telecom department

Streamlined Systems – 5 Ways to Improve Office Efficiency

May 1, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Source: Geralt/Pixabay

It’s getting hard and harder to make a dollar. Living costs are rising, but wages are not keeping pace. What’s more, most business’ profit margins seem to get narrower by the day. Rather than make drastic changes that could impact those around you, it’s time to turn your office into one of efficiency to benefit your bottom line. Here’s how to do it:

Update Your Communication Methods

If you haven’t heard of cloud unified communications, then you’re missing out on dramatic savings that could have a positive impact on your business. Unified communications are an advanced phone, video, email and messaging system that merges all these different communication methods into one.

You can make and receive phone calls from anywhere in the world on your official business number, use instant messaging and group chat, and even utilize voice and video calling. Even more eye-opening is the price tag. Unlike traditional phone systems which are complex to maintain and expensive to upgrade, modern methods such as unified communications are scalable and affordable.

Time Tracking Technology

Did you know that over 30 percent of employees waste at least half an hour of work time every day? That might not seem like a lot, but that equates to around four hours every week, per worker. It can make you wonder whether your team’s roles as are streamlined as they could be.

Time tracking technology can help you to establish how much time a particular task takes. While some staff may see it as a privacy invasion, that’s not its purpose. Once you know how long a job takes to complete, you can find out whether some staff can take on more work, or if others need a helping hand.

Team Project Management Applications

Remember in school when everyone had a job to do on a team project, but something always went wrong? Crucial data fell through the cracks, someone didn’t pull their weight, or people forgot which job was theirs.

The workplace can be a lot like that without appropriate project management applications in place. Time equals money, and if you can save time with streamlined project management applications, why wouldn’t you? Such apps have digital paper trails, task allocation, and instant messaging so that everyone knows where they are.

Integrated Workplace Management Systems

When you’re trying to make your workplace more efficient to boost profitability, the last thing you want to do is spend more money. However, that’s often the answer. If you’re going to spend it anywhere, invest in integrated workplace management systems.

Such software can spell the end of most of your everyday programs, transforming them into one easy-to-manage system. In the long-run, you’ll save time, cut down on expensive fees, and make your workers’ days a little bit easier.

Give Your Workers Freedom

While offering your staff freedom doesn’t sound like efficiency, it can have more of an impact than you think. Give your team the freedom to turn their office space into a place for them, and productivity will follow.

Studies show that 17 percent of those with custom workspaces were more enriched and empowered than workers without anything to call theirs. Even a family photo and a few knick-knacks can make all the difference.

Cutting costs isn’t always about redundancies, downsizing, and cutting back on stationery purchases. It can be as easy as focusing on efficiency and productivity to save time. Time is money; let’s not forget. Find out whether your workers’ roles are at full capacity, and invest in beneficial technology to make their lives easier. The financial rewards will follow.

The Best NBN Ready Routers for 2019

November 26, 2018 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Are you looking for very fast internet speed? Then what you need is a NBN (National Broadband Network) ready router.

These routers come at the speed of 12Mbps, 25Mbps, 50Mbps and 100 Mbps. To download your files at these speeds, you need to get yourself a modem router that is compatible with your location’s NBN’s chosen type of technology. In this article, we are going to present you with a selected choice of NBN ready routers that are available in 2019.

NetGear DGN2200

At the price of $128, you can get NetGear DGN2200, which is a wireless modem router. It comes in unique style and shape. Next to being able to handle fibre and NBN cable functionality, it is also an ADSL2+ modem.

It provides you with N300 Wi-Fi, as 2.4 Ghz single-band transmission. It offers you all that you require, and works well with NBN FTTP/FTTH type connections. It’s a quality router that has a wireless that can perfectly cover your home.

TP-LINK TD-W9970

TP-LINK’s TD-W9970 is capable for all the fast transmission speeds, up to the most wanted 100 Mbps speed. It is a Wireless N VoIP VDSL/ADSL modem router. It utilizes VDSL technology to achieve such high speed, in this case VDSL2. The price is great – only $89.95.

This router is a great choice in the case that you have ADSL2+ connectivity right now, and are soon going to be provided with VDSL2 NBN. It’s backwards-compatible with ADSL technology, so you can get it as soon as possible.

