5 Reasons Your Business Needs UCaaS Today

August 30th, 2024

With so many companies returning to the office, you might think that the relevance of cloud-based phone systems is waning but think again! Now, more than ever, businesses need to embrace the unparalleled benefits of cloud-based phone systems, specifically UCaaS. Here are five benefits of cloud-based phone system why: 

 

1. Support Everyone’s Favorite Work Style: Hybrid

According to a recent Gallup poll, over half of remote-capable employees are now in a hybrid work arrangement, spending part of their week at home and part of it on-site. And they’re loving it.  In fact, 92 percent of HR leaders report that it increases employee loyalty and morale! 

 

But to enjoy all these benefits, you need a UCaaS platform. Because the entire system is virtual, your employees can easily log in from anywhere and have access to your entire business communication suite. Now, they can communicate across different locations and time zones with just a few clicks. Collaboration is also a breeze since UCaaS platforms like Statewide’s have instant messaging and video conferencing capabilities.

It can also flex to accommodate not just hybrid work but all kinds of work in between. Whether your employees prefer to work on-site, off-site, or a mix of both, UCaaS platforms give you the necessary flexibility to let them work the way they want. 

2. Scalable and Resilient

Traditional systems that use TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) and POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) are fast becoming obsolete in the face of more flexible working options and expectations. They’re also challenging to maintain, prone to outages, and expensive to scale.

Because UCaaS solutions are based in the cloud, you can easily adjust to your changing needs with just a few clicks. You can take seasonal fluctuations, mergers, or rapid growth in stride!

UCaaS providers like Statewide also guarantee incredible uptime and reliability through redundant data centers and failover mechanisms, so you can stay connected with your customers no matter what. 

 

3. Integrates with Today’s Most Advanced benefits of cloud-based phone system

UCaaS is not just about making phone calls or enjoying crystal-clear virtual meetings. It has the power to integrate with – and support – all kinds of tools, systems, and technologies. For example, you can: 

  • Connect your CRM to pull up customer information instantly while on a call. 
  • Integrate with your project management tools to streamline internal collaboration and increase productivity. 
  • Plug in your helpdesk software for improved responsiveness to customer tickets and issues. 

 

Not only that, but another one of the benefits of a cloud-based phone system is how easily it integrates with more recent advancements, such as:

  • 5G: With the advent of 5G speeds, UCaaS provides faster and more reliable communications, even in high-demand scenarios like large-scale events and hybrid work setups. 
  • Internet of Things (IoT) Technologies: Imagine a smart office where your communication system connects everything from lighting to surveillance and security systems. UCaaS can do that, making your office even more efficient than before. 

 

4. Provides Better Feature Flexibility

Traditional systems, and even some cloud-based ones, often lock you into a specific feature set. It doesn’t matter if you don’t use three, four, or even half of them. That’s the package you get.

However, one of the benefits of cloud-based phone systems (i.e., UCaaS) is that they let you pick and choose the features you want. With Statewide, for example, you only pay for the features you’re using. Do you need advanced call routing but not voicemail-to-email transcription? Just let us know, and we’ll make the swap. 

 

This flexibility optimizes your day-to-day communication and cuts many unnecessary costs, which brings us to our final point. 

 

5. Incredibly Cost-Effective

Older systems are quite an investment. Between replacing outdated parts, maintaining aging infrastructure, and the odd technician’s visit if something goes wrong, your communications could be costing you thousands of dollars—not to mention the staff you must keep on hand to handle any specialized work.

However, moving from older phone systems to UCaaS can save you a lot of money. First, it moves most of the physical infrastructure into the cloud, which is historically cheaper than most traditional phone setups. 

 

When maintenance, upgrades, or support are needed, your UCaaS provider can simply log onto the platform and take care of it for you—no extra fees required!

 

Not to mention the most significant benefits of cloud-based phone systems: flexible billing options and predictable monthly payments. With providers like Statewide, you can pick a monthly plan that covers:

  • Access to the platform 
  • The latest and greatest UCaaS features 
  • Day-to-day support and maintenance

Keeping your budget on track with benefits like these provided by implementing UCaaS is certainly critical to your business’s success.

Want Top-of-the-Line UCaaS? Then Statewide’s Got Your Back 

From its library of advanced features to its top-tier security measures, our UCaaS platform is an affordable, powerful way to keep your business at the leading edge of communication.

Reach out today to experience all the benefits of cloud-based phone systems with Statewide! 

