic Ltd

Read the full case study here.

How Elite Group Can Help Improve Communications Within Your Transport Business

If your transport company struggles with slow or ineffective communication that’s affecting time, resources, and profits, speak with Elite Group today.

Our experienced team can help you implement a unified communications solution that meets your needs. You’ll be assigned a dedicated account manager who will guide you through the onboarding process and beyond, ensuring your systems always remain fit for purpose.

To learn more about our managed services and how UC can benefit your transport business, get in touch with us today.