Companies looking to modernize must start with their communications. If your business is growing, but you are still using desk top dial up phones and cable internet connections, you will struggle to expand.  The costs of replacing communications technology not only include the technology, but also must include the resources associated with it.

When replacing communications technology, you must consider the longevity of the technology, as well as the resources needed to use it and house it. If you are replacing communications technology you might need to replace dialer software, headsets, cables, desks, servers, and enter into long term contracts. There are costs to consider when replacing communications technology like contracts, monthly payments, costs of expansion, add on products to the main service, and much more. 

There are many different providers that could help when you are replacing communications technology. The procurement process can be long, laborious, and detailed. There are many things to consider when replacing communications technology and many mistakes that you could make in the process. 

Here are some tips to consider when you are replacing communications technology. 

Why are you replacing communications technology?

Firstly, consider the why. 

Companies replacing communications technology are often coming to the end of a contract, or they are experiencing problems with their current provider. They could be having connection problems and bad lines causing customer complaints. The more customer complaints, the more likely the company will consider replacing communications technology. 

Contracts are often one or two years, so companies could consider replacing communications technology after 18 months of using one software. If the problems moving are too great, and there are not many complaints, it is common for businesses to reject replacing communications technology, and remain with their current provider.

When a contract ends, and a business is replacing communications technology, they often look for cheaper options, that have better or similar solutions. Price, quality, and functionality are the key reasons but quality is the main reason for replacing communications technology. 

Quality is driven by customer experience, dropped calls, broken lines, and complaints coming from both customers and users. When considering replacing communications technology, businesses consider the quality of the call over other factors.  When businesses are replacing communications technology, it is their opportunity to improve the quality of calls, quality of service, flexibility of service, and quality of customer service. It is a huge opportunity for improvement that must be carefully considered.

Communication has changed a lot in recent years, from telephones stuck to walls or desks, to next generation mobile devices. These new devices go far beyond voice communication, into non-voice, internet, video, and collaboration tools. Seamlessly switching between communication channels is a key consideration when replacing communications technology. 

When considering replacing communications technology, a full skill set analysis must be carried out. Understanding the skills, services, and features that you require in your communications platform is key to replacing communications technology. 

When you have listed your key requirements in your communications software, you must match them to the new communications providers to make sure that you are replacing communications technology with the best on the market that most closely matches your needs.

Ask your team when replacing communications technology

When making the decisions relevant to replacing communications technology, you must speak to users of the phone system to make sure that you understand their needs. When considering replacing communications technology, knowing how people use the services and what they want from their usage will help to make decisions. If people want mobile solutions, and flexibility, you know not to invest in a desk top solution.

How the new communication tool will be used is vital in decisions of replacing communications technology. If you will use it for overseas calling, a package involving international numbers is essential. If you will be calling landlines more than mobiles, your communications tool must reflect that.  How you are using it, and how your team use it must be closely considered when replacing communications technology. 

Planning replacing communications technology takes teamwork

When you are replacing communications technology, you want to include people in the decision-making process and not simply force change on people. There will be a need that you want to resolve which will make people’s jobs easier, or an outcome that you want to achieve which will benefit others, these must be communicated.

Customizing the new communication strategy will help when replacing communications technology and will help your users to adapt to the new technology. 

Training helps when replacing communications technology

Your new communications platform is important to your business, and without training, and guidance from the provider, you might miss vital information and not use important features. When receiving training for your decision regarding replacing communications technology you must use the platform, watch others use it, engage with it, learn from it, and have your teams use it. The faster they learn, the more usage you will get from it and the more of the many advantages you will experience. Your VIP Customers should receive calls from your new phone system, so they are also involved in the process of replacing communications technology. 

Keep your number when replacing communications technology

Your phone number could be linked to other accounts, such as your social media, your emails, or it could be on business headed paper and business cards. It is an important number for you, and it is part of your business identity.  Porting the number from one network to another can be a long process with some providers but doing it with conXhub means that it can be completed in minutes, from your network to your mobile phone.