Consequences of Presence Technology

One type of problem is simply not using presence settings properly. These options help end users self-manage their availability, so if their status is regularly changing, presence can be invaluable. However, it can just as well create artificial blockages when settings are not updated. To illustrate, if you switch to “do not disturb” or “offline” when going to a meeting – but don’t switch back to “available” after the meeting, you may miss out on important messages or invites. Some people rely solely on presence indicators to determine who gets contacted for ad hoc requirements, and if you’re not in the habit of updating your status, that can become counterproductive. Another unintended consequence of comes from the information you share in your presence profile. IM platforms allow for some degree of personalization, such as a photo, avatar, personal tag line, etc. In the workplace, this type of content is expected to be professional and business-like. So when it comes to your presence over VoIP services and the like in the business, remember to keep it professional.