Businesses today face many challenges, from continuous technology changes to the disconnect that can happen between your business and your clientele because of changing technology, natural disasters, or unexpected circumstances.
Consumers today expect a lot. Because of the internet and the ability to access it from almost anywhere, consumers do their research. They expect answers and they expect them fast. They expect your technology to be up-to-date. They expect you to be as connected as they are, in spite of circumstances, or maybe even because of them.
But when you have budgets to meet, business operations to attend to, staff to manage, meetings to attend, possibly more than one location to manage, data security to keep up-to-date … the list of things demanding your attention can get long and communications technology can end up taking a back seat. Unfortunately, out-of-date, disparate, or limited communications systems can make your tech-advanced clients feel frustrated.
How do you keep up with customer demand while facing all of these challenges?
4 Common Communications Challenges
Does your IT staff support multiple locations with disparate data and communication systems?
Do you lack the budget to replace aging systems?
Is your IT staff overloaded with communications trouble tickets?
Is your existing communications system unable to keep up with your changing business needs and increasing remote work?
These are 4 common business communications challenges.
If any of these communications technology issues ring true for you, read on to explore what it can mean for your business and how Cloud Unified Communications can help you overcome them:
Challenge 1: Multiple Locations – Separate Systems
This is one of the most common growing pains of expanding businesses. As they branch out to new locations, each satellite creates their own way of doing things — unique PBX updates, coding or software modifications unique to that location, use of certain applications and tools while overlooking others, individualized ways of managing problems….
One of the biggest challenges which occur is the disconnect between communication and data systems. CRMs and phone systems are separate and client information gets lost in translation. As a result, callers can’t get their needs addressed without multiple transfers and repeats of the same information over and over again. Calls get dropped, and customers must call in again and repeat the whole process.
This situation can cause a lot of unnecessary problems for your business. But a Cloud UC solution means standardizing all locations on the same platform without having to buy and install any new hardware. Say goodbye to disparate systems and hello to an integrated platform where all locations and all employees have access to the same information. This creates a far better service for your customers.
Challenge 2: Limited Budget – Aging Phone System
Finding the capital to invest in a brand-new communications infrastructure is often difficult. Quality communication systems are expensive and usually requiring large up-front investments.
The initial investment costs include more than the actual telephony equipment. You’ll have to consider network upgrades, system design, and implementation, as well as user and administrator training. Don’t forget that the equipment itself will also require repairs, maintenance, and eventual replacement – yet again.
With a Cloud UC solution, the up-front capital model of a traditional purchase is replaced by a monthly “Pay-as-You-Go” Opex model. All maintenance, operating costs, and ‘repair’ work will be covered by your vendor. This significantly cuts down on your overall costs and makes updating your aging phone system more manageable.
Challenge 3: Overloaded IT – Diminished Focus
Your IT staff are responsible for the day-to-day management and maintenance of all business technology, communication systems (including voice, video-conferencing, etc.), and data systems. As they are constantly called on to address trouble tickets with your aging premise system, their capacity to focus on project work – the work that facilitates business growth – diminishes.
By moving your communications system to the Cloud:
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Your IT department will be able to off-load those day-to-day projects
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Adding new users becomes a rapid, easily scaled process
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Resolving call quality issues, the reliability of networks, and system redundancy is now in the hands of other experts
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Your in-house team can spend more time on your company’s IT projects and less time on its IT problems
Challenge 4: Projected Growth – Inability to Scale
Opening new locations, adding new users, or transitioning to remote work with an on-site communications system requires a lot of legwork. If your communications platform isn’t designed to accommodate new and rapid growth or a changing work environment, you’ll either fail to grow or you’ll fail to please customers. This will damage your brand name and reputation.
Cloud UC offers an extremely scalable communications system where new staff or remote staff can be easily added and trained, then quickly get up and running. This facilitates their communication and collaboration with their team members, which improves their productivity and performance since they can focus on learning other aspects of your business and focus on your customers.
Cloud UC is the Advanced Solution
Cloud UC is a versatile and technologically advanced communications platform which can help your business solve many more challenges as well. Since your tools and apps are on a unified system:
- duplication tasks are eliminated
- collaboration improves
- productivity (and therefore ROI) is improved
- UC delivers a consistent user experience
- BYOD becomes simple and easy to manage
- your business agility is therefore improved
- and the list goes on…
Possibly the biggest benefit of Cloud UC is that Cloud isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Therefore, IT IS The Advanced Solution to your communication needs. Part of this can be explained by the obvious, Cloud is always updatable without the need to purchase anything additional. This means you can always have the most technologically advanced solution to serve your customers.
If your business is facing any of the above challenges, or any other challenges, it may be a good time to take a close look at Cloud UC. You can contact our team anytime to discuss what Cloud UC could do for your business at (781) 235-5520, or you can also visit our website. We have lots of blogs and other resources which can help you learn more about the benefits of Cloud UC.