This blog is our first blog post in a series of four posts called Bases Loaded: A Technology Grand Slam for SMBs. 

What is a Telecommunications Grand Slam?

Over the past few years, we have come across many customers who have found themselves behind the eight ball regarding technology trends. What started out as a conversation about buying a new phone system, moved into a more strategic discussion about preparing themselves for the future; a future that has already arrived for forward-thinking companies, leaving legacy voice and data technology behind and creating an affordable, nimble and reliable platform that makes the most out of the Cloud and VoIP.  

So many customers have been so successful in embracing this ideology, that we thought we’d share the Grand Slam story!

We will address four distinct technology challenges that when addressed together, can provide your company a smooth and fast gateway to the future.  We’ll present the business case of finding a total solution that encompasses these vital business services:

• Business telephone system
• Monthly phone and data costs
• Voice & data reliability and redundancy
• Creation of a Cloud-ready network

Combined together, many small businesses will find that the bases are loaded with real business value and an opportunity for a technology grand slam.

Remembering the Good Ole’ Days Legacy Business Phone Systems

Legacy business phone systems that were purchased 10-15 years ago are still in use within many organizations. In reality, it wasn’t that long ago but for CEOs or CFOs who purchased these systems, many hardly remember the transaction. Just a few years ago, the environment in which you up-fitted your office for a business phone system looked much different than it does today. 

First of all, business owners were accustomed to buying phone systems as a capital expenditure of upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. In the past, I frequently told phone system buyers that when they bought a phone system it would likely be the most expensive capital acquisition of that year. 

Additionally, these legacy telephone systems were built with technology that is now completely obsolete. These phone systems are likely no longer be supported by the manufacturer and parts are increasingly difficult to find. What’s more, legacy phone systems were not designed for an environment of remote and mobile workers, which is today’s norm.

The entire telecom landscape has changed – and when I say “entire,” I mean the way business is done. The price, how you capitalize the cost and basically, the entire way you consume voice and data to meet your business needs has been revolutionized.

What to Expect from Today’s Business Phone Systems

Replacing Obsolete Equipment Costs Less

First, prices for business phone systems have tumbled substantially, so businesses will pay much less for their communications going forward. Instead of enormous capital expenditures in hardware, customers can select Virtual PBX, where they really aren’t buying the PBX – they are only purchasing the telephones. Cost is a fraction upfront of what it used to be.

By getting rid of obsolete equipment, you dramatically decrease the chances of catastrophic failure. Plus, you eliminate the administrative costs of maintaining an outdated system, such as support plans, spare parts, and valuable IT staff time spent on administration.

Features of Today’s Business Communications: Connectivity

When it comes to features, today’s solutions enhance business communications in the world of distributed and mobile workforces, breaking down the geographic walls.  

You couldn’t have a remote phone or mobile phone tied into your company’s phone system. In a legacy environment, employees working from home or in the field used their home phone or personal smartphone. Combined with the employee’s desk phones, this meant any one user could have three phone numbers and voice mailboxes with no connection between the three. Now you can do away with all of that and control all of your business communications from one integrated system.

So What Does it All Mean?

In summary, business owners who understand how the world has shifted over the past decade, from consumerism to distributed workforces, to the technology behind telecom itself, should understand that modern technology will provide substantially greater communications. On top of that, it can also be a big win from a financial perspective, as we’ll explain further in our series. We have hit our first single and the game of savings and productivity gains has just begun.

Tune in for our next blog post, Second Base: A Technology Grand Slam for SMBs – Monthly Services.