NetGear DM200 High-Speed DSL Modem

NetGear’s DM200 is a great router for NBN compatibility, but it doesn’t have the feature to work as a wireless router. The price is good – it is available for only $89. It is made to work with ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+, VDSL, and VDSL2 technologies.

If you are only looking for a wired connection, the LAN port can be directly connected to your PC. There is only one LAN port, so it’s a great router if you already have a powerful Wi-Fi router in your hands. If you don’t, then you might want to look for another option.

D-Link G225 N300 ADSL2+/VDSL2 Modem Router

D-Link’s DSL-G225 is a modem that works with all the available NBN speeds. Its internal network speed is 10/100 Ethernet. The same as TD-W9970, this router is compatible with VDSL and ADSL technologies.

When it comes to wireless distribution speeds, they are at 300 Mbps over the 802.11 n Wi-Fi standard. This makes it a really great choice for a NBN ready router. Next to impressive features, it also looks great, so it’s a router that you’ll want to try out. It comes at the price of $99.95.

NetComm NF10W

NF10W is a beautifully designed VDSL/ADSL modem router which works perfectly for NBN via the FTTN model, making use of fibre connectivity to a node in your basement (FTTB). There is a separate WAN port that can work with Gigabit Ethernet, which is 10/100/1000, or in other words, one that can get speeds of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps.

For LAN purposes, it offers four Fast Ethernet ports, which are compatible for 1/100, or 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps speeds. Furthermore, you get N300 wireless connectivity. The cost is $104.

NetGear D1500

Another NetGear product – D1500 comes at the cheap price of $49. You should keep in mind that unlike most other routers discussed in this article, it isn’t VDSL2 compatible. It is an ADSL2+ router that works with fibre and cable. This means that it has a dual LAN/WAN port in the back, which works with NBN by utilizing FTTH delivery only.

This router’s ADSL2+ capability is at 20 Mbps. When it comes to its Wi-Fi speed, it is at 300 Mbps. It includes only two LAN ports for Fast Ethernet, which has higher speed than standard Ethernet, but lower than Gigabit Ethernet. This means that you can reach speeds up to 100 Mbps. Due to only two LAN ports, it’s not suitable for more than one device. Netgear has launched some super fast 2019 Modem router models.

Linksys X3500 N750

If you are looking for a Gigabit Ethernet device, with the speed up to 1000Mbps, then Linksys X3500 N750 is the right choice for you. It comes with an ADSL2+ modem, and is one of the more expensive choices, being $130. It does a great job at distributing NBN connectivity through your home.

Its Wi-Fi standard the same as other routers that utilize 802.11n. However, it works on dual bands, which means that its Wi-Fi transmission is boosted to 750 Mbps. Its downside is the design that looks quite outdated, and it offers less features than some of the other choices in this article.

Conclusion

A NBN ready router is your path to fast internet speed. Take into consideration these reviews of some of the best routers out there, and make your choice. Remember to make sure that the modem is compatible with the NBN’s chosen type of technology in your area.

Also, another thing to bear in mind is the security aspect of your gear. IT Support Sydney specialists recommend looking only at routers that have WPA2-PSK or greater encryption methods.

Though most routers will have WEP and other methods available as well, make sure to tick the WPA2 method and, of course, to choose a strong password at least 12 characters long, with spaces, numbers and other uncommon symbols. And finally, to ensure the best speed possible out of your Wi-Fi, check the channel availability and choose the least busy channel.

Key Tips on Boosting Your Leads for Better Long Term Profit

October 31, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Have you checked the status of how your business is fairing lately? As you know, there is massive competition as well as an overflow of supplies in every field. To survive, every small business requires new buyers and leads. Each day, you should generate newly qualified leads; otherwise, it won’t take long and you will be out of business.

If you have a small business, most likely, you have a limited budget when it comes to marketing for leads. Therefore, it becomes important to utilize those leads for profit¾otherwise you will be out of money and the business won’t grow. Here are some important tips which you can immediately initiate to start getting more lead conversions online.

1. Know Your Market

Identify the psychology of the market you are targeting. Find out what the market is thinking, identify the pain points, find the customer requirements, and determine other important aspects of your market. You should not limit your search to their needs but look for what they truly want from a product or service.

