With the first half of 2020 behind us, we find ourselves in the midst of a watershed moment in financial services. When approaching customer communication and data management, security has become the top priority for firms across the industry, with most accepting that remote working conditions will be the norm for the foreseeable future.
As we enter what we hope will be a less turbulent half of the year, companies will need to rely on proven multi-channel communication solutions to ensure that business initiatives and client interactions are seamless and, more importantly, in a secure environment.
Entering Virtual Reality
One of the most palpable changes across the financial landscape has been the transition from in-person meetings and conferences to virtual interactions, which initially created several data security and compliance issues.
According to a recent Greenwich Associates study, nearly 60% of institutional investors believe that large in-person events and conferences will not resume until sometime in 2021. That means financial services firms will need to have the proper protocols in place for virtual corporate access roadshows, large-scale earnings season conference calls, and one-on-one communications with customers. Detailed and accurate reporting, audit trails, compliance workflows, and data integrity are some of the key areas that many firms will also need to address if they haven’t already.
Innovation in Cybersecurity and Communications Technology
In this new ecosystem of work habits and behaviors, multi-channel communication providers must adjust their solutions to address data security concerns and ensure that everything falls within compliance parameters. According to a recent research report by Celent, expectations for a flexible fintech solution have exponentially increased IT budgets and financial institutions are beginning to adjust accordingly as digital technology plays a more central role in business continuity.
Over the past few months, there have been numerous stories of data breaches on unsecured conference calling solutions, partly because data has not been stored properly. Data gathered through voice, SMS, and email is often stored in a separate, standalone system, leaving information scattered across different locations. Not only does this increase the risk of losing data and creating more information disparities, but it also opens up the potential for more security liabilities.
While data breaches continue to make headlines regularly from popular and well-known multi-channel communication platforms, flexible, secure technology cannot become an afterthought.
Fostering a Productive Remote Workplace
During these times of uncertainty, technology should be a reliable constant. Having the right tools that can be deployed quickly can be the difference between a new client relationship and a lost one.
Since COVID-19’s emergence, cloud-based software platforms that provide integrated communication tools have experienced a drastic uptick in business, particularly those with virtual event-hosting capabilities. Multi-channel communications platforms are redefining the client-customer relationship by unifying CRM systems to optimize workflows and increase collaboration.
Right now, businesses must focus on maximizing the functionality of their relationship management tools in the pursuit of generating high-value, long-standing relationships in a post-pandemic world. First-class support for inbound and outbound messaging has moved from a luxury to a necessity, and adopting an environment that puts this first will generate longer-term success and greater revenue opportunities.
The Office of the Future
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to linger, the work from home lifestyle is becoming more commonplace. According to a survey from 451 Research combined with analysis from S&P Global Market Intelligence, two-thirds of polled businesses anticipate long-term work from home policies to continue in a post-pandemic world. The Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated that remote working policies can be effective and efficient with the right tools in place.
Our software development team has been taking advantage of distributed working for over five years. We utilize the same multi-channel tools for internal collaboration, such as daily stand-ups and email distribution, to communicate operational changes to customers. Multi-channel solutions keep momentum flowing, office culture alive, and above all else, bolsters productivity.
These past few months have been trying times for many businesses and workplace dynamics, but it doesn’t have to be. Outsourced technology that ensures business continuity can no longer be just a consideration. It will surprise you just how little you miss the office space when everything you need to communicate and work efficiently is found under the umbrella of one multi-channel communications solution.
With vast amounts of data being created, exchanged, and stored in different locations each day, companies must rely on the integrity and security of their multi-channel communication tools and data networks to ensure data and customer information is protected. Due to complexity and fragmented tendencies in data management practices, it can be challenging for businesses to implement robust data security. So how can this be simplified?
A Unified Solution
As data environments become more populated, organizations tend to add a number of different security tools to their already dispersed data. This can result in the inverse outcome of what they were trying to achieve – adding to the complexity and increasing the risk of data breaches. By minimizing the number of tools in play and employing a cloud-based client engagement platform, businesses have a much smoother path to simplifying their data security.
CIA Omnigage has already simplified the data security process by engineering our platform to seamlessly integrate with a customer’s IT network, removing data silos across systems and applications. This makes it easier and safer to move data through multiple CRM’s, as it’s all held one unified space.
As firms gravitate toward long-term remote working plans, it’s imperative that they take the time to consolidate data and workflows. With individuals working from a variety of locations, data has to be a top priority, otherwise valuable customer information and revenue opportunities will be lost.
Keeping Your Data Safe
Over the past few months, there have been countless stories of data breaches on unsecured conferencing solutions, partly because data has not been stored properly. Data gathered through voice, SMS, and email is often stored in a separate, standalone system, leaving information scattered across different locations. Not only does this increase the risk of losing data and creating more information disparities, but it also opens up the potential for more security liabilities.
When using CIA Omnigage, users can natively operate different telecommunications applications to capture all inbound and outbound data and store this information on the platform. It also enables audit trails to track communications and two-factor authentication to ensure both compliance and security at all times.