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The Advantages of Phone Calls in the Digital Age

August 22nd, 2024

There’s been a steady dismissiveness of voice calls due to the abundance of communication solutions developed over the past few decades. But since the pandemic, there has been a renaissance of sorts when it comes to the value placed on phone calls. According to Accenture, 64 percent of consumers wish companies would respond faster to meet their changing needs. In comparison, 88 percent of executives think their customers are changing faster than their business can keep up. With options increasing, the “right” communication path for various situations has been lost, but the advantage of phone calls is becoming more evident. 

  

Why Phone Calls Are Important 

You can’t deny that the reassurance felt through a sympathetic friend or family member makes all the difference when going through something. When it’s a big enough problem, your gut says to connect on the phone or, in some cases, video. Hearing someone matters so much more because context is often lost through stiff text. You can more easily get someone’s full attention, which means they are better equipped to give the necessary responses. A report from Salesforce found that 75 percent of customers recommended a company based on excellent customer service. 

The same goes for interactions with companies. Of course, text chat or emails are warranted, and nothing’s lost. Still, when there is an issue or a misunderstanding, the voice adds a layer of personalization that reassures the customer, and that’s invaluable. Empathy for the win and advantage of phone calls!

  

The Advantage of Phone Calls: Personal Touch 

A personal touch is the secret sauce of customer interactions. There will always be a layer of professionalism when dealing with customers, but it will also bring in humanity. The simple, only not so simple, show of care will be memorable to a customer. Semrush says word-of-mouth is even more effective than paid ads, resulting in 5x more sales. By breaking down the wall of cynicism, a customer comes armed with displeasure you can redirect and defuse the situation more successfully. Don’t take this power lightly; embrace it. 

  

Real-Time Communication and Problem-Solving 

The quickest way to get an interaction moving in the right direction is by talking it through. You can disagree all you want, but you know it’s true and why the phrase, “Let me speak to your manager,” exists. The word speak is right there in the phrase because speaking is more likely to resolve the issues promptly. It’s now, in the moment, real-time communication that builds a meaningful relationship. 

  

Human Connection 

This human connection goes both ways, too. Recognizing and understanding a customer’s feelings are vitally important, but the empathy of the agent they’re speaking with is equally important. Emotion and empathy shouldn’t be hidden. They must be strategically used to connect and make a difference. Authentically connecting with a customer doesn’t need to be complicated, either. Put yourself in their shoes and validate their feelings. Sometimes, it’s good to throw the scripts out; the point is to be genuine. 

  

Customer Relationship Management 

The goal is to be authentic and connect with the customer. Every experience plays into the long-term success of the relationship. If you handle the current situation in a meaningful and memorable way, you will bank some goodwill with the customer for something that may not go their way in the future. You’re not gaming the system or manipulating anyone; your only plan is to treat people properly, and a bonus is a longer-lasting business relationship. Everyone’s a winner. 

  

Embrace the Power of Voice Calls with Statewide 

Be the voice people trust with the humanity they’ve been missing, and incorporate the advantage of phone calls into your strategy. Don’t leave anything to chance. Highlight your service, especially through phone calls. Here at Statewide, our customer service is built on what we’ve discussed in the article. We practice what we preach. Contact us today to hear the difference. 

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A Decision-Makers Guide to Choosing the Right Telecommunication Solution

August 14th, 2024

Everyone wants to make the right choice. Especially when it comes to business communications because it’s what keeps your company up and running.   

But with so many telecommunication solutions out there, it can be hard to know if you’re picking the right one. 

Well, don’t worry. With a quick, ten-question quiz, you’ll be able to find your match in no time. But before we do, it’s time for a quick review.  

  

Getting to Know Your Potential Telecommunication Solutions  

There are typically three categories of telecommunication solutions: traditional, cloud-based, and hybrid.  

Traditional telecommunication solution 

Traditional telephony is your conventional landline-based system that uses copper wires and analog signals.   

Most of the time, these systems require quite onsite hardware stored in a spare closet to keep it organized. While once a reliable option, these solutions are being used less and less due to how expensive they are to set up thanks to the FCC’s recent ruling. 

Cloud-Based Solutions 

These run on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which allows voice calls to be transmitted through the internet instead of copper landlines. Several telecommunication solutions fall under this umbrella, but the most popular ones are Cloud PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service).  