· Remember, the most important thing to identify is consumer problems. What issues do they potentially want to address with one of your products? Also, find out when your target audience is online and where they spend maximum time. Additionally, demographical considerations such as income, gender, age, etc. should be made.

· Being a business owner, you are always at the advantage of communicating directly with the customers, and you can build great long-term working relationships with them by asking what you can do for them.

2. Speak Their Language

You should understand and talk exactly the way your customers expect. The choice of words should be according to them. It is understood that people give more priority to the problem being solved¾the product, service, and its features come after that.

· Present yourself in a problem-solving way. For instance, instead of saying, “how to communicate through email,” say “how to utilize emails to generate effective business leads.”

· The advantage with small businesses is that they are very close to their customers. So, next time, think about how to promote your business so that it provides the results that customers want.

3. Ask For Small Actions First

The biggest mistake that small businesses make is that they directly go for the sale immediately after the first conversation. Take your time with the customer, it will pay off in the long-run.

· First, try to get your prospect’s email address by offering either a free valuable report, or videos rich with information.

· With time, they will understand what your business can offer and then you can help them in solving their problems.

4. Give Something of Value First

It is well-understood method¾if you want to build a relationship and trust with a prospect, you should first give something that is valuable for them.

· Provide them with information or talk to them about their issues and how you can offer solutions. Give them quality information and better content.

· You will build stronger trust and relationship with every piece of valuable information that you provide.

5. Know Your Numbers

Being a small business, it is not advisable that you spend money on digital advertising or buying clicks. Proper planning can help you at being profitable¾even on a smaller budget.

· The first thing you should do is to identify your marketing goal.

· Second, find out the results you want to achieve and the number of leads you are expecting to get so that they can be converted into buyers.

· Identify the average conversion rate from lead to customer. These are important numbers that you should know.

Other vital numbers that you should be aware of are the worth of the buyers, such as their initial spending in the first month and what’s expected over a lifetime. From all of these numbers, you can find out how much you should invest in a lead so that the conversion provides profit. Since the goal is not to just generate leads, your leads should be profitable as well. By having those numbers and analyzing them properly, you will be able to act accordingly and grow your business.

6. Maximize Value for Every Lead as Well As Every Buyer

A simple word can do a lot for your business: Follow-Up. You should keep in touch with your audience all the time.

· Do not limit the follow-ups to the first day or the first month, remain in touch with them until they buy or until the time they exist in your list.

· Consistently provide them new offers, even if it is a weekly webinar or a free consultation.

· Provide them quality information and add value to their life. Along with those, remember to add a call to action.

These are six tips that you can use (just like we do at Fone Dynamics !), that will certainly be beneficial to your business. These will give your business the opportunity to generate more profitable online leads without spending too much.

John Taylor

John is a long-time professional with over two decades of experience in analytics and communications technology. He works as the Senior Data Analyst at Fone Dynamics, a leader in call tracking, voice, and SMS communication. When John steps out of the office, he loves to spend time with his family and bike riding.

Guidelines to Choose the Right Phone System for Your Business

October 16, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Image: https://pixabay.com/en/phone-home-telephone-numbers-2127/

Choosing a business phone system is a very important decision. A decision that requires a lot of research and consideration. Different businesses have different needs, especially when it comes to a phone system. A small coffee shop could probably get by on a personal landline and mobile phone combo. On the other hand, a city centre hostel with 100 plus beds will need a business phone system, such as a virtual PBX, to handle multiple incoming calls, facilitate call transferring and be ever reliable with no downtime. If you need a business solution there are plenty of options out there for you. Read on for 3 of the most popular business phone systems along with pros and cons of each.

Traditional Landline

When you think of a traditional landline we think of our home phone line. They are slightly different when talked about in a business sense. Business landlines are typically supported by a phone company. These are analog systems that run on the phone companies existing technology. This technology is usually traditional copper wiring.

To run a traditional landline, you need local PBX hardware. This hardware is what enables you to use business phone system features such as call transferring etc. They enable the use of multiple phone extensions.

Some business landline systems run as a hybrid with VoIP systems (more on them so). The traditional phone line comes into your business and then connects to your data network. The data network is then responsible for connecting the multiple business phones to the central line.

Many landline systems are now being phased out by most system providers.

Pro: Landline systems have been around for ages so are reliable and time-tested. A lot of companies like what they know, which is the traditional landline.

