6 Problems Modern Phone Systems Solve for Small Business

The world has changed a lot in the last couple of years. But you already know that. As a small business owner, you already know: Customer expectations have changed. Employees have changed. The economy has changed.  

What’s a small business to do?  

Start with upgrading your old-fashioned phone system. It’s the single fastest, easiest, least-expensive change a business can make while offering the biggest positive impact and ROI.  

That’s because it fixes so problems businesses like yours deal with on a daily basis. Here are just a few. 

Problem 1: “I can’t compete with Amazon.” 

Small businesses are under attack from behemoths with inexhaustible resources – 50% of retailers recently said Amazon is a threat to their business. The big guys can offer round-the-clock customer support and a deep bench of IT, marketing, analytics, and support staff. It’s hard for most businesses to match that level of customer care.  

Solution:  

With a cloud phone system like Nextiva, you have integrated sales channels, automated workflows, AI tools, platform support, and more. You can now engage your customers no matter where they want to find you – online or by phone – and open possibilities such as Buy Online, Pickup In-Store (BOPIS). 

Problem 2: “I spend more time managing apps and platforms than I do getting stuff done.” 

Remember when technology made life easier? Today, the abundance of productivity apps seems to end up creating the opposite. The average business uses between 15 and 25 applications to manage, communicate, and collaborate with customers and coworkers.  

The result? Impenetrable silos of information, confusing operating processes, and breakdowns in team communication. That means dropped balls, annoyed customers, and missed opportunities.  

Of course, there’s the expense of those apps, too. Subscriptions and stand-alone software purchases add up.  

Solution:  

A cloud-based VoIP phone system lets you do more in less time. It converts all your communications channels into a single secure stream, offering intelligence, automation, and team collaboration on a single platform.  

That keeps your team on the same page and your customers happy.  

Problem 3: “My operating expenses are out of control.” 

Inflation is at the top of everyone’s minds these days. If you’re scrutinizing every outgoing penny, look at your phone system. You’re probably paying a lot more than a cloud-based phone system.  

Additionally, when there’s a problem, ask yourself: “What does it cost me every day, hour, and minute my phone system is down?” 

Solution:  

With unlimited calling, businesses save as much as 60% on domestic phone calls and 90% on international ones when compared to traditional landline and PBX systems. With multiple layers of redundancy, including eight data centers with 24/7 monitoring, Nextiva boasts 99.999% uptime for its system.  

Problem 4: “My employees are quitting because they demand flexibility I can’t offer.” 

Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk told employees they had a choice: Come into the office every day – or quit. Their answer: “So long, Elon.”  

The age of hybrid work is here to stay, and even the world’s richest man can’t change that. Today’s younger workers—and many older ones--have come to expect flexibility in their jobs, starting with where they do their work. 

Solution:  

With an integrated, software-based phone system, calls automatically route to where they need to go. Location flexibility is also great for employee morale, but it offers employers plenty of benefits, too: 

• Higher staff retention rates 
• Measurable increases in productivity levels 

• Wider talent pool for recruitment 
• Savings on furniture, office space, and travel expenses 
  

Problem 5: “My customers expect me to be everywhere all the time.”  

Today’s consumers are creatures of an omnichannel world. That means they have 24/7 expectations—they want you to be available at all times via phone, text, and email. And they also want answers quickly: 60% of customers felt that being on hold for just one minute was too long. You and your team, however, would like to sleep, eat, and have a life.   

Solution:  

With cloud-based communications solutions, you can monitor your customer’s journey to easily see where it begins, where the weak links are, and what your star sales channels are. With tools like automated attendants, you can have an AI-enabled response to ensure your customer experience is smooth and immediate and drive customer satisfaction and loyalty through better customer experience across the buying cycle.  

Problem 6: “I can’t afford an IT guy for my phone system.” 

Competition for IT talent has never been fiercer, affecting companies of all sizes. While you may be interested in a cloud-based system to handle your communications, you’re worried that you’ll have to hire a staff to implement and maintain it. 

Solution:  

Just the opposite is true. In most cases, Nextiva can be set up in minutes—no IT department is needed. Because it’s based in the cloud, Nextiva lets you make changes in seconds. Our top-rated customer service team offers concierge implementation and user training if you have more complex needs.  

The Bottom Line: Change is good. 

No matter what problems you encounter, you’re not in this alone. With a communications partner like Nextiva, you get access to leading technology and a partner that cares about your success and is committed to making you reach your goals.  

We’d love to talk about how we can help you solve your challenges. Contact us today.