As industries continue to shift to an increasingly digital and complex environment, a simplified data process means greater efficiency and peace of mind. Having the right multi-channel communications provider makes this essential and, at CIA Omnigage, we have gone to great lengths to ensure the platform’s security features are second to none.
In Part 2 of Client Instant Access’s thought leadership series on how firms can elevate multi-channel customer engagement, we examine how to optimize workflows, even amidst unpredictable circumstances like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
As firms across financial services, healthcare, education, and other industries continue to work remotely – and with many already considering implementing work from home policies longer-term – multi-faceted and secure resources like webinars, blast voicemail, conference calling, integrated dialer and SMS capabilities, provide the efficiency and peace of mind in what has quickly become a heavily-saturated and hectic communications environment.
Communication Remains Critical in Crisis
Business Continuity will cease to exist for most firms if they do not have the platforms, tools, and systems in place to combat workplace inefficiencies. With a solution like Omnigage, designed with a secure and compliant infrastructure, the tools you need can be integrated within your CRM and deployed overnight so your firm can remain in touch and productive through any crisis.
While blasts are excellent for keeping teams up to speed and distributing service updates to customers, direct communication is equally as important. Omnigage can dial any number in the world while protecting employees’ personal numbers and tracking communication without the use of a PBX. This can be a particularly valuable tool in the banking sector, where analysts can record messages and share with their sales team, who then have the option to leave a personalized message from the analyst when calling client lists.
Due to the accelerated communication contingency issues that arose during the COVID-19 outbreak, Client Instant Access experienced a 75% increase in business in March alone. This not only demonstrates the increased demand for multi-channel communication solutions during a crisis but also Client Instant Access’s ability to rapidly deploy these tools anywhere in the world, at any time. With our state-of-the-art Omnigage platform, remote work has never been easier.
Never Lose Momentum
Working from home is the perfect opportunity to use new communication platforms and connect with co-workers in different ways. Multi-channel communications systems can keep you as engaged and involved as you would be in the office. With all meetings and events now happening in a virtual environment, Client Instant Access has provided a polished and secure atmosphere for thousands of board meetings, Q&A sessions, and business pitches for professionals that would normally occur in-person.
Even communication among team members has become more valuable than ever before. Tools like a built-in team inboxes empower remote workers to collaborate over email and SMS about customer conversations with team members.
For the financial sector specifically, Client Instant Access has helped ensure business continuity for the corporate access sector, allowing leading banks to connect investors with management teams virtually since roadshows and in-person conferences are no longer an option. Whether you’re using conference calling and webinar services, blast voicemail, email, or SMS to connect with clients and co-workers, Omnigage ensures workplace productivity and business continuity.
A loss in productivity means a loss in business momentum. The struggle to rejuvenate workforce efficiency can be an arduous journey but with a secure and proven communication foundation in place, not only are relationships elevated but the confidence in the tools provided is unmatched.
With employees away from their desks, traditional telephony has become upended. Using a modern cloud solution for calling is the solution.
By employing a platform that optimizes workflows, keeps your data secure, and ensures that your firm is ahead of the compliance curve, you are adding a layer of efficiency to what may be a challenging time for many.
Professionals in the healthcare sector, which is increasingly relying more on emerging technology applications, need a multi-channel communications platform that’s easily implemented – without extra technology build or disruption of their current systems. With no additional plugins required, Omnigage provides an array of communication capabilities to medical and healthcare professionals to ensure that patients never miss their flu shot.
Enhanced Communication with Patients
The healthcare industry is constantly evolving and with that comes new technologies to improve both patient and physician resources. With Omnigage’s unique scheduling system, appointment reminders are available instantaneously on both ends, whether it’s to schedule an annual flu shot or a routine check-up with a physician.
With flu season still in full swing, it’s now more important than ever to have clear, quick and concise communication with patients across a range of channels. Users have the ability to schedule reminders in advance using list distribution across voice, email and SMS, preventing you from ever missing an appointment or vaccination again.
Omnigage understands that better communication is vital to the health and advancement of patients. Seamless integration with commercial and native CRMs means that email blasts and activity-syncing are no longer the painstaking tasks to which healthcare professionals have grown so accustomed.
Organization Improvements for Healthcare Professionals
Omnigage provides greater control around data and content parameters with a more holistic view of all customer information and data-driven insights. While patients benefit from reminders and improved communication, physicians will benefit from its easily-exported results and organizational advantages. The platform drives data to the fingertips of its users with instantaneous delivery of pertinent information on patients and a team inbox for managing client responses.
With new diseases and other potential health risks on the horizon, the importance of gaining immediate access to organized data is a must in the healthcare sector. Physicians must be able to access patient information quickly and efficiently and Omnigage’s fast-paced, premium solution fills that gap at both ends of the spectrum.
Content and data sustained in one succinct system make for a reliable, productive environment for storing information and providing the peace of mind that patients are being cared for with the highest priority. By providing a more robust workflow for managing key patient deliverables, physicians are able to ensure greater quality control and ensure a much more pleasant experience for each patient.