Con: With the prevalence of the cloud most providers are moving away from landlines. This means they are more difficult to purchase and, more importantly, repair should something break.

VOIP Systems

Where landlines use copper wires to get you connected, VoIP systems use the internet. They tap into your companies existing connection to enable your phone system. VoIP systems provide great business features such as automated attendants, call queues and computer integration. Some of the highlights include allowing voicemails left over the phone to be sent to email inboxes and computers to be turned into "softphones."

VoIP systems give remote employees and users access to the business VoIP phone system from their mobile device so they can work on the go without the hassle.

Pro: VoIP systems provide the complete business phone package. These VoIP systems are easily set up and configured, and are a lot more cost effective than landline systems.

Con: The downside, however, is that these systems rely on your internet connection. So, if you’re in a community with spotty internet service, this type of phone system wouldn’t work for you.

Virtual PBX

Virtual PBX phone systems are the next step in the evolution of business phone systems. The Virtual PBX phone systems differentiate themselves by being hosted in the cloud instead of being on-premise. And that eliminates many of the challenges associated with traditional systems and provides all the benefits of the cloud technology it is based on.

A virtual PBX phone system is securely stored in the cloud on a server that is accessible and configurable via a web interface. Virtual PBX phone systems uses internet protocol or IP communications, allowing businesses to make calls over the internet. The difference is mostly invisible to the average user. The only change you’ll see is that instead of plugging your phone handset into the wall socket, your plug your IP phone directly into your modem.

Pros: Cloud-based systems like virtual PBX mean no local hardware to purchase and maintain. Your provider takes care of that for you. You can set up and configure the system for your business, all from your computer.

Cons: Not having your own hardware means that if there are any problems it is out of your control and up to your provider to get them fixed

Think about the services we’ve talked about here and align them with your business needs. Choosing the right system for your business will help it thrive while avoiding headaches down the track. If you need some more advice ask the team over at https://www.cloudtelecom.com.au/ what would be best for you. The right phone system for your business is right around the corner.

Things to Consider Before You Switch to Hosted PBX

September 5, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Are you one of the businesses that is considering a move to a hosted PBX phone system, but are not sure if it is a smart decision? You know that you are not happy with your current outdated system and you see competitors using hosted PBX systems to add a number of really cool benefits that help them be more efficient and effective. But with every change, there are plusses and minuses to consider. So you would like to know: Is it a smart move to get a hosted PBX phone system now? Here are some important things to consider:

The Size of Your Company:

Generally speaking, Hosted PBX phone systems provide the most advantages for small businesses with 12 employees or less. If your employees are spread over several locations, this will put less strain on the overall system and more employees can be accommodated.

Bandwidth Costs: In terms of cost of the phones and flexibility, hosted PBX cannot be beat, but you need to also consider additional bandwidth costs that will become costly as you begin to add more people on the system. This will cause a spike in your bandwidth costs and you need to calculate how much this will add to your bills every month.

Call Quality: Another consideration is call quality. Today most company’s employees are on the internet all the time. There is information going in both directions and this is taxing on the connection. Calls through a hosted PBX phone system are routed through the Internet and as with all such connections are affected by unknowns in the cloud. These events can lead to issues like latency that affect call quality or worse events that in-effect cause outages due to loss of signal or call routing. Although generally short lived in duration, these issues can and do occur. You obviously need to have a consistent amount of bandwidth in order to get great and consistent call quality. Depending on the Internet speed available to your business this may be a problem.

The Cost of Set-up:

Router and Lines: When you decide to purchase a hosted PBX system, technicians will visit your office to test your connections to ensure you have enough power and data speed to support the system. If you do not, you’ll have to first upgrade your power and high-speed internet connection. Once this is done, you will have to purchase and have installed routers and equipment in order to make the system function properly. Therefore you will incur set-up costs that depending on the size of your company can run into the thousands.

Handsets: Hosted PBX requires that you purchase IP phones for the system. These phones vary in price from a low end feature phone costing about $100.00 to higher-end full featured phones costing up to $300.00 each. Each phone has a built in Ethernet port where the PC can then be plugged in. It is better though to have each phone connected to its own switch or router port for more throughput and better consistency and you will be able to separate voice and data.

