For any business, a good first impression will make a whole world of difference. If a customer or potential customer’s first contact with you is not all that it should be, you may find that you are constantly playing catch up trying to undo the damage that has been done or that, worse, you never even get the chance to.
As such, refining your telephone processes could make a huge amount of difference, and from the telephone system you choose to the individuals you have answering your phones, every aspect of your set-up should be considered.
Below, we look at the top 5 ways to make the most of your business’s potential when it comes to effectively utilising telecom solutions in the workplace.
1. Upgrade your system
Greater functionality is almost guaranteed when upgrading older telephone systems. Not only might a solution that offers the option of VoIP help your company evolve, but many older systems will simply not be functioning as they should, and ironing out problems whilst simultaneously increasing what can be achieved will allow businesses far more opportunity to successfully compete in the future. Furthermore, by installing a system that will accommodate your current workforce along with many other additional individuals should needs dictate, you could be simply ‘future-proofing’ your business.
2. Find the bundle that is right for you
Not all phone packages will be suitable for your business, and as your processes, your equipment or your personnel change, you may need to reconsider the bundles you choose. Not only might you now be able to get fibre optic broadband added to your bundle for only a small amount extra each month, but you may also simply find that, by changing to a more competitive provider such as Chess, you can make unlimited calls for a very low monthly fee, dramatically reducing your overheads in the process.
3. Utilise a telephone answering service
It may not seem that paying out for a telephone answering service will benefit a business that already has plenty of people on hand who are able to deal with incoming calls. However, by utilising such a service, businesses may well not only ensure that they never miss important calls again, but also that unimportant calls get filtered out. With this approach, the first point of contact customers have with your company will always be with someone trained to make the very best impression, and your own staff will have far more opportunity to get on with integral business tasks. Furthermore, using such a service may even mean you do not have to pay out for a secretary.
4. Go mobile
Offering your employees mobile phones could dramatically increase productivity. Not only will mobile phones ensure that calls be made on the move (and in turn that important conversations will never be missed) but the general scope offered by such handheld devices is huge. Whether individuals need to access important files saved up in the cloud or simply need to find information on search engines, they will be able to do so quickly and easily, no matter where they are. It may also allow certain employees to work from home, something that could reduce your overheads even further.
5. Make more of conference calls
There are plenty of ways to make conference calls without needing expensive conference equipment. From using hosted telephone systems to simply ensuring that you have enough bandwidth to hold conferences online, by maximising your conferencing potential, you could make a better first impression and save huge amounts of money on travel in the process.
