Welcome to the 21st Century! Okay, so we’ve been here for a little bit but some companies are stuck in the dinosaur age when it comes to their communication platform.
Falling behind the technology may be costing your business more than you think. It may seem like a solid financial decision to utilize your existing technology for as long as possible, but increasing maintenance costs and missed calls may add up to outweigh the illusion of savings.
If you are wondering, “Is my phone a dinosaur?” then here are some basic questions to see if it is time to re-evaluate your communications platform:
1. Does thunder make you nervous?
Legacy phone systems are susceptible to lightning strikes. A single bolt can take out a power supply and send your repair bill skyrocketing. If your phone system doesn’t weather bad weather well, then you should consider upgrading to a VoIP system with cellular failover and automatic call forwarding if a fallen tree takes out the internet.
2. Have callers told you they got a busy signal?
Copper lines cannot adjust for heavy call volumes. Callers may get a busy signal or endless ringing when they try to reach you during peak times. Traditional phone systems have a pre-determined capacity that can be costly to change. VoIP systems offer greater flexibility and your call capacity can be increased with the click of a button. Additionally, modern systems can be programmed to overflow to another location or answering service when traffic is particularly heavy.
3. Do you have to call someone to make small changes?
While you may love chatting with your telephone technician, it can be very costly to call them out for minor changes or phone moves. Many traditional phone systems require complex programming changes just to move a phone across the room or change a name. These repeated service calls can become expensive and time-consuming. VoIP systems offer incredible flexibility in programming. Many VoIP phones can be taken anywhere (including home) and will stay connected to the system. Programming changes are much easier than in traditional systems and most can be done from the phone or an easy-to-understand browser-based user interface.
4. Is calling a co-worker frustrating?
We aren’t trying to bad mouth your co-workers, just your phone system. Some legacy phone systems don’t work across multiple locations or with remote phones, so calling Joe in accounting means looking up his full 10-digit number. VoIP systems can be implemented across many locations using 3 or 4-digit extension dialing. Many systems can utilize forwarding to assign simple extension assignments to cell phones. With an ever more remote workforce, these features can save time and frustration.
5. Do you feel trapped by your desk?
A long time ago if you were expecting an important call you needed to stay right by the phone to make sure you didn’t miss it. Some legacy phone systems still require workers to be tethered to their desks. In the 21st century, this isn’t necessary or productive. With features like Find-Me-Follow-Me and call forwarding, no VoIP user need attach themselves to the desk phone. They can go for a walk, drive to a sales meeting, or grab a bite to eat without the fear of missing an important caller.
Keeping a 20-year-old phone system means that you are denying your business the necessary tools to function in modern society.
The capabilities of phone systems are so far beyond the traditional “hold” and “transfer” that you may not realize how convenient and efficient modern communication platforms can be. If you are considering upgrading your old phone system then you need to give us a call at 770-529-5678 to discuss your business needs and where your current system falls short. We are experts in communications since we’ve been doing it for over 40 years! We aren’t tethered to a single platform so we can recommend the best solution for your unique business.