As with any purchase for your business you need to do your homework and research the different types of packages that hosted PBX providers offer. There are some packages that take into account multiple business locations, others that take into account fast growth, and some that have plans to compensate for areas that will likely experience Internet outages. Be clear about the specific needs of your business so you can decide which package serves your company best.

Hosted PBX provider like Cloud Telecom provides free handsets on the monthly packages above $20 AUD . Visit our website https://www.cloudtelecom.com.au to check out our competitive hosted pbx pricing or call 1800 358 339 for more information.

Flicking the Switch – 5 Easy Office Additions to Simplify the Workplace Experience

March 29, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Think of all the time we spend in our working environments.

Most people in full-time employment spend 38-40 hours at work per week. If you were to add that up for every week of the year (and factor in 4 weeks of annual leave per year), you’d get 1,824 hours per year. That’s a lot of time to be spending in a complex, unhappy workplace.

If you’re looking to enrich, simplify and brighten your working days, look no further. Here are 5 ideas for easy additions to your office to help keep your daily grind more manageable.

Upgrading Your Technology

One of the most challenging and overly complex parts of many modern workplaces is the (often archaic) and convoluted technologies we have to work with. Forward-thinking workplaces are adopting smarter, easily integrated technologies, like VOIP ( try Commander Centre VoIP Phone Systems) which allows workers to communicate instantly with the use of voice, over a safe, stable internet connection.

This eliminates some of the haziness of email communication and the constant back-and-forth emailing can bring.

Bring The Outside In

This might sound counter intuitive, but bringing a little bit of the outside world into your workplace can create a mood of lightness, brightness and calm.

Q: How can a workplace bring in the outside world?

A: Plants. Indoor plants can add vibrancy and much needed fresh air to an otherwise dull and grey working environment. Plants remind of of our connection to the outside world, and they are great for creating transitions between employee work spaces (rather than bland partitions and doors).

The inclusion of plants in our workplaces is also thought to add to our productivity – welcome news for both employers and employees!

Breaking Out

A fun and varied workplace environment encourages colleagues to congregate and feel at ease in their surroundings, and it can also create a further sense of calm (see above).

Create spaces within spaces at your workplace; like an area for relaxing with a coffee, or for lunch-breaks. If you have the room and the resources, add an area with games (table tennis, table soccer, air hockey). Some other less-noisy (and costly) ideas include adding a craft area (with basic supplies like magazines, glue, scissors and paint for scrapbooking) and providing a coffee machine. A well caffeinated workplace is a well-working (and fast working) workplace! It’s a ‘daily grind’ you can really get behind.

Encouraging employees to use these little spaces also reduces the time spent outside of the working environment, which can add to overall business productivity. It also encourages creativity in the workplace, and provides an outlet for stress relief.

Keep A Central Portal

Another simple (often overlooked) factor in creating a simplified, happy workplace, is to have an easily available employee portal, like an ‘intranet’ site. These are one-stop-shops for employee information, contact numbers, and important HR/Payroll notices. Referring employees to a company intranet site for information and important information is much easier, and much more reliable than individually disseminating information.

Light & Easy

Another so-simple solution to workplace doldrums, is the introduction of ambient and bespoke lighting.

To achieve this, place lamps, lanterns, and other devices which distribute and diffuse light (in more pleasant ways than traditional fluorescent tube lights) across the workplace accordingly. An added benefit to doing this, is that it can modernise and redecorate a tired workplace. Win, win!

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There are many cost effective and easy solutions to the myriad complexities of workplace life.

Armed with some of the fixes above, you will hopefully have a better understanding of how to introduce calm and simplicity into your working environment.

What You Need To Know About NBN

February 15, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The Federal Government of Australia has funded the project for the nationwide project known as The National Broadband Network, in order to offer and provide users (home and business) with a reliable and fast connection.

The Federal Government has committed to help in building a mixed technology network (aka multi-technology mix or MTM). This includes many houses being connected to a core network that use fibre optic cables. They would provide satellite internet options and fixed wireless network for those houses that are not physically connected to the NBN.

How to connect to NBN?

Connecting to NBN is totally free (including all the required equipment). Unless you are changing to a new NBN package, you really don’t have to do anything.

All over Australia there are many homes being connected to this network. In many cases its being done by laying fibre optic cables under the street, so don’t be surprised if your neighbourhood has work going on for it too.

