Thriving in today’s economic climate requires unified communications
Yes, those old traditional landlines are about to disappear. In 2017, almost 90% of phone numbers were connected to mobile devices or phones with internet access. And some experts have predicted that 2020 will be the year that landlines finally become obsolete. (To be honest, they probably won’t go away that Quick. After all, there are still people using analog modems, believe it or not.)
Still, even with landlines falling out of favor, many businesses rely on traditional private branch exchange (PBX) phone systems for day-to-day operations.
Their reliance on these systems makes sense: land lines are not susceptible to remote hacking (although analog lines can still be hacked locally via good wiretaps), they typically still work when power has been lost, and they rely on on site. , giving the owner full control. Owners love full control over anything that affects their business, especially things that affect the bottom line.
But the world of work is changing rapidly, and for any business to be successful right now, it needs a better alternative: unified communications.
How old phone systems hurt businesses
Older PBX phone systems in today’s business environment have some pretty serious limitations. Some of them have a commercial impact and result in:
- bad customer service: Leaving a voicemail and waiting for a response is so 90s! In fact, most consumers expect to communicate with businesses online, whether through online ordering, email, text, or live chat. If the only way to reach your business is by phone, you’re likely missing a great opportunity to handle service issues quickly, retain customers, and improve your reputation.
- Lack of internal communication: Old phone systems can be frustrating for office workers. Imagine leaving a voicemail about an urgent matter for your boss and not getting a response for hours or days. Relying on outdated technology makes employees feel less productive, which can lead to other problems. According to a 2018 Unisys Corporation study, these frustrated employees are 450% more likely to quit than employees at companies with better technology solutions. Although this study sounds pretty exaggerated, it is quite possible that the presence of outdated technology is an indication of a larger problem with the business. However, this questionable study supports the narrative that old technology can cause serious problems within a company. Therefore, it is worth mentioning. Clearly updating your system and improving communication for everyone is better than recruiting and training new employees.
- Less versatility: As many companies have made the switch to remote work, they have found that landline phone systems are far less versatile than VoIP-based PBX systems. Landline phone systems are tied to a specific geographic location and connect to the company’s independent phone network through phone hardware (eg, phone cords, phone wall ports, etc.). Therefore, they cannot be easily integrated with computer software applications, SMS and MMS messaging, video calls, chat applications, and other cool features needed to make remote work easier. easy. By contrast, a unified communications system supports all of these tools, making onboarding remote employees much easier.
- Difficulty diagnosing problems remotely: Diagnosing and solving problems with traditional PBX systems requires troubleshooting by your IT department (if you have one) or a technician from your phone system provider. The process involves testing connections, evaluating internal and external parts, and possibly fumbling for equipment outside your building. This means scheduling a day and time for repair, and in the meantime, your system sits down, resulting in lost revenue. On the other hand, to address issues with cloud-based systems, you have access to 24/7 tech support who can get into your system and get everything up and running quickly. No appointment required.
- hard to grow: When your business grows, it’s pretty hard to scale your old phone system. Usually, with each batch of new users, you’ll need to add a bunch of new hardware. This hardware is often proprietary, expensive, and probably needs to be installed by a qualified technician. Web-based phone systems are much easier to expand.
Why your business needs unified communications
As an alternative to your old phone system, it’s time to embrace unified communications. Generally speaking, this is a comprehensive service that allows all employees in your company to communicate in a way that delivers the best business results. Most unified communications components are based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which gives you the ability to communicate from any location using the same phone number, extensions, and features.
And looking more specifically at the benefits of a VoIP PBX system over an old phone system, there are several advantages. You have the option of using both physical phones and “softphones,” which are computers or mobile devices that use specialized communications software. VoIP PBX systems also connect to all your business locations, allow you to respond to messages and requests in a timely manner, and can easily be scaled up or down at any time. In short, a VoIP PBX system moves and grows with the changing needs of your business. Your old phone system limits your options for serving employees and customers and ultimately reduces your profits.
Set up your Virtual PBX system today
Work with us to introduce cloud-based phone systems into your daily business operations. Our VoIP PBX system helps you reduce costs, connect all your business locations in a single communications domain, send free SMS messages from business phones and computers, and access free 24/7 technical support. week, 365 days a year. Contact us today to discuss your needs and explore the best options for your business.