  • Cloud PBX makes all your communication virtual. The system runs on servers managed by a third-party provider and is accessible anywhere via an online portal. They’re quite scalable and offer features like auto-attendants, voicemail-to-email, and mobile integration. 
  • UCaaS platforms combine all your communication tools (phone system, video conferencing, texting, and file-sharing) into one platform. This consolidated approach makes it easier to manage your day-to-day routine and cuts your communication costs.

Hybrid Solutions 

As you’ve probably guessed, these combine traditional hardware and VoIP programming. Typically, a third-party provider like Statewide connects your traditional equipment to the internet through SIP trunks, aka “virtual phone lines.” These will let you make and take calls using your current internet connection.  

Your traditional phones will continue to work like they always have, but you can save a little money by communicating via the internet.  

 

The Telecommunication solution Compatibility Quiz 

Now it’s time to run through this list and mentally circle the most accurate answers for your business. If it helps, grab a pen and paper and write them down.  

Question 1: How would you describe your business’s current communication needs?  

a. We rely on in-house infrastructure and prefer it that way.  

b. We like the idea of modernizing, but we’re not ready to let go of our familiar systems.  

c. We’re ready for our communication to be as agile as our business – modernize, modernize, modernize!  

Question 2: What’s your stance on upfront investments vs. long-term savings?  

a. We’re willing to invest upfront for complete ownership and control  

b. We’re open to investing some upfront but would also like to reduce our communication costs  

c. We prefer little-to-no upfront costs and more flexible payment options  

Question 3: How important is it for your team to collaborate from anywhere?  

a. Not very, since we operate from one central location  

b. We have some remote workers, but most of our collaboration happens in-office  

c. It’s a top priority for us, as we’ve got quite a few hybrid and remote employees  

Question 4: What level of scalability does your business need?  

a. We’ve stabilized and don’t expect significant growth or downsizing  

b. We expect moderate growth and need a solution that can adapt to it  

c. We’re growing like crazy and need a solution that can keep pace  

Question 5: What’s your stance on maintenance and updates?  

a. We prefer handling maintenance and updates in-house for better control  

b. We’re open to outsourcing some things but still want to be involved  

c. We prefer to let our provider maintain and upgrade our system for us  

Question 6: How tech-savvy is your team with telecommunication solution?

a. Advanced – we’ve got a great IT team capable of handling complicated systems  

b. Above-Average – we’re competent but may need additional training for newer tech  

c. Average – we prefer solutions that are user-friendly and don’t require extensive IT expertise 

Question 7: What’s your budget range for telecommunication solutions?  

a. Generous – we’re willing to invest whatever we need to get the proper communication service  

b. Moderate – we’re looking to balance features and affordability  

c. Tight – we need the most cost-effective solution that doesn’t compromise on quality  

Question 8: How important is integration for you – i.e., connecting your communication system with other platforms? 

a. Not essential, we prefer to manage our systems individually  

b. We’d love one or two integrations, but it’s not a top priority  

c. Having a system that easily connects to the others is critical to our success 

Question 9: Is it essential that your solution is quick and easy to set up? 

a. No – we’ve got the resources to handle any setup on our own 

b. Somewhat – simplicity is preferred, but we could handle a more complex setup with a bit of help 

c. Yes – simplicity is key! We need a solution that’s one-and-done, plug-and-play 

Question 10: What will your communication look like in five years? 

a. We’ll stick with our current systems for the foreseeable future  

b. We’ll gradually transition to more modern solutions as our needs evolve  

c. We’ll be equipped with the latest and greatest communication technology

The Results  

Now that you’ve completed the quiz, it’s time for the results!  

If you answered mostly A’s:  

You want a traditional on-premise system! This way you and your team can have full control over your communication infrastructure from start to finish. 

If you mainly selected B’s:  

Your perfect match is a hybrid system. You want the reliability of traditional hardware with the flexibility of the cloud, and investing in some SIP trunks is a great way to achieve this!   

If you chose C’s most of the time:  

You need a cloud-based system! With no upfront investment required and plug-and-play integration with other apps, it’s scalable, adaptable, and affordable.

Whatever Your Telecommunication Solution – Statewide Communications’ Got It!  

At Statewide, we’re dedicated to getting you the solution you need and the features you want at a price you can afford. Plus, each of our solutions is backed by a team dedicated to keeping you up and running no matter what.   

Want to see it for yourself? Reach out to Statewide today to see why customers are calling our service and support “nothing short of fantastic!”   

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