It is necessary to note that, even though the connection to NBN is completely free and covers all the cost of installation, you will still have to pay for the monthly fee to your network provider for the packages you pick. You may also be required to pay for the installation of hardware. There are 7 kinds of NBN connections which are as follows.

FTTdp – Fibre to the Distribution Point
FTTP – Fibre to the Premises
FTTB – Fibre to the Basement
FTTN – Fibre to the node
HFC Cable
Fixed Wireless
Satellite

Why do people need NBN?

People have now started to realize the importance of connectivity through the internet. Almost everything these days is related to the internet whether it’s watching movies or shopping or anything else. The internet has changed the way we live and work. It’s a fast paced life now for everyone therefore a fast connection of NBN is really important. NBN is simply a method of future proofing the homes and business in Australia.

People at home or business owners require faster speed of connecting to the internet these days because of the different needs of people. Streaming videos, playing video games online, connecting to servers and databases all make it important. It is the era Netflix rather than cable TV, and there is huge shift to the way people use entertainment through other means than just TV.

Fast internet speed is ideal for people who conduct businesses, and need to connect internationally through video conferencing, or students doing distance learning and need to video dial in to a classroom. People running a business online also need a high internet speed because all of their work is online.

There are many NBN packages out there to choose from, so research and compare NBN plans.

Research concludes that due to the technological advances, thousands of new jobs and opportunities are created. This has been majorly credited to the benefit of the internet.

Important factors to consider before buying a Hosted PBX phone system

July 6, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

With global internet speeds increasing & dependability on communications so prevalent, many organizations are considering making the move to a VoIP phone system. Hosted PBX is a type of VoIP system that allows a business to eliminate expensive, on-site phone system hardware and utilize cloud PBX infrastructure to run their phone system. Moving to this type of service has many benefits along with its associated risks. When implemented correctly, a Hosted PBX phone system can significantly improve the way an organization communicates & reduce expenditure by up to 50%.

Below are 5 key questions to ask your supplier when you are evaluating the transition to a Hosted PBX phone system.

How secure is the VoIP system?

As Hosted PBX phone systems are located on servers on the internet, they can be prime targets for hackers. If the system is not properly protected, an intruder is able to make calls from your phone system and run up massive costs in a very short period of time by calling international premium phone numbers. If you are considering a Hosted PBX solution, it is essential to make sure the security measures of your VoIP provider are up-to-date and that they have state-of-the art hardware and software firewalls in place to protect your system from unwanted intruders.

Are your current phone requirements supported?

Even though VoIP phones have more features that traditional phones, sometimes the VoIP phones will not support simply functions that you use on your current PABX phone system. Ask your supplier if their Hosted PBX platform supports functionality such as call parking, BLF (Busy Lamp Field) indicators on phones, intercom functionality and call queuing. These are basic functions that 20-year-old PABX phone systems can support, yet some Hosted systems cannot replicate. Request a demo of the proposed phone system so you can try before you buy.

Is faxing supported on VoIP?

Sending & receiving faxes over VoIP technology can be both challenging and erratic. Fax technology was only designed with analog networks in mind. If faxing is essential in your business make sure you have a fax service that will work over VoIP and work the way you need it to. Some suppliers provide an ATA (analogue telephone adapter) that works with your existing fax machine while others provide full cloud fax solutions. Understand how faxes work over VoIP with your provider prior to switching.

What happens if the system goes down?

If the Hosted PBX provider’s system is not available, your phones will not be able to access the system at all. This means you will not be able to make or receive calls. Missed calls can cost an organization millions of dollars of lost revenue depending on how long the system may be down. However, in the event of a system outage Hosted PBX systems have unique & flexible abilities to automatically forward calls to another network, such as a mobile phone or backup PSTN service. It is important to find out what backup measures are offered by your provider for in the event of an outage. A total internet network outage maybe be when there is a local power failure, or a physical on-site hardware fails or potentially when the provider’s system/server goes down. Automatic failovers are essential for continued operations when running a Hosted PBX.

Can the system be scaled or upgraded?

One huge benefit of a Hosted PBX system is that there are often no restrictions to how big or small your system can scale to. Providers will structure their plans and infrastructure differently so ask them what restrictions there are on extensions & simultaneous calls. Make sure you think ahead because how you communicate today is completely different to how you communicated 3 years ago, and it will be completely different in another 3 years’ time.

