By Emma Lewis, bOnline
The landline switch-off is coming! From the end of next year, traditional copper landlines will cease to exist. Technology has moved on, with households and businesses up and down the UK now looking for digital alternatives.
But it’s not just phones that will be affected. Many other business systems all also need to be considered and upgrades made. Here we take a look.
Communication Systems
Businesses that currently use traditional landline phone systems should move over to a digital phone system such as VoIP to deal with incoming and outgoing calls.
VoIP (which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol) enables the transmission of voice and multimedia content over the internet, converting analog audio signals into digital data packets for efficient communication.
Modern VoIP phone systems like those offered by bOnline also come packed with business-friendly features like call divert, video calling, voicemail, hold music and much more.
These can not only give your business a more professional look but also mean you never have to miss an important call again. And because calls are transmitted over the internet, VoIP digital phone systems can be accessed from anywhere where there’s data or Wi-Fi signal. Great for working on the go.
Alarm Systems and Monitoring
Businesses using landline-based security and alarm systems may need to upgrade to newer technologies that also use the internet or cellular networks. These could be security systems like CCTV or safety alarm systems. Certain businesses, especially those in healthcare or other critical sectors, may also need to review and update their emergency communication systems.
Point of Sale (POS) and Payment Processing Systems
The vast majority of businesses accept card payments these days, but some of the legacy systems that facilitate this may still use landline connections. This means it’s well worth checking and upgrading to a digital POS or payment processing system if needed.
Fax Machines
Whilst fax machines tend to be few and far between these days, businesses that are still using