5 Ways to tell if your phone system is out of date

25 Mar 2021 5 Ways to tell if your phone system is out of date

Your business’ phone system might not be something that often crosses your mind. Especially if you work in an industry that isn’t so technology focussed. The fact is, your phone system actually does a lot more for your business then you might realise. It’s an essential tool for both customer service as well as your internal communications. That’s why it’s important that it works at its best, and if you haven’t upgraded in a while, then there are many new features that might surprise you.

At One Connectivity, we understand that you might not be fully up to date with the latest goings-on in the telecoms industry. That’s why we aim to make things simple and relevant to your team.

Sometimes your phone system will let you know when it’s time for an upgrade. Many older systems for example will be rendered obsolete by the upcoming ISDN switch-off. For other systems it may not be so clear. To help with these we’ve put together a quick guide of 5 key ways to tell if your phone system is out of date.

1. Poor Audio Quality

This might be the most telling sign that your system is on its last legs. Many customers’ first impression of your business comes from dialling into your phone system. If they are met by grainy audio or struggle to understand you, then this can be an instant turn-off.

Modern phone systems now tend to operate via the internet rather than fixed cables. These cloud systems provide crystal-clear audio quality if a stable connection is being maintained. If you are already working with a cloud system but are struggling with audio, your connectivity service is a likely culprit. If this is the case for you then a business broadband service might be the solution.

2. Missed Calls

This is probably the most important thing a new phone system can help prevent. Globally, businesses lost £30bn every year on missed calls alone, and outdated phone systems are one of the reasons why. If you are missing calls on a regular basis, now is the time to upgrade.

Modern phone systems come equipped with a variety of useful features that make it far easier to develop your call processes over time. These include call statistics, that allow you to spot when the busiest time of day is, allowing you to assign more staff to the phones. Call recording is another useful feature. Record customer calls and use them for training purposes with new or current staff.

3. Lack of functionality

In 2021 your phone system should be doing much more than just letting you make and receive calls. It must be a platform for all of your communication needs. If you haven’t heard of Unified Communications yet, then now is the time to take a look.

UC services allow you to access the complete functionality of your phone system on a device of your choice. So if your staff prefer to handle their calls through their laptop or their mobile, they can! It also opens new avenues of communication, these include instant messaging and video calls. This presents a new way for your team to maintain successful communications with both colleagues and customers. This also extends well into our next point.

4. Lack of remote working capability

Working remotely is here to stay. Many people will choose to work some or all of the time away from the office, as lockdowns demonstrated just how viable an option it is. Our business technology must adapt to these changing circumstances and if yours does not support remote working then it is time for a change.

Once again the cloud comes in handy in this situation. With a cloud phone system all you need is an internet connection to access the services that you vitally need. This means your remote staff are never at a disadvantage, combining this with a UC system means your remote team can also access those all-important video conferences.

5. Security Risks

Telecoms fraud is becoming a huge issue for many businesses. On the average cyber-attack, thousands of pounds are lost, so it’s vital that you stay prepared. Older phone systems often don’t have the capability in place to give you a clear picture about the status of your network, leaving your team vulnerable. If you don’t currently have a plan in place for how to tackle telecoms fraud, then upgrading your system could help.

Once again call statistics can help here. They give you the clearest picture of how your business communicates, allowing you to quickly spot when things aren’t right.

Keep an eye out for international calls, calls with a very long duration and calls being made from your system during outside of normal business hours. These suspicious activities are often a sign that your system has been compromised. For more on how you can keep your system safe, get in touch.

We hope that this guide has helped to highlight some of the functionality that a new phone system can unlock. If you’re looking to upgrade, or would just like some more information, get in touch with the team. You can call One Connectivity at 0115 896 88 60 or visit our website for more information.