What’s Better For Business: Cell Phones or VoIP Desk Phones?

So, you’re thinking about whether your company really needs a business phone system, or if everyone can just stick to their personal cell phones? Let me share a little story that might change your mind.

A few years back, I decided to go car-less for a bit, thinking, “Why pay for a car when I can Uber everywhere?” It was fine until I had to haul my kid’s baseball gear to practice. Suddenly, using Uber became a logistical nightmare, not to mention more expensive than my car lease. This experiment taught me a valuable lesson, which applies just as well to business communications.

Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Ask them. How difficult are you making it for them?

Why You Should Invest in Business Phones and Services

1. Overall Customer Experience:

• Zero-Out Function: With personal cell phones, there’s no option for customers to “press zero” to escape voicemail and reach another team member. Imagine the frustration of having to hang up and call back!
• Hold Music and Queue Management: Without a business phone system, you’re stuck with silent holds, making customers feel forgotten. Plus, there’s no way to manage who’s waiting in line, potentially losing sales because you couldn’t respond in time.
• Ring Groups: If a call goes to a salesperson’s voicemail, that’s it – no chance for another team member to pick up the business. This isn’t just inconvenient; it can cost you sales.
• Call Quality: Personal cell phones can have spotty service, which might make your business seem unprofessional or unreliable.

2. Better Employee Experience:

• Visibility of Availability: Modern business phone systems show who’s on a call, in a meeting, or away. Without this, communication within your team becomes a guessing game, leading to inefficiencies and frustration.
• Consultative Transfers: You can’t check with a colleague if they’re available or appropriate for a call transfer. This means more blind transfers, which are less efficient and can lead to poor service.
• Separation of Work and Personal Life: Using personal phones for business blurs these lines, leading to burnout. Employees need a break from the constant ping of work communications.

3. Ultimate Accountability:

• Employee Mobility: If an employee leaves, their personal number goes with them, potentially taking clients along. A business number keeps your communication centralized.
• Call Tracking and Management: Without a system, you can’t track calls for HR, sales, or marketing purposes. This means no insights into performance or campaign effectiveness.
• Internal Communication: Lack of a good system can lead to communication breakdowns, reducing collaboration and slowing down problem resolution.

Make the Smart Choice for Your Business