In life, some signs warn us of potential trouble. If we are attentive and wise, we heed these warnings and avoid bigger problems in the future. For instance, our car may be sluggish and sputtering and displaying the dreaded warning light. This is a clear indication that it needs a tune-up or preventative maintenance. Our bodies often communicate through various aches and pains, signaling the need to take a break. Otherwise, a break may be forced upon us.
So, how does this relate to telecommunications? Well, just as individuals receive warning signs, businesses also receive indicators that their traditional landline phone system is hindering their success and growth. These signs can be easy to spot if you know what to look for, even though they may not be as obvious as a car dashboard warning light.
Here are four signs to help you clearly see that it’s time (or past time) for your business to upgrade from a traditional landline phone system to an advanced cloud phone system:
1. Your costs are much higher than they should be.
Here’s something that most people don’t know: phone companies don’t make a great deal of profit from residential customers; in fact, sometimes they even lose money. But business customers are another matter entirely! They’re nothing short of cash cows, which is why bills range from the hundreds to the thousands of dollars per month — and that’s on top of a wide range of other fees, such as for maintenance, technical support, and so on.
Cloud Phone Systems Reduce Costs
Cloud phone systems significantly reduce business telecommunications expenses, not only in the first year but ongoing. The savings persist because there are no maintenance, update, or long-distance costs. Additionally, adding numbers or extensions does not necessitate physically installing new underground lines, making it highly cost-effective.
Ongoing Savings
Add up the numbers, and most businesses can expect to see year-over-year savings of at least 40% compared to a conventional landline phone system. And it’s certainly not uncommon to realize savings of well over 50%.
2. Your remote workers feel disconnected.
Remote working has become increasingly popular in recent years. According to Global Workplace Analytics, around 56% of the U.S. workforce has a job that allows for remote work, at least partially. This number is expected to grow as more people use tablets and other mobile devices.
The great thing about remote working is that it helps businesses reduce overhead costs, which is especially important for startups and small businesses that need to maximize their working capital to survive.
Game-Changing Connectivity
However, traditional phone systems often make it difficult for remote workers to collaborate, which can decrease productivity and customer satisfaction. This is where a cloud phone system comes in and changes the game.
Connect From Anywhere with Cloud Phone System
With a cloud phone system, all employees, contractors, and authorized users are connected on a unified, cloud-based platform that they can access from any device, whether it’s a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Instead of feeling isolated, remote workers can stay connected and collaborate effectively, no matter where they are working from – whether it’s a home office, a field location, or their favorite coffee shop.
3. Your Competition is Beating You
Nowadays, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can’t afford to seem less capable and trustworthy than their larger competitors. If they do, they risk losing customers. Unfortunately, many SMBs are stuck with outdated phone systems that offer only basic features like call forwarding and voicemail, which haven’t changed much since the 1980s.
Why don’t these SMBs upgrade to advanced calling features? The simple answer is that phone companies charge a lot for these upgrades. This is because business customers are seen as sources of big profits.
Cloud-Based Solutions
However, a cloud phone system can solve this problem by offering SMBs a wide range of advanced calling features at no extra cost, such as voicemail-to-email, video calling, and auto attendant. This means that SMBs can now compete more effectively with larger businesses, which is crucial for their short-term success and long-term survival.
4. Your Business is in an Area Prone to Brownouts
According to a study by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the nation’s aging utility infrastructure causes thousands of brief power outages, known as brownouts, each year. These outages, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, can have a significant impact on businesses. Even a 10-second power loss can lead to customer dissatisfaction, communication delays, and costly misunderstandings.
Backup Protection
However, with a cloud phone system, the fear of brownouts becomes a thing of the past. This is because the system is supported by an on-premise network of backup power systems that automatically activate in the event of a power loss. Even if computers and laptops are unavailable, users can access the cloud system from their smartphones. Incoming calls from customers, partners, suppliers, and others continue without disruption or the need for “we’re sorry, the number you have called is not in service” recordings, preserving the organization’s reputation.
5. You Want Expansion Flexibility
Cloud Phone Systems: Easy Scalability
Scalability is one of the key advantages of a cloud phone system. It allows businesses to adapt their communication infrastructure effortlessly as they grow. Unlike traditional phone systems that require significant investments in hardware and complex installations for each new line or feature, cloud solutions enable companies to add or remove users with just a few clicks.
Cloud Phone Systems: Flexibility to Grow
This flexibility means that whether you’re expanding your workforce, opening new locations, or adjusting to seasonal fluctuations, your communication system can evolve in tandem without disruption. As a result, businesses can respond quickly to changing needs, ensuring they remain efficient and competitive in a dynamic market.
If your business is facing any of the issues mentioned above, it’s time to consider upgrading to a cloud phone system. For more information, feel free to reach out to the Carolina Digital Phone team at (336) 544-4000. Your consultation with us won’t cost anything.