With remote working here to stay, it’s crucial that businesses of all sizes, in all industries, have the right technology to ensure effective remote working. The new normal dictates that staff members need to be able to work the same way at home as they do in the office.
Outdated technology simply doesn’t hit the mark when it comes to effective remote working. Businesses need a communications solution that works consistently from anywhere and seamlessly switches between working environments, to ensure changes in circumstance don’t result in unavailable team members.
During the first national lockdown, many businesses struggled to stay connected internally and externally, as a result of outdated technology and short-term solutions, such as diverting their calls to mobiles. In any situation, it’s essential that businesses can make, take and transfer calls between departments, as well as have access to their call reporting and call management features.
With plenty of technology marketed as ‘remote working friendly’, it’s important to know what exactly your business needs to seamlessly switch between remote and office working, while staying within your comms budget. Ultimately, businesses can rely on a cloud phone system, a premium video conferencing platform and reliable business mobiles to work effectively from anywhere.
Cloud phone systems that work from anywhere
Now is the ideal time for businesses to be considering a cloud phone system. Hosted in the cloud, they’re accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, and often come with plug and play handsets which means your desk phone can, quite literally, be picked up and plugged in anywhere.
Offering a futureproof setup, cloud phone systems only require a handset to be plugged in and connected to the internet, removing the need for additional hardware, engineer visits or messy cabling. Once connected from home, or your preferred remote working space, you and your team will be able to make, take and transfer calls as though you were in the office.
Staff will easily be able to update their presence to ensure no calls are passed to them while they’re unavailable and, thanks to the online management systems, you’ll be able to update your system yourself. So, should you require a new user to be added, this can be done in a matter of seconds. Plus, that user can get working with just a laptop or computer and doesn’t have to wait for a handset to be delivered before they start to make calls.
One of the biggest, initial problems that remote working faced, was that staff members didn’t have access to everything they needed. For example, the extension of their colleagues or the notes of a customer’s account. However, cloud phone systems are built to seamlessly integrate with most CRM systems. This ensures that your data is available on your computer, your desk phone and your business mobile.
While cloud phone systems are the epitome of futureproof, the traditional features aren’t lost. For example, managers can fully utilise call reporting and call recording, ensuring that they’re aware of all calls coming in and going out. This can help with dispute resolution, training and managing staff working hours while their teams are working remotely.
Video conferencing that keeps teams connected
Video conferencing is quickly becoming the most used form of communication, not only for catch ups between teams, but for meetings with customers and suppliers.
Offering clearer communication and more interaction than audio calls, video calls are here to stay. Internally they can be used for team catch ups, meetings and company socials, making it a staple in any remote workers day.
Externally, video conferencing can be much more engaging for prospects, customers and suppliers alike. Not only can you see the recipients ‘face to face’, but you can also share your screen, utilise instant messenger and record your meetings. One of the big benefits of video conferencing is that it can be accessed from anywhere and on any device, making it vital for not only for remote workers, but office workers too.
Stay connected with business mobiles
Integrating your business mobiles with your fixed technology, such as your plug and play desk phones, ensures your teams are available anywhere, anytime. Business mobiles not only give access to your phone system while working remotely and working on the move, but they can also be utilised in the office.
Business mobiles can be twinned with your phone system, which essentially turns your business mobile into an extension of your business phone system and makes sure that no calls, or potential sales, are missed. When your business mobiles are connected to your cloud phone system, you’re able to flip live calls between devices. So, if a member of staff is on a call and needs to leave their home, they can simply switch device and carry on their call using their business mobile, with no interruption. This also allows your team to access and update the presence function, to make sure that they are taking calls when they’re able to, resulting in no missed calls and no missed sales, whether they’re remote or out on the road.
This article comes courtesy of Duncan Ward, CEO of Network Telecom, one of the UKs leading business telecoms providers, part of Enreach.
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