If your business isn’t keeping up with the ever moving target that is technology, expect to be marooned on an analog island. With the majority of today’s workforce continuing to work from home embracing new technologies affects a business’s health and wealth. Smart organizations are reevaluating which types of technologies work for them and which ones will work to combat the challenges of remote work moving forward.
One of these technologies is the standard phone system. Does every desk need a hard phone line? What about adding collaboration tools for remote employees? When call volume increases can your current system keep up? If you have thought about one of these topics then this may be your sign to upgrade your current system.
Your Phone System is Calling…It Wants an Upgrade
1. You’re Working with a Legacy System
When it comes to phones, legacy systems are ones that use analog channels and copper-based circuits. If your phone system wouldn’t look out of place in the 70s, it’s time for an upgrade. Legacy systems come with a host of problems, like the tech being hard to find and replace. You may think your phone system isn’t outdated but legacy systems come with hidden costs from maintenance and lack of security.
2. Your Call Volume Has Increased
Current phone system can’t keep up with demand? Many traditional phone systems have a capped capacity. This means they will only support a set number of phone lines or fax machines. If you have reached your limit, you will need to buy extra circuit capacity to accommodate more lines. Or you could switch to a VoIP. Voice over Internet Protocol converts voice calls into a digital signal, compresses it, then sends it over the internet. Even when you grow, you’ll be able to add more users to your VoIP system.
3. You Need More Features and Functionality
Is your current phone system equipped with all the calling features your business needs? Why not consolidate instead of patching together multiple systems that don’t integrate well? This would eliminate the need to buy more clunky equipment. Upgrading your system provides your team with collaboration tools too; VoIP phone systems support unified communications, calendar integrations, video meetings, collaboration, and more!
4. You Added Locations or Remote Workers
Do you have long-term growth plans for your business? You should. And your locations and workforce are a major part of that growth. Now, work can happen everywhere. You need a phone system to keep up with employees who work from home, the road or even the other side of the continent. Many current phone systems offer work location flexibility. You can work from anywhere without worrying about extra hardware.
Use the same phone tools and features that you’re familiar with, no matter where your business takes you. TelNet’s Cloud PBX solution keeps employees connected to clients no matter where they are, and TelNet UC with Webex offers messaging, collaboration tools, and video conferencing. Ensure your team stays on the same page even if they aren’t in the same hemisphere.
5. You Want More Integration
Does your sales team travel for client meetings and trade shows? Are you rolling out a permanent work-from-home policy? Some businesses provide employees with mobile phones, but too many cellular plans add to costs and can result in confusion. Cloud PBX offers mobile applications, a helpful tool for employees who don’t report to an office. It also works as a backup in case your office internet connection goes dark. Other types of integration with VoIP systems can include CRM integration. Many VoIP systems also offer easy-to-use mobile apps, which are great for access at a single phone number.
6. Security Is an Issue
Staying connected with clients and other employees is great. But if you’re using a personal phone, it means teammates and customers can call you anytime, anywhere… and they will. A VoIP system can keep your personal contact info private and gives you the ability to stay in touch with your customers whenever you choose.
If your company’s employees use their own devices, your data might be at risk. Mobile phones are easy to lose and often stolen. You don’t want to risk data exposure if that happens. But that’s not the only risk. When employees move on from a company, they can take your client data with them on their mobile devices. A cloud phone system helps you control when and where customers contact you, and it stops information from becoming misplaced.
7. You Want a More Professional Image
When you’re running a small business, you wear many different hats. Regardless of size, you don’t want to look like an amateur. A cloud phone system can help. Route calls to the right people, set up automated assistants and call notifications to keep track of your customers’ needs. Even when you’re starting out, a cloud-based phone system helps project a professional image. Hold functions, transferring calls and flipping a call from your desk phone to your smartphone — these are a few examples of features that can help you provide five-star customer service.
8. Your Phone Bill is Too Confusing and Too High
Phone service providers (looking at you Verizon and AT&T) face few regulations when it comes to how their bills read. Most of us receive monthly statements that are difficult to decipher. TelNet Cloud PBX and Webex have a flat subscription price per line. After installation, you can expect to pay a clear and simple fee for your monthly service. For example, TelNet’s Cloud PBX platform starts at $14.99 per month, per user. Companies prefer VoIP systems because they are cheaper and produce bills with easy-to-understand costs.
Time to Make the Call
If your plain ol’ phone system is hindering your business, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Take a proactive approach to improve your phone system. Don’t let it cause a disruption. This will help you ensure higher customer satisfaction and customer retention.
Whether an immediate switch to VoIP is right for you, it’s smart to ensure your phone system decisions are effective for long-term growth. As your business grows, communication needs become more demanding. A cloud business phone system offers the features, flexibility and security that your business needs. At the same time, it offers employees the tools to stay connected and be more productive so that your business will continue to thrive.
Interested in learning more? Check out our Digital Transformation Guide for everything you need to know about a transition to cloud communications.
