Landline phones may have served us well for more than a century, but when was the last time you made a phone call from a fixed line? If you’re like most people, chances are it’s been quite a while. Although they’ve managed to hang on for much longer in the business world, there’s no doubt that landlines are now very much on their way out. Subscriptions are plummeting as cloud and mobile technologies make them less relevant.
The VoIP revolution is now well underway as businesses and consumers alike recognize the many benefits of making calls over the internet. Furthermore, modern enterprise VoIP systems typically incorporate instant messaging, video conferencing, screen sharing, and more to foster stronger teamwork and easier collaboration across branches and departments. Here are four tell-tale signs it’s time to rethink landline telephony in favor of VoIP:
#1. You’re paying too much
Every business depends heavily on its ability to deliver information and data in a timely manner, but that doesn’t mean you need to allocate a huge portion of your operational budget to telecommunications. Landlines aren’t just costly to install — calling fees can quickly spiral out of control, particularly if you’re regularly making calls abroad and/or to mobiles. You also need to pay a significant amount every time you want to expand the system, such as by adding new lines or installing desk phones for new employees.
By contrast, implementing VoIP systems are only a fraction of the cost. Phone equipment is usually procured, installed, and managed by a provider for a fixed monthly fee. And since calls are conducted over the internet, you don’t have to pay extortionate fees for local and long-distance calls.
#2. Your demands are evolving
Today’s businesses have to contend with the fact that, in order to remain competitive, they have to be able to adapt to a constantly changing market. Landlines will only hold you back from adapting, while VoIP technologies enable you to change the way employees work and scale your operations on demand. For example, if you want to expand your reach into foreign markets, continued reliance on landline telephony is going to be a hindrance. As a physical infrastructure, landlines are restricted to specific business premises, thus greatly reducing mobility, scalability, and flexibility.
#3. Your workforce has subpar productivity
A more connected business is a more productive one. Empowered by modern collaboration platforms and accessibility anywhere, today’s employees work better when they can enjoy a degree of flexibility. People tend to be more productive when working in the comfort of their preferred environment, be that a home office, co-working spot, or café. If they’re not able to do that because they have to be stuck in front of an office desk waiting for the phone to ring, then productivity and morale will both take a hit.
#4. Your customers are complaining
Customer support is more important than ever now that anyone can leave feedback online. No longer do complaints go unheard when customers can vent their frustrations on social media and consumer review sites. Poor technical support, characterized in part by endless calling queues, are among the most common reasons for customer churn. If that sounds familiar, then it’s time to overhaul your entire communications infrastructure. VoIP greatly increases availability and helps ensure that callers get to speak to the right person as quickly as possible.
Founders Technology Group helps businesses in Eastern Connecticut and North Carolina do more with IT by providing solutions and expertise they can depend on. Tell us about your business goals today, and let us get to work.