The Times They are (Still) A-Changin’
Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of industry in the United States. Often, owners are faced with making numerous decisions that will affect not only their day-to-day progress but also future plans for the business. One of the areas where resources can be focused to bring about the best outcome is in communications infrastructure.
Business communications have had to evolve quickly since the pandemic created the sudden demand for work-from-home capabilities, hybrid worker coordination, mobile connectivity, and collaboration from anywhere. Companies continue to adapt in an ever-changing technological environment, and they are looking for enhanced communication and productivity results.
If your business is looking for a partner to help with this, then that’s where Decibel steps in. Read along in this blog post to discover how we can help with tailor-made business phone solutions, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.
Outdated Communication Solutions May Cost More Than You Think
Many small to-medium-sized (SMB) business owners and IT managers are now leaning into new technologies and embracing multiple channels to connect with their customers and teams. For SMBs working with limited budgets and IT staff, it can be a struggle to fully take advantage of these new capabilities. Some may even hold onto their traditional landline phone systems to get the most out of their initial hardware investment while focusing their resources on implementing other new technologies.
This may seem to be a budget-friendly way to upgrade their communications gradually, but it might have had the opposite effect. Considering that phone calls are still the preferred method of support with call volumes expected to increase, a legacy phone system could get in the way of your customers and employees having a productive, positive experience. That’s why it’s essential to upgrade business phone solutions in coordination with other next-generation technologies, to ensure having a unified, cost-effective, and streamlined communications infrastructure.
Moreover, landline phone system maintenance and service costs are going to continue to increase as provider support decreases. Platforms that lack the user-friendly and time-saving features that cloud communication systems offer can cost a business more than just a higher bill; your business phone system can affect productivity and how your customers and employees view your brand.
Let’s say you have clients who frequently call in with questions for, or to request help from, your team. Your legacy system could cause frustration and irritation for them due to poor sound quality or dropped or missed calls. Even having to repeat themselves with the same issue might cause them to be disgruntled because landline-based phones are often isolated from CRMs and other collaboration tools holding their information. So, not only can costs come from the upkeep of aging platforms, but there is the unintended cost of losing customer confidence.
On the flip side, your employees may become frustrated with the process of trying to help clients. If systems are outdated, communication is not clear between departments, or it takes too long to find the needed information, your team members may feel like throwing in the towel. Companies with poor internal communications have retention rates more than four times lower than companies with effective internal communications. This is where a cloud communications platform can come into play.
The Flexibility of Cloud Communications
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and cloud-based systems transmit conversations and data digitally over a broadband internet connection, offering a flexibility through business phone solutions that is beneficial to all users. With hundreds of mobile apps that can be integrated with the system, communication can be limitless. Remote access is also a top point for allowing access from any place with an internet connection.
Customizing a communications platform also boosts productivity and client satisfaction. Tailored communication tools help businesses run smoother. Features like call routing and auto attendant get clients to the information needed more quickly. In addition, when integrated with existing business software such as CRM programs, customer satisfaction increases because issues can be solved promptly.
Scalability with Business Phone Systems
If scalability is an important feature, then look no further than VoIP phone systems. These powerhouse solutions allow for easy addition of users or even extra options. With just a few clicks, this system can add new operators without the wait time required with legacy structures. Productivity will increase, allowing for more focus on clientele issues.
Scalability also leads to cost-effective solutions for business planning. With subscription-based pricing models in place, it is easier to budget and forecast for the future. Other cost-saving measures include a reduction in infrastructure costs – a traditional system requires more expenditures than a cloud-based system.
Other benefits that come with the scalability of cloud communication systems include adaptability to emerging technologies like 5G and AI. When updates and improvements can be made quickly and easily to current systems through the cloud, it saves time and resources. When you decide to partner with Decibel, you can direct more focus to be placed where it’s needed most – business growth.
Extended Features
The Decibel Platform has the features you need to succeed. Here are just a few:
- Softphone technology allows you to stay connected from anywhere that has an internet connection.
- SMS or MMS messaging gives you the ability to share offers or reminders of all types with current customers or future prospects.
- Voicemail-to-email transcription is a valuable aspect of the platform as it improves communication by ensuring information is available in multiple ways.
- Sentiment analysis can help businesses by interpreting text information that could lead to better decision-making processes.
Cloud Solution Providers are Not All Created Equal
Well-rounded, comprehensive business phone solutions come from a well-rounded, comprehensive, and experienced provider. With Decibel, we are hands-on and customer-first.
We get to know you and your business and create solutions that meet your needs and budget with no hidden charges or fees – just predictable and affordable monthly billing with no surprises. We take the jargon, complications, and nickel-and-dime billing out of the process, making upgrading your communications as painless and easy as possible. We take care of the complicated stuff so you can focus on growing your business.
We’re here for you before, during, and after implementation of your business phone system. So, if you’re ready to learn what we can do for your business, reach out to schedule your demo today—and turn your phone system into a powerful business tool with Decibel.