In this blog entry, the professional New York VoIP service and NYC area business telecommunications technology experts here at QTech will detail the top 6 signs that indicate that you need to update your business’s communications systems.

Outdated Software and Hardware

One of the main signs that you need to upgrade your commercial communication systems is that your hardware and software is generally outdated. Obsolete or outdated communications technology  can generally increase downtime while employees are communicating with each other or with customers. Outdated software and Hardware can also generally increase the cost of your commercial operations. Many businesses today use non-digital Legacy phone systems or outdated communication tools like fax machines. This outdated technology lacks the features and capabilities needed for modern business operations, with little-to-no support for interactive / net-based cloud communications. If your business still utilizes traditional desk phones with limited functionality, or if your communications software is no longer receiving updates or support, we recommend upgrading to modern telecommunications hardware and/or software, so your business can better take advantage of advanced security and communications features, as well as integration options with other business tools.

Lack of Scalability

While your business grows and evolves with time, your telecommunications systems should be able to scale along with your organization. If your current communication system is having trouble adding new users, new locations, or new communications demands – or if the costs for support and maintenance are increasing, you will need to upgrade your technology. Legacy communication systems cannot handle the demands of modern businesses. Scalable communications systems allow for easy expansion for your enterprise with no performance sacrifice, allowing you to communicate seamlessly while opening new offices, hiring more personnel, or moving in brand new markets.

Improper Collaboration Features

With the advent of remote work, internal and external collaboration frameworks are more important than ever. If your business communications system doesn’t have collaborative features like instant messaging, video conferencing, or file sharing, you will need to upgrade it. Modern VoIP systems and cloud-based telecommunications platforms have integrated collaboration tools that help real-time communication between team-members regardless of their physical locations, improving efficiency and synergy, and improving engagement with customers.

Bad Integration With Other Technology

Modern efficient businesses rely on smooth integration between a range of different applications and systems. If your communication system is having issues integrating with your other business tools, it can isolate information pockets and slow workplace efficiency. It’s essential for customer support teams to have instant access to customer / order information, and by communicating to a communications system that can integrate smoothly with CRM (customer relationship management) software, project management programs, and other technology and applications that you utilize, it can streamline your operations and reduce operational costs.

Increasing Maintenance Prices

As communication systems age, the cost of maintaining them often does as well. If you are dealing with increasing maintenance costs for your current communications technology, it behooves you to consider upgrading to a modern and more efficient system that will have much more affordable maintenance – as well as improved general reliability. This means you will NEED maintenance far less often, and when you do, it will be much cheaper, and much easier to locate any necessary replacement parts or software support.

Customer Frustration

If your customers are frustrated with delayed response times, dropped calls, missing information, or any other issues related to your commercial communications, it’s a great idea to upgrade your business communications system. You can drastically improve customer satisfaction by upgrading to a phone system that boasts IVR (interactive voice response) features, and other features like integrated customer service frameworks and call routing features.