Companies must constantly adapt their communication and collaboration methods to the ever-changing business landscape. Recent trends indicate that more companies expect an increase in phone use over the next several years. This is according to research conducted by RingCentral. Let’s take a closer look at why this might be the case.
The Rise in Phone Use
RingCentral’s research found that many companies expect phone use to increase over the next several years. Only 5% expect phone use to decrease. 29% say phone use will increase significantly, while 34.1% say it will increase slightly. 31% say phone use will stay the same.
This implies businesses should plan for an increased need for phones and other telecom services as they move into the future. It also means investing in reliable hardware and software to handle incoming calls and ensure quality customer service.
Scalability is also essential for ensuring flexible access to your needed services. Preparing ahead of time can help prevent disruptions that could arise from changes in operating structure down the line.
Understanding the Adoption Gap Between Traditional and Cloud Phone Systems
Businesses today are presented with various options regarding how they communicate with their customers, employees, and partners. Traditional solutions like on-premise and mobile phones are on one end of the spectrum. On the other are cloud-based phone systems.
Traditional solutions still dominate when it comes to business communication. 64.8% of employees use a business number on their mobile phones, and 50.1% use their number for work-related communication. On the other hand, 30.7% of companies report using cloud-based phones for business communication. This is expected to increase with advancements in technology continuing significantly.
Why is there an adoption gap? While cloud phone systems offer numerous benefits, there is still a large adoption gap between traditional and cloud phone systems. This gap exists primarily because of fear of change and lack of knowledge.
Switching to a new system is risky because it requires time and money in both implementation and training costs. Furthermore, most businesses don’t have the expertise necessary to implement a successful switchover from a traditional on-premise system to cloud-based. As a result, many companies remain hesitant to make the switch despite the significant benefits in the long run.
The Need for Multi-Device Phone Systems
According to RingCentral’s survey, (53%) of respondents said that multi-device compatibility is the main reason for upgrading their telephone system. The ability to place and receive business calls (33.8%) comes first. It’s followed by the capability to send and receive individual business SMS messages (30.1%) from a personal computer. Finally, the possibility of having a conference call on any device (29%). This further demonstrates the importance of voice communication now and in the future.
Many businesses are looking for ways to increase efficiency and customer service. They seek features like recording calls on demand with cloud storage (27.6%) and a high-volume SMS availability for mass marketing/customer care (25.9%). The ability to port existing numbers easily onto new providers (25.1%) is another strong feature they currently seek. Automatic call logging (23.4%), visual voicemail subscriptions alongside local, international & toll-free phone options(22.5%), and eFaxing capabilities(16.3%) are not far behind.
SMS is Now Vital to Business Communications
Text messaging has become an increasingly vital part of business communication. With 95% of businesses now utilizing SMS in some capacity, it’s clear that this method of communication is here to stay. Research shows that 23.9% of companies consider text messages their most crucial method of communication. 42.5% say it’s not their primary tool but is still one of the main ones they use regularly. In addition, larger companies are more likely to view text messages as a primary form of communication than smaller ones.
The Benefits of Using SMS for Businesses
There are several reasons why business leaders have chosen to adopt this technology as one of their primary communication tools. For starters, text messaging is simple and convenient. Messages can be sent quickly and easily from almost any device with cellular service.
Customers don’t need to download an app or remember a username/password combination to access your messages—only their phone! Additionally, text messages make it easy to stay connected with customers personally. They can send quick replies right away without having to open up an email account or log into a website. Finally, SMS is cost-effective since you only pay per message sent—there’s no monthly subscription fee or costly setup costs.
Conclusion
Despite the misconceptions, businesses still largely rely on phone calls to communicate internally and with customers. To stay competitive, businesses need to have a phone system to keep up with customer demand and growth. As more companies move towards cloud-based solutions, an increased need for flexible, multi-device options that allow employees to work from anywhere is expected. Businesses also want SMS capabilities in their business phone systems to communicate better with customers.
Are you considering a new business phone system? Keep these latest trends in mind as you shop for the perfect company solution.
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