Telecoms are an essential part of every business’s operation, and they need to be managed effectively. Telecommunications technology provides the backbone for phone lines, broadband, and various connected devices, making it a vital component of modern business operations. However, it’s not just enough to have the right telecoms infrastructure in place. Effective telecom management is also essential to ensure that your communication systems are reliable, secure, and cost-effective.
Before you start shopping for telecom services, it is important to plan and have a clear idea of what you want and what your organisation’s needs are. This includes assessing your current communication infrastructure, evaluating how your needs might change if your company grows, and considering any potential disruptions that may arise. By having a clear idea of what you want, you can better negotiate with telecom providers and avoid costly mistakes.
Additionally, preparing for the worst, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or power outages, can help you ensure that your communications stay up and running, even under adverse circumstances.
Telecommunications can be a significant expense for businesses, so it’s also essential to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. By being an informed and savvy consumer, you can ensure that you’re getting the most value for your money and that your business is well-equipped to communicate, collaborate, and compete in today’s fast-paced business environment.
6 Of The Biggest Telecommunications Mistakes Which Businesses Make
- Putting Up With Coverage Outages
For businesses that rely heavily on social media or an online presence, communication outages can be particularly damaging. In these cases, businesses must choose a telecoms provider which provides a reliable service.
- High Telecom Costs
Telecommunications expenses can be a significant burden for small businesses, especially when they are unaware of how much they are spending.
This can happen when small businesses don’t take the time to negotiate favourable contracts, sign up for services they don’t need, or conduct a comprehensive audit of their current telecom expenses. As a result, they may find themselves paying more than they need to, which can negatively impact their bottom line.
- Bad Customer Service
Having unreliable or low-quality telecoms can lead to customers having a bad impression of your business. Missed calls and poor audio can give your customers a bad impression, even if your business is not directly related to the quality of your telecoms – it’s all about the impression you make.
Crystal clear VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) audio and reliable customer-facing phone lines can help your business maintain a good reputation.
- Lack of Inventory and Reports
The lack of proper inventory management and reporting can be a costly mistake for small businesses in the telecom industry. Without proper oversight, businesses may not know what services they are paying for, leading to overspending and missed billing errors. It’s essential to maintain an up-to-date inventory of all telecom assets and services, including contracts, bills, and equipment.
As part of our telecoms service, Carden Telecoms provide a thorough audit of your existing telecoms inventory. This includes identifying areas where you can reduce costs or streamline processes. This can often identify items of wasted spend like redundant phone lines, as well as opportunities for cost saving like combining multiple communication channels into a unified communications system. You may find that you are paying for services you don’t use, or that you could be getting better rates on.
- Poorly Implementing Telecom Solutions in New Locations
Setting up telecom solutions in new locations can be challenging, and small businesses often make the mistake of not planning ahead and ending up with two competing and incompatible telecoms systems within their own organisation. Each new location must join the same, unified communications network to make communicating and sharing data between different teams easy.
You may even want to consider purchasing a leased line in order to streamline data transfers between your two business premises.
- Changing Telecom Service Plans Too Impulsively
Before making a switch, businesses should assess their current usage, analyse their long-term goals, and ensure that their new plan fits those needs and is flexible enough to adapt to future changes. To avoid common mistakes and ensure a smooth transition, small businesses should take the time to research their options and compare them.
Before presenting a telecoms package to our clients, we take time to understand their business’s needs and goals.
4 Ways To Prevent Making Telecoms Mistakes
Telecommunications mistakes can be costly and disruptive to business operations, but they are also preventable. Here are five ways that businesses can prevent making telecoms mistakes:
- Invest in expert advice
One of the best ways to prevent telecoms mistakes is to seek the advice of experts in the field. An experienced telecoms consultant can help businesses understand the different options available to them, negotiate favourable contracts, and identify areas where they can reduce costs. With the right expertise on their side, businesses can make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
- Get a fully comprehensive telecoms audit
A comprehensive telecoms audit can help businesses identify areas where they may be wasting money, as well as areas where they could be doing better. This includes reviewing bills, usage reports, and contracts to identify areas where costs can be reduced and to ensure that businesses are getting the best value for their money. You can contact Carden Telecoms to book an audit today.
- Gain visibility and control of your telecoms billing
Businesses must have visibility and control over their telecoms billing to prevent mistakes. This includes monitoring bills and usage reports, and ensuring that they are only paying for what they need. Businesses can also set alerts to notify them when their usage spikes, and make adjustments as needed to keep costs in check.
- Plan ahead and forecast your costs
To prevent telecoms mistakes, businesses must plan ahead and forecast their costs. This includes anticipating future needs, such as new locations, new employees, or increased usage. For example, how would your telecoms system cope if your workload or staffing numbers increased by 20%?
By following these steps, businesses can prevent telecoms mistakes and ensure that their communications are reliable, affordable, and effective.
Don’t Make These Mistakes, Speak To Carden Telecoms Today
In conclusion, effective management of telecoms is critical for businesses to succeed. With the right planning and preparation, businesses can avoid these mistakes and ensure their telecoms are reliable, affordable, and effective.
We hope this blog has provided valuable insights into common telecoms mistakes and ways to avoid them. Deciding on the right telecoms system is a major decision and seeking expert advice can be invaluable. That’s why Carden Telecoms offer a free business telecoms consultation to discuss options for your business telecoms needs. If you’re ready to take the next step and ensure your telecoms are working for you, not against you, contact us today.
