How old phone systems are killing businesses?

Unified communication is needed to thrive in today's economic climate.

Yes, those old traditional landlines are on their way. In 2017, about 90% of phone numbers were linked to mobile devices or Internet-enabled phones. And some experts have predicted that 2020 is the year when landlines system finally become obsolete. (To be honest, they probably won't disappear that too fast. After all, there are still people using out there using analog modems, believe it or not.)

Still, despite not being favored by landlines, many businesses rely on traditional private branch exchange (PBX) phone systems for day-to-day operations.

Their belief in these systems is understandable: landlines aren't susceptible to remote hacking (though analog lines can still be hacked locally via good old wiretapping), they usually work even when You've lost power, and they're on base, which gives the boss complete control. Owners like complete control over anything that affects their business, especially things that affect the bottom line.

But the world of work is changing rapidly, and for any business to be successful in this moment, they need a better option – unified communications.

How old phone systems hurt businesses?

The old PBX phone system has some serious limitations in today's business environment. Some of them are business-effective and result in:

Bad Customer Service: Leaving Voicemail and Waiting for a Response Is the '90s! In fact, most consumers expect to communicate with businesses online, whether it's online ordering, email, text, or live chat. If the only way to reach your business is by phone, you're probably missing out on a huge opportunity to handle service problems quickly, retain customers, and grow your reputation.

Internal miscommunication: Old phone systems can be frustrating for office workers to use. Imagine leaving a voicemail for your boss about an urgent issue and not getting a response for hours or days. Relying on still using outdated technology system makes employees feel less productive, which can spiral into other issues. According to a 2018 Unisys Corporation study, these frustrated employees are 450% more likely to leave than employees at companies with better technology solutions. The study seems far-fetched though, and it's quite possible that the presence of outdated technology may indicate a bigger problem with the business. Still, this questionable study supports the statement that outdated technology can cause serious problems within the company. Thus, it is worth noting. Clearly, updating your systems and improving communication for everyone is better than recruiting and training new employees.

Less Versatility: As many companies have switched to remote work, they have found landline phone systems to be much less versatile than VoIP-based PBX systems. Landline systems are tied to a specific geographic location and connect to a company's separate phone network via phone hardware (e.g., phone cables, phone wall ports, etc.). Thus, they cannot be easily integrated with computer software applications, SMS and MMS messaging, video calling, chat apps and other great features required to facilitate remote work. In contrast, a unified communications system supports all of these devices, making it very easy to onboard remote employees.

Difficulty Diagnosing Problems Remotely: Diagnosing and resolving problems with traditional PBX systems requires troubleshooting from a technician from the IT department (if you have one, that is) or the phone system provider. This process includes testing the connections, assessing the interior and exterior parts, and the potential for disturbances with equipment on the exterior of your building. This means setting aside a day and time for repairs, and in the meantime, your system remains down, causing you a loss of revenue. On the other hand, to address issues with cloud-based systems, you have round-the-clock technical support that can tap into your system and get things up and running quickly. No appointment is required.

Difficult to grow: As your business grows, it's hard to outgrow your old phone system. Typically, with each batch of new users, you'll need to add a bunch of new hardware. This hardware is usually proprietary, expensive, and is likely to be installed by a skilled technician. Web-based phone systems are very easy to extend.

Why your business needs Unified Communications?

As an alternative to your old phone system, it's time to adopt unified communications. Generally speaking, it is a comprehensive service that enables all employees in your company to communicate in a way that provides the best business results. Most unified communications components are based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which gives you the ability to communicate from any location using a single phone number, extensions, and features.

Looking more specifically at the benefits of a VoIP PBX system over an older phone system, there are several advantages. You have the option of using both physical phones and "soft phones," which are computers or mobile devices that use specialized communication system software. The VoIP PBX system also connects to all of your business locations, enables you to respond to messages and requests in a timely manner, and can be easily scaled up or down at any time. In short, a VoIP PBX system grows and grows with the ever-changing needs of your business. Your outdated phone system limits your options for serving employees and customers, and it ultimately cuts into your profits.