Communication has always been an essential service in any business. It enables organizations to interact with their customers, is a vital element in teamwork, and is critical for collaboration. Since the commercialization of the Internet, changes in communication technologies have enabled businesses to communicate in new and efficient ways.
The rise of cellular technology empowered the mobile workforce. Data communications enabled email, instant messaging, and video conferencing.
Even the traditional voice call has moved away from the conventional telephone exchange and utilizes the Internet via protocols such as Voice over IP (VoIP).
With all these technologies increasing the mobility, efficiency, and productivity of your workforce, businesses often question the relevance of traditional telecommunications.
Even though the world has made a monumental shift to mobile communication technologies, the conventional landline is still an essential business tool.
VoIP may be replacing telephone exchanges, but your business still needs a fixed line service.
Here are five reasons why having a landline remains a vital business requirement:
1 – Call Quality
There is no doubt that cellular phones have transformed the workplace. Having the capability to make and receive calls from any location at any time has revolutionized business and society. However, if we compare the quality of the two different communication mediums, a fixed line easily beats a cellular phone.
Cellular phones are prone to dropping calls, and the quality of each call varies. Depending on how busy the network is, your distance from the closest cell tower, and the hardware and software, your user experience differs significantly.
Dropped calls and poor call quality are frustrating when we talk to friends and family. However, in an enterprise setting when you are relying on the service to make sales and communicate with your customers, it can be disastrous.
Landlines provide a clear, crisp call quality, do not disconnect at the most inopportune moments, and ensure that your side of the connection is stable and operational.
2 – Disaster Recovery
When disaster strikes, communication is an essential service. If all your comms run via your data line and the Internet goes down for whatever reason, it severely impacts your ability to communicate.
Modern telecommunication solutions are also dependent on power. Unlike traditional telephone exchanges, VoIP solutions run on hardware that requires a conventional power source. Should your primary facility suffer an Internet outage or power failure, and you do not have a traditional telephone system, you will be unable to make or receive calls.
Cellular phones may be useful in these circumstances, but they do run on batteries that eventually need recharging. The towers which power the mobile network also run on electricity. In certain areas, they may have battery backups or even generators to keep them operational during a region-wide power outage. However, if the blackout extends past a day or two, they will eventually shut down.
3 – Security
Because mobile phones operate on radio frequencies, the chances of someone intercepting a call is much higher than it would be on a land line.
Modern smartphones are also prone to malware infections when users download and install malicious apps. Some of these apps give hackers the ability to eavesdrop on conversations. They can even perform sophisticated surveillance on users through their phone’s camera and microphone.
Fixed-line communications are more secure than mobile phones.
If an organization is still using a traditional telephone exchange, an intruder would need to physically intercept the call by either utilizing a wiretap or installing a listening device on the physical handset.
VoIP services offer several safeguards and enhanced privacy features, but as they are effectively software solutions, they too are susceptible to hacking. If you need to ensure the security of your voice communications, then a landline solution is your best option.
4 – Management and Maintenance
Traditional telephony solutions have been around since the turn of the previous century. The longevity of the conventional telephone exchange makes it an exceptionally mature platform.
Managing and maintaining a platform that has been around for such a long time takes far less effort than implementing a cutting-edge solution. As a platform matures, the number of issues diminish, and these factors make it easier to manage and maintain.
Modern communication solutions do not have the same level of maturity, which is evident from the voice quality. As research and development funding typically targets newer technologies, the level of management and maintenance required is much higher.
Vendors release new features and patches and these need to be tested, installed, and configured on the new system. This constant development increases the maintenance overhead of the platform.
5 – Market Perception
In the business world, perception is a reality. If your organization does business and only uses mobile phones, some customers may perceive your enterprise to be small and unreliable.
Landlines give potential customers a sense of comfort as they associate them with size and trustworthiness.
Even though mobile phones have been around for decades, people still perceive businesses with fixed line numbers as stable and reliable. There is no correlation between the stature of an organization and the communication medium it chooses, but this perception remains a reality.
However, organizations do not need to install a legacy phone system to make a good impression. VoIP solution providers can offer organizations a fixed line service. With VoIP, organizations can present a stable and reliable front to the market while leveraging the benefits of a modern communication platform.
Telecommunications Still Matter in a Mobile World
Your business needs a communication platform to interact with customers and provide a solution for internal collaboration. The internet and mobile devices may have transformed the way business and society communicates, but fixed line telecommunications remain relevant in today’s cloud-first, mobile world.
Even though cellular platforms provide mobility, increase productivity, and enhance efficiency, there is still a place for fixed line services in the modern workplace. Landlines offer better voice quality, improved resilience when power and Internet outages occur, and enhanced security. They are also easier to maintain and create the market perception that your business is stable and reliable.
JMARK has been helping companies in Springfield, Tulsa, and Fayetteville increase their success with the help of innovative I.T. solutions for thirty years. The driving force behind everything we do is to help our clients leverage technology to save money and achieve their goals. To learn more about how we can help your business implement an effective and efficient communication solution, contact us today.
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