Technological advancements in communications have streamlined how employers and employees interact. Be it a salesperson or a field service technician – mobile devices allow all employees to connect with their supervisors instantly. This easy access to communications devices is ushering in a new era of “deskless workers” at the right time.
As the COVID19 pandemic forces companies to implement new work from home paradigms, communication tools that are inexpensive and easy to use are becoming all the more important. In 2020, several working professionals and LLC California entrepreneurs were surveyed about their expectations regarding work in the post-pandemic era. 74% of them said they expect remote work to become the norm in the coming decade.
So, what’s the next logical advancement in communications technology? If we look at what major companies are doing, the next big trend is integrating all business communication devices into cloud-based phone systems. Small-scale businesses are following this trend as well as moving to the cloud means lower monthly phone bills.
Businesses that host their phone systems on the Internet are charged on an “pay for what you need” basis. However, the ability to pay only for what they use isn’t the only advantage that’s attracting small businesses to the best internet business phone system.
The best cloud phone solutions allow businesses to integrate a plethora of features into their communication systems. As you evaluate different communications solutions for your business, here are key reasons why we recommend cloud phone systems.
Table of Contents
Addressing the Need for Remote Collaborations
There’s a new generation of professionals entering the workforce, and they couldn’t be more different from their predecessors. 70% of young professionals classify acts like going to the office as “unnecessary.” How can businesses ensure these professionals collaborate and communicate with each other effectively? Keeping teams on the same without technologically advanced tools is impossible.
Web conferencing technology is currently the only tool keeping large-scale workforces connected. However, many video conferencing apps don’t allow call recording. These communication systems are simply not business-grade. Cloud-based phone systems, on the other hand –
- Offers Better Call Quality – Cloud phone system companies expend time and resources to ensure all traffic on the system reaches its proper destination. Cloud phone systems use “under-subscribed” networks that eliminate issues like jitters, latency problems, and packet loss.
- Real-Time Availability Data – On cloud phone systems, employees can always be informed about their peers’ real-time statuses. On these systems, employees can see details like which workers are on calls, who have logged off the phone system, etc.
- Call Transfers – Employees can easily transfer calls to different phones, extensions, outside numbers, or even create conference bridges any time they want on their cloud phone system.
- Call Reporting – Call reporting allows company supervisors to realize valuable metrics about how the workforce uses the cloud phone system. These detailed reports allow managers to plan better.
- Call Recording – Review vital internal calls and conferences with full hindsight. Data can also be mined from internal call recordings.
Leading companies use cloud telephony over basic conferencing services because these systems are easier to update and improve. The straightforward integrations not only help businesses facilitate their daily workflows in a better way, but it also allows businesses to adjust to workforce changes effortlessly.
The Cost of Not Having a Cloud-Based Business Phone System
Businesses are losing money by not investing in cloud-based phone system. Firstly, let’s address the common myth that setting up cloud-based phone systems involves the installation of expensive cabling and equipment – it doesn’t. Cloud phone system installation is cheap, you can use nearly all types of devices to answer calls on this network, and you can text video call or audio call people all you want on these systems. High fees for long-distance calls have been crippling small-scale businesses for a long time. With a cloud-based phone system, those issues are eliminated forever.
After installing these systems, businesses receive monthly invoices that include reports on all lines for the whole workforce, including remote personnel. Hence, the billing process becomes super-easy. Why approve numerous phone bills and assess how each employee is spending time on the phone when your cloud phone system provider can send you detailed reports and invoices? In the long-term cloud-based business phone systems practically pay for themselves by completely optimizing the way a company communicates.
Preparing for the Future – Cloud-Based Business Continuity Plans
The latest cloud-based phone systems come with features like virtual receptionists that instantly connect customers with the right employee. It’s quite clear that these highly advanced cloud-based business phone systems are going to play a huge role in countless business’s virtual business continuity plans.
Global workforces are going remote, and providing them with a consistent, reliable, and easy to use communications platform is every company’s responsibility. A cloud-based solution gives employees greater control over communications and can significantly bolster agent/employee productivity. Investing in these systems is akin to investing in your business’ future!