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Communication trends: should you replace your office phones with mobiles?

Admin 30th April 2015

Traditional desk phones have long had a place in almost every office space around the world. But their reign may well be coming to a close with the rise of a new business trend known as Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD. Many companies are allowing employees to carry out their work from their own laptops, smartphones and tablets rather than company-provided technology, a practice with many advantages, that can be very suitable for the right organisation. With the introduction of VoIP and BYOD, many of the things that office phones used to be necessary for – even conference calling – could easily be carried out from employees’ own devices. If you’re thinking about adopting this trend in your own work space, there are some things to consider in your decision-making.

Familiarity

Firstly, employees tend to be much happier working from their own devices. Satisfied employees generally lead to increased productivity and a better working environment. What’s more, people frequently work more easily and competently from their own devices, as opposed to those provided by the company, as they have a much greater understanding and experience of how to use them. Again, this will mean that more work is produced more quickly and of a better quality, a sure benefit for your business.

Cost savings

Of course, there’s also the obvious bonus of greatly reduced costs. Your company would no longer have to shell out to provide each employee with the necessary technology, saving your business thousands of pounds. Even better, maintenance costs would likely be greatly reduced, as people would take a greater responsibility of looking after their own devices, and getting them repaired themselves. The pressure of trying to keep up with the rapidly developing world of technology would be hugely alleviated for you, as employees could choose to update their own devices whenever suited them.

Security

However, there are also problems that can be created by employing BYOD. It can be very risky, as employees losing their personal devices could mean sensitive company data reaches the wrong hands. Integrating and supporting a large range of employee devices can also be difficult, complicated and costly.

Still, as long as you ensure important data is properly protected, the benefits of BYOD could greatly outweigh the disadvantages for your business. Replacing office phones with mobiles may be the step your company needs into the future.

Should you hold conference calls or a video calls?

Admin 12th March 2021

A lot of us often wonder about whether to choose conference calls or video calls. There are big benefits on both sides, and some shared across the two. After all, there’s no doubt that advancements in call technology have paved the way for new communication methods at work. They allow us to host keynote presentations from across the world, offering inclusivity to those with accessibility needs. Any type of group phone call also provides a sense of connection when teammates are working apart – something particularly valuable through COVID-related lockdowns and social distancing.

But while jumping on a video call has become a knee-jerk reaction for many, it’s not without its drawbacks. Video brings some complications that traditional conference calls simply don’t have. If you’re wondering whether to organise a conference call or video call, don’t forget that sometimes just picking up the phone is the better option.

Business Conference Calls, Remote Working

How do you make a conference call more fun?

Admin 11th February 2021

It’s Tuesday afternoon and you’re already four conference calls into the week. Of course, conference calls are important for so many businesses. But making conference calls more fun should be a bigger priority. Otherwise, they can become tedious and repetitive, and morale and productivity will drop.

Whether you’re working from home and need to catch up with colleagues, or you’re calling clients, these tips will help to make your next conference call more fun.

Conference Call Tips, Remote Working

How to improve unspoken communication on a conference call

Admin 3rd February 2021

Verbal signals are an important part of all communication. But conference call communication depends on verbal and non-verbal signalling. In the age of teleconferencing (and seemingly its glory year!), they’re vital signs into how successful an interaction is. You may be pitching to a prospective client, it may be your weekly team catch up, or you may be a director presenting to an entire department. No matter the purpose of the call, if you are trying to deliver an engaging conference call, getting clued up on non-verbal and verbal signals is crucial. They can indicate that somebody is losing interest. Picking up on these feelings gives you the chance to try and improve things.

Read through our guide about some of the ways to improve communication on a conference call, by reading signals that call participants aren’t invested. We’ll also advise on what to do to turn things around.

Business Conference Calls, Business Tips and Advice, Conference Call Tips