UPGRADING YOUR BUSINESS PHONE SYSTEM: WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?


Making a major upgrade to your phone technology for business purposes can seem like a high-risk endeavor. Many business owners are hesitant to make the jump because of the perceived costs of the investment and a fear of the unknown when it comes to learning new technology. Fortunately, today's phone systems are versatile and efficient enough to save you both time and energy once they are in place, so you can put your fears to rest.

NEW PHONES COST TOO MUCH

If you are just beginning to shop for new phone technology for business, you may be looking solely at the price of buying brand-new equipment up front. However, if you take a step back and look at your current system, you may be surprised to see how much it is already costing you. Over the last three years, how much have you spent annually on phone lines/internet, service, maintenance, repairs and random replacement parts to keep things running? Now look at what a new phone system will cost you annually and consider how much additional work you will be able to get done with the added functionality of a modern system. In many cases, new phone systems will actually save you money each month by reducing the cost of other expenses.

NEW TECHNOLOGY IS TOO COMPLICATED

Sure, there are plenty of new terms in use to describe today's phone technology, but really the fundamental pieces of the phone have remained the same. If you are attached to your current desktop phone sets, or if you like the layout of your phone system as it is, there may be ways to improve your efficiency behind the scenes. Upgrading your software or moving to a cloud-based system may be possible while still maintaining the same physical equipment that your employees have always used. This is also a great way to save money on your upgrade by reusing equipment that's already in place. Just make sure you ask your phone technology specialist to ensure that the equipment will be compatible with your upgrade.

I DON'T WANT CUSTOMERS TO BE CONFUSED

Some companies fear that updating their equipment will mean that phone numbers and extensions have to change. Fortunately, today's technology is extremely flexible and will allow you to retain the phone numbers that are already in place, letting you move extensions over exactly as they were. This way, your new phone technology for business will maintain continuity of service for your customers and you won't miss a beat.

If you're still on the fence about whether or not a phone technology upgrade is a good idea, the best thing you can do is sit down and run the hard numbers to see what you're spending today and what you could be spending in the future. In addition, planning ahead for an upgrade gives you far more control over what devices and technology you choose, rather than waiting until there's an emergency and you need to implement a whole new system overnight. With the help of an expert, you will find that new phone technology for business will help you overcome your fears.

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