Are Wireless Phones Right for Your Business?

A company may be classified as a small or medium-sized business, but that classification doesn’t always extend to its facility size. In fact, some SMBs, function in large spaces across multiple floors or buildings. And, while an SMB’s total staff may be small, even the smallest staff is sure to have one employee whose job duties require mobility across the facility. If your business falls into one of these categories, then incorporating wireless phones into your system might be a good fit.  

Wireless phones enable employees to be available to communicate throughout facilities with large square footages by using repeaters, access points and other wireless range extenders to expand the area of connectivity. For example, a manufacturer may have access points in the front office and at several spots inside the warehouse to provide a strong wireless signal across the entire company.

Employees are freed from the tethers of their desks when using wireless phones. They can stay in touch while moving throughout the company – even over many square feet. While some may argue that cell phones offer the same mobility, there are clear advantages to choosing wireless phones.

Overall, wireless phones offer greater control. When using cell phones, signal strength depends on the cell phone provider. That signal strength may decrease when moving across a large facility, limiting cell phone usage to certain areas. Using wireless phones allows you to control the signal strength via strategic placement of the access points – ensuring that your employees can take or make crystal clear calls no matter where they are in the building.

Control of call handling is maintained with wireless phones, as the full functionality of your phone system is available on them. So calls can be easily transferred, parked, sent to voice mail or handled in any other way the phone system allows. If your system has call log or call reporting features, calls to wireless phones are included. On the flip side, using cell phones may limit call handling functionality to the capabilities of that phone.

Costs can also be more easily controlled, as you avoid both the hassle of monitoring and paying individual employee cell phone bills – which can easily skyrocket depending on the cell phone plan. With wireless phones, the calls are part of your system.

Wireless phones also help streamline operations. They reduce the need for overhead pages, which can be distracting in office settings and often missed by employees in warehouses or on production floors. Consequently, they also eliminate the need for mobile employees to interrupt their workflow to locate a free phone on which to take an incoming call. For the caller, this means no delay waiting on hold while the employee tries to find a phone.

Calls are handled faster as callers reach the right individual the first time. There is no need to try an employee’s office desk, and then a cell phone. Callers dial one number, and get the person they need. For example, IT managers can keep a wireless phone with them at all times. As they are mobile most of the day handling tech issues, they can constantly be available to take calls.

In fact, wireless phones can benefit a number of industries, as shown in the current customer examples below.

Retail

Wireless gives you the ability to walk around the store while remaining accessible and maintaining the complete functionality of the phone system. Sign for incoming freight, check the stockroom, set up window displays, greet VIP customers or process paperwork – and never miss a call!

Many of our florists use wireless phones to remain connected while moving around their shops from the storage room to the design table and everywhere in between.

Medical Facilities

Wireless phones have become a standard at most hospitals, keeping nurses and technicians accessible at all times. Specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient and smaller medical facilities, can benefit from wireless in the same way. Having a wireless phone lets you move from the main desk to an operatory room or office while staying connected to the phone system. As a result, the need for paging staff and returning calls is eliminated and call management is streamlined – leaving patients and concerned family members happier.

One of our customers, a veterinary hospital, is benefiting from this technology too. For instance, an owner may call in to find out how their four-legged family member is recovering after surgery. A nurse or technician can put the caller on hold while walking to the recovery room, check on “Rover’s” status, and quickly reconnect with the caller to report that information.

Nonprofits

In the world of nonprofits, often times each employee must wear multiple hats. Such is the case for one of our nonprofit customers. Rarely do their employees remain tied to their desks. At the same time, calls from various stakeholders are constant and cannot be missed. A missed call from a partner agency or potential donor means a missed opportunity to enhance the organization or increase revenue. A missed call from someone the organization serves means a missed opportunity to help a person who needs support.

By giving the receptionist a wireless phone, the organization has helped eliminate missed calls. While tackling multiple duties around their large facility, the receptionist has the wireless phone at all times, responding to each stakeholder’s need quickly. 

Manufacturers/Distributors

Production and warehouse floors are busy, noisy places. A cacophony of sounds makes phone conversation difficult and can prohibit employees from hearing overhead pages. Furthermore, workflow can be interrupted by the need to locate a free phone to take the call.

T o eliminate these issues, several of our customers have issued managers wireless phones so they can easily handle calls in real time. Since phone system functionality is retained, a manager can quickly put the caller on hold and move to a quieter area or pass the call to another employee on the floor. As a result, calls are handled faster and the impact to employee workflow is reduced.

Call Alternate Access at (919) 831-1860 to learn how your business may benefit from the integration of wireless phones and access points.