Enhancing customer experience through voice and collaboration

July 30, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Technology continues to amaze us when it comes to voice and collaboration tools. The benefits that it has created when it comes to enhancing the customer experience are incredible. In a way, it is almost like having a physical presence with the customer, where you can walk through your presentations almost as you would if you were physically there. We will look at howvoice and collaboration tools are used and the benefits that they are providing both businesses and customers.

Leveraging the VOIP technology (Voice over IP) and Telephony systems

These systems are a step up from the traditional phone systems that we would previously have in the office. These smarter systems can store data that is received and share it with the relevant groups. For example, a voice message can be stored and accessed from another location via email notifications.

Another solution is providing easy to access national and international numbers where available. This gives the business a stronger professional image and the numbers can be directed to your department of choice.

The routing options that are available means that your business will always be accessible, regardless of where you are. You have the ability to route calls to your mobile phone or to distribute the phone calls between departments. Additionally, businesses will be able to configure their phones to their operating hours during the days, weeks and holidays.

Furthermore, businesses can receive reporting access for their calls. This data is valuable for businesses that want to improve their customer service process, to track telephone drop offs and to identify any issues that need to be resolved as a part of the overall CRM process.

Integrate the system in with your wider technology and CRM systems

One of the incredible things about the technology is the way the technology can be integrated into the business’s CRM process. The collaboration tools can allow different teams to share and collaborate with documentation; information, materials and knowledge that will help address the inbound queries.

Instant messaging with technical support desks

One of the major game changers has been business’ ability to provide live help through their website to the visitors. This type of customer support can potentially be the difference between keeping a customer, losing a customer or making a new sale. The support can be linked to various teams within your organization. Whether the person enquiring is in need of technical support, accounts or sales support, the needs of the visitor can easily be allocated to the department of expertise to assist them with their query. Furthermore, it can help to reduce the caller drop off time and customers frustration with waiting in phone queues.

Leveraging international teams that will allow you to have 24/7 access

Additionally, the business can utilise remote teams or virtual assistants to assist with their customer service enquiries. It isn’t uncommon for businesses to use virtual assistant teams that are based in India, Pakistan, the Philippines or in other parts of the world where the labour cost is much cheaper and they can still deliver the same quality service. The collaboration technology allows these teams to be plugged into the organisation, as if they were operating locally, creating a streamlined customer service process.

The systems available now offer a more scalable cost effective solution

One of the most impressive features of the technology is how cost effective the solutions can be. There are options where you can invest in the hardware. However with the improvement in smartphone technology, there are options available where it can be set up virtually. These virtual options have a lower operational cost and these costs are then passed onto the consumer.

Regardless of the business’ size, there is a cost effective opportunity to invest in voice and collaboration systems that will enhance the customer experience. Look into scalable options that will suit your business needs and boost the perceived value of your business today.

India gets warnings on chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE

December 8, 2012 by Sheldon Leave a Comment

Indian Research body C-DoT has dialled and informed the telecom department to bar Chinese network vendors Huawei and ZTE from bidding and putting in tenders in the communication ministry’s Rs 20,000-crore broadband venture involving the roll out of a national optic fibre network (NOFN) that will take high-speed internet in India to new levels.

Huawei, ZTE Security warning in India for optic fibre bidding

A top research wing of the government has raised concern over two Chinese companies, primarily engaged in telecommunications equipment and services in the country

Ref: http://www.timesnow.tv/

The research body, in an internal note or memo to the Indian telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar, says India must keep Chinese telecom networks – Huawei and ZTE out of sensitive government projects in the aftermath of a recent US congressional report that warned both Chinese gear-makers pose a security threat to telecom networks worldwide.

The Indian agency C-DoT has urged DoT to allow 100% domestic sourcing of GPON gear for the NOFN venture by tweaking preferential market access (PMA) norms, in light of “a 22% cost disadvantage for electronics manufactured in India compared to imports”.

What is National Optical Fibre Network ( NOFN)

Project to be implemented by NOFN‐SPV namely Bharat
Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL).
Govt. of India to fund the project through the Universal Service
Obligation Fund (USOF). Rs. 20,000 Cr.($4B)
Suitable Tri‐partite MoU to be signed by GOI, State Govt & BBNL

telecom department

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