If you are planning on upgrading your phone system, you will need to answer some, if not all, of these important questions such as ‘Is it the right time to upgrade?’, ‘Will upgrading make any difference to my business?’, ‘Will the hassle be worth it?’, ‘Am I missing out on anything important if I do not upgrade my phone system?’ We have produced this guide to help you decide whether you should replace your legacy phone system with a modern one or not.
1. Your Phone System Costs a Lot
If you find your phone bill is high, then upgrading your business phone system to Voice over IP (VoIP) will be a hassle-free, cost-saving win. The cost of a legacy business phone system adds up because of on-site equipment, maintenance, licensing, technicians, new phone lines and calls. Typical lines are $60 a month plus calls and other features such as line hunt. Based on your requirements and the telco that you choose VoIP lines will cost you less than $40 per line per month and you will be able to determine exactly what your bill will be every month.
2. Your Phone System Has Become Obsolete
Not only is it costly to maintain but it also relies on technology that will become outdated very soon. Every time there is equipment failure, it will get more difficult to find replacement parts and a trustworthy technician who can handle the fix, the first time. If the manufacturer has left the business phone system space it will be impossible to add any functionality through licensing.
3. Your Phone System Cannot Grow with Your Business
In the last couple of years with COVID forcing a work from home model, business requirements have changed considerably and older systems are unable to meet those needs. If your company is growing or expanding rapidly to new locations across the country you are ready for a new business phone system. It does not make any sense to hold onto a phone system that does not meet current business requirements. VoIP adjusts with your business as it expands and develops. Adding new phone lines and users can be done easily with a few clicks. You also have the opportunity to add call features to cater to busier seasons. You cannot find this kind of flexibility with legacy phone systems. Expansion may be problematic if it is even possible.
4. Your Business Phone System Lacks Essential Features
You might be satisfied with the functions of your current business phone system. After all, it is all about receiving and making phone calls and you may think that it works just fine. But you need to consider the features that come with something new. It is not only about the phone calls but also about everything that takes place over the phone systems. There are so many features and options with telephony! Imagine being able to simply log in from home via a browser, pair up your headphones and you are ready to work or be able to make and receive calls via an app on your mobile. It neatly resolves the problem of outgoing caller ID if you do not want people to know your mobile number.
Some examples are:
Call recording
Call Intercept
Digital receptionist / Auto attendant
Customised music on hold
Promotions while clients on hold
Voicemail to email
Electronic Fax
Mobility via Smart phone app and browser. (freedom to work from anywhere you have Internet)
& much much more…
5. Your Phone System Is Vulnerable to Interruption
If your business phone system is down, will you be able to keep working? Will your clients still be able to get what they need from you easily? If not, then it means that every phone system interruption causes frustration for your clients and affects your sales negatively. Natural disasters such as power failures, hurricanes, earthquakes or floods, outdated infrastructure, and old equipment can all put your legacy phone system out of the game. Using 4G backup on the network along with backup power, VoIP provides a level of disaster recovery capabilities that traditional phone systems cannot match, especially because conditional failover can be applied so if the trunk becomes unregistered then the phone numbers can automatically be forward to a mobile phone as a further backup. If the site is destroyed or inaccessible for a long period then it is very simple to connect the trunk elsewhere and spin up a phone system.
6. Your Phone System Is Essential for Your Business
On a scale of 1 to 10, how crucial is your phone system for the success of your business? If you use a phone system to provide customer service, close sales, take bookings, delight your customers, talk to prospects and collaborate with your colleagues, you are probably at a 10. Basically, your phone system is what makes or breaks your business, your customer loyalty and your chance of bringing in new revenue. If you cannot operate your business without your phone system, you must get the one that you can rely on in all circumstances. On the other hand, if you already have one that does not offer dependability, then it is time to upgrade.
ICS Technologies is based in Brisbane, Australia. We provide new systems as well as support legacy systems. Contact us to discuss your options.
