Category Archives: Manage Service

Why Companies Should Switch to VoIP

voip operatorVoice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the replacement for a traditional phone line. It allows you to make and receive phone calls wherever you want. It’s the natural progression of the humble telephone.

This might be the first time you’ve wondered whether a VoIP system is right for your business. In this article, we’re going to discuss why being able to communicate with this technology can benefit your organization.

What You Heard Before Doesn’t Apply

Many businesses haven’t switched to VoIP because they remember what it was like when it initially appeared. The sound quality issues have been repaired and in many cases, receiving a call over a VoIP system is superior to a traditional phone line. You also have far more features than a standard phone. Remember, VoIP harnesses the power of the Internet as well.

Reducing Costs

VoIP uses your data network to leverage calls. Traditional phone networks don’t do this. You have to use a third-party to leverage calls. By handling telecommunications yourself, you’re reducing your costs. You can save hundreds of dollars a month on incoming and outgoing calls.

For a big business, this can translate to thousands of dollars saved in the long-term.

More Flexibility

The biggest benefit of VoIP is the sheer amount of flexibility. Let’s just take a look at some of the examples relating to flexibility:

1. You can take your phone system around with you. As long as you can connect to the network in some way, you can talk wherever you want.

2. Purchase a special type of software with your package and you’ll be able to make and receive calls on your computer or laptop through a soft phone. This is ideal for companies receiving regular calls because they can be combined with specialized headsets.

3. Use virtual phone numbers. VoIP isn’t fixed to a certain geographical area. Now you can use an area code for any state in the country. This is particularly advantageous if you’re trying to give off an illusion of being a local business

Easy Movement

Moving business premises is a hassle due to the fact you have to call the phone company and get them to move your number. VoIP can work from anywhere. Your geographic location is irrelevant. It means you can move around the country and retain the same numbers.

This is particularly useful if you have a memorable number you want to keep for the sake of your customers and your marketing campaigns.

Your Control

Phone companies often vary in quality when it comes to support and the packages they offer. VoIP puts you in control. If there’s a problem with the network, you’re the one in control. You aren’t relying on a third-party to sort the problem out for you. In the world of business, this is a major advantage to your telecommunications arrangement. To make sure you do not have any problems, also install an appliance that delivers Quality of Service (QOS), which will ensure that your phones have the bandwidth necessary to make phone calls when you need to and not have the echo and chatter of the past.

 

Importance of Integrated Software Technologies and the Efficiencies Gained

softwareThe goal of Integrated software is to combine many different software features into one program. There has been an increasing emphasis on doing this in recent years and it’s not always the same launch pad. It can be a suite of programs sold together in the same package.

According to Forbes.com, employers in the U.S. believe that integrated software has increased efficiency amongst their employees by at least 20-40%.

Common examples of integrated software that have changed our lives include Microsoft Office, Apple Works, and the Adobe design packages. Integrated software offers a range of different benefits to businesses.

We explore some of these benefits in this article.

1. Cutting Business Costs and Raising Revenue

The main advantage to integrated software is the reduction of business costs. For a few hundred dollars, you can get the same number of features as many single software packages. A business of any size that has to purchase multiple software types will see that a significant investment will need to be made.

As well as cutting business costs, there’s the potential for raising the amount of revenue brought in. In many cases, there are more features with integrated software packages allowing the business to do more, plus many companies see a large increase in productivity.

2. The Impression You Give

We already know having multiple software types in one place will increase productivity, but this has an impact on the impression you give off. The increase in efficiency could give you an advantage over a competitor.

If a potential client is busy weighing up the pros and cons of each business they want to work with, the increase in efficiency that integrated software provides could be the telling factor. It could mean the difference between winning that next contract and losing out to another firm.

3. Reduce Tech Infrastructure

The advantage of combining two or three pieces of software into one also reduces the need for tech infrastructure. This is beneficial for a number of reasons.

First, you’re guaranteed to experience less downtime. Let’s say you need four pieces of software to carry out your job. All it takes is one of them to experience problems and your business is instantly paralyzed.

And the chances of failure are higher because there are additional pieces of software. It’s basic mathematics.

Not only can paralysis of your business impact your ability to carry out your job, it will cost you more. You’ll need to have a support infrastructure to manage software problems as and when they occur.

Are the Efficiency Benefits Alone Worth It?

We’ve spoken many times of the efficiency differences between integrated and non-integrated software technologies, but are they worth it?

The answer is unequivocally yes. By investing in integrated software, you’re keeping your business safer. The risk of downtime is largely reduced and there’s a high chance that you’ll win additional business by demonstrating you use integrated software.

Overall, integrated software should be the main priority of any business. Increase efficiency and you’ll enhance your company’s future.

 

Why Choose a Managed Service Provider Over a One-Man Organization for IT Support?

solutionsIT support is one of those things that you don’t appreciate until something goes badly wrong. There are two options for IT support.

You have Dave the computer guy. This is the one-man firm that supports you. You normally have to conform to their schedule to get support. Managed IT services, on the other hand, involve multiple professionals running the operation. These tend to be available 24/7.

So why should you choose a managed service provider instead?

Better Service

According to Small Business Computing, 9 out of 10 small business owners said that they had received better service by working with a managed service provider. And it’s not hard to see why

A one-man organization relies entirely on a single person. If the person running it isn’t particularly customer friendly, or they’ve simply had a bad day, you won’t get the service you deserve.

This isn’t the same as an organization run by multiple people at the same time. You’re far more likely to always get someone who treats you in the right way.

Time Constraints

A one-man organization can only remain open for so long. They have to sleep sooner or later. This always puts them at a severe disadvantage when comparing them with managed providers.

Managed service providers can set their staff to work through the day and through the night. For a business, this is crucial because it gives them access to support 24 hours every day.

Another important point to remember is you’re going to get a far quicker resolution to your problem. They can also work on the problem around the clock. Remember, it’s not just about initial response times. It’s about how quickly they can solve the issue you’re contacting them about.

Evolution of Services

A large company specializing in IT support can evolve and change all the time. They can send their staff members away on courses without having to shut everything down and disappoint their customers.

One-man organizations can’t learn and provide their services at the same time. There are simply not enough hours in the day. The technology industry constantly changes, and you need your service provider to keep up with you.

Let’s look at the evolution of cloud computing as an example. Today, over half of all businesses in North America use cloud computing in some form. Go back two or three years and you have less than a quarter of businesses actively using cloud computing.

It requires a quick evolution to keep up with what’s going on in the world of technology and business. Managed IT support is setup in such a way as to make it easy to keep up with what’s going on.

Overall, it’s clear that one-man IT support is completely inferior. It hamstrings your business and makes it much harder to acquire a speedy resolution to your IT problem.