Ever since Alexander Graham Bell patented it almost 150 years ago, the telephone has been a ubiquitous part of our lives. But we only notice its importance when a problem arises. Like any technology, it works well at the start. But then it ages as your business grows, and you’ll notice dropped calls and increasing difficulties with a tool that’s stuck in the past.
Outdated phones? Here’s how to tell
Watch out for the following red flags that signal that your business has outgrown your old phone system.
1. Your team has difficulty communicating with one another when outside the office
If your business is still relying on a desk-bound phone system, transitioning to remote work can be a challenge. Traditional hardware ties calls to a specific location, meaning employees can only answer at their desks.
In today’s mobile era, that just doesn’t work. Productivity happens wherever your team is — calls can be taken on mobile phones or laptops, and work can continue seamlessly, even while on the move.
2. You’re always spending on repairs, add-ons, or more equipment
The older your phone system, the more “hidden” costs you uncover. That additional line for your new hire? You’ll need a technician to install it. Old hardware needs replacing? Of course, you’ll have to spend it. Over time, these expenses add up. They may even exceed the cost of simply upgrading to a more flexible, internet-based phone system.
With a cloud-based phone solution, you can bundle essential features such as call forwarding, conference lines, auto-attendants, and recordings, without needing a lot of pricey physical equipment or expensive service visits.
3. You get customer complaints about missed calls or long wait times
The purpose of a phone system is to facilitate communication, whether with your customers, suppliers, or even amongst your staff. But an aging system will have greater difficulty handling higher call volumes, leading to more dropped calls and longer ring times. Customers who experience them more often will take their business elsewhere.
Say goodbye to overloaded phones with a scalable phone system like a cloud-based VoIP solution. Customers will appreciate that their calls are quickly answered, thanks to intelligent routing, custom greetings, and automated call overflow that ensure no customer is left unattended.
4. You need new features that your existing system cannot offer
Legacy PBX systems lack modern features such as video conferencing, analytics dashboards, AI-powered call handling, and integration with help desk or CRM tools. In contrast, a cloud-based business phone system can connect directly with the software your team already uses, streamlining workflows and reducing manual work. Your staff no longer need to track calls by hand or switch between multiple apps just to manage customer communication.
5. Your phone system cannot scale along with staff growth
As your business grows, so do your communication needs. But traditional phone systems aren’t as scalable as modern ones; every new extension requires additional wiring, configuration, and, at times, replacement hardware. When you upsize or downsize your staff, you’ll end up spending more.
Scaling up or down isn’t a problem with cloud-based phone platforms. In minutes, you can add or remove users. So, if your business requires staffing flexibility, you need a phone system that’s just as versatile.
6. Your legacy phones always keep your IT team busy
Managing a legacy phone system is IT-intensive. Your IT staff will end up babysitting your phones. If they’re always troubleshooting call quality or managing outdated equipment, then they won’t have the time to work on IT security or long-term strategy.
A cloud-based phone system takes care of updates automatically, freeing your IT team from constant troubleshooting. Now, they can concentrate on projects that drive your business forward.
Ready to explore smarter, scalable phone system options?
Do the red flags above sound familiar? Then your phone system needs to be updated. Not only will you have better calls, but you’ll have a more flexible staff, improved customer service, and reduced operational nightmares. Let SpectrumWise help you transition from your old phone system to a modern communication platform. It will help your business be more competitive today, and it can grow with you in the future. Contact us today.