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! 

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. 

How Your Cloud-Based Phone System Ensures Adaptability

March 28th, 2024

 

If you’re reading this in your pajamas, you know a shift in workplace culture is happening. According to a Gallup survey, 40 percent of remote-capable employees have shifted to either hybrid or exclusively remote work between 2019 and 2023. It’s not just home or office; hybrid work is the fastest-growing work style. That means employees want to move seamlessly between the office, their home, and everywhere in between.    

How can they tap into the same communication tools they use at work when working away from the office? The answer is cloud-based phone systems.   

Cloud-based phone systems provide flexibility that can adapt to your business needs, whether you’re expanding your team, working remotely, or maintaining a tight budget. Today’s office is everywhere, and flexibility, scalability, mobility, cost-effectiveness, and security are essential. How do cloud-based phone systems help you achieve those qualities?  

Flexibility  

Cloud-based phone systems offer several features that give businesses the flexibility to remain adaptive. Remote access capabilities are a significant benefit. Avoiding the need for robust, professionally installed hardware means an employee or the entire office can move without disrupting communication. 

There’s also the benefit of customization. Cloud-based phone systems offer customization options, including the ability to create custom call routing rules, voicemail greetings, and hold music. These options allow businesses and even individual employees to tailor their phone systems to their specific needs, providing a tailor-made customer experience. 

Scalability  

Any business that has grown quickly knows that even good problems can come with frustrations. Unlike traditional phone systems, which require physical installations, upkeep, and upgrades, a cloud-based system can quickly adapt to your growing business needs. 

Whenever you need to, you are able to quickly and easily add or remove phone lines, extensions, and features without investing in expensive hardware or software upgrades. With a cloud-based phone system, you are able to scale phone services according to your business requirements and budget.   

Plus, a cloud-based phone system can provide helpful features, including call forwarding, automated attendants, and voicemail to email, which can help your business run more efficiently. 

Mobility  

For many employees, flexible work environments increase productivity, job satisfaction, and employee retention. With high rates of turnover and quits in 2023, it’s important for many businesses to offer flexible work environments to attract and retain quality employees. 

A cloud-based phone system allows users to access their phone system remotely from any device with an internet connection. Remote access means that employees can make and receive calls from their business phone number on their personal mobile devices, laptops, or desktop computers, which lets them to work from anywhere while staying connected to colleagues and clients even when they are out of the office.  

But what about collaboration and social connection? 

That’s a big concern for companies that value the culture they’ve fostered in their teams. A cloud-based phone system can provide features such as voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, and video conferencing that facilitate collaboration in highly mobile or remote teams. 

Cost-Effectiveness  

Adapting to a new method of communication is only viable if it’s cost-effective. What does a cloud-based system mean for the bottom line?

A cloud-based phone system can be a cost-effective solution in many ways. First, businesses don’t have to invest in expensive hardware or software since everything is hosted in the cloud.

Secondly, providers often take care of the maintenance and upgrades remotely, eliminating the need for on-site IT teams that can service your phone system. Thirdly, the flexibility and scalability mentioned previously allow businesses to easily add or remove users whenever needed, eliminating the costs of adapting a hard-wired phone system to a growing team. 

Finally, some indirect benefits can affect the return on investment. A highly customizable phone system can help you tailor your phone system to the needs of your callers and clients, providing a better customer experience. Reaching out to your company is a pleasant experience that can set you apart from your competitors, translating to sales and customer retention. Likewise, flexible and easy-to-use phone systems can create a more pleasant work environment for employees, reducing turnover rates. 

Security  

The shift in how and where people work has raised some security concerns. Are cloud-based phone systems secure? The good news is that they are secure and may also increase your business’s overall security health. 

Cloud-based phone systems use encryption to secure communication between endpoints, ensuring private conversations. Most cloud-based phone system providers offer robust security features, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention, and advanced authentication to protect customer and company data.

Still, it’s important to choose a reputable provider and ensure that your team is up to date on best practices for data security to minimize the risks of data breaches or other security issues.

Learn How You Can Implement a Cloud-Based Phone System  

Taking your phone system to the cloud offers a ton of convenience and cost savings, and the transition is easy to make. If you’re ready to upgrade your business communication today, contact Statewide Communications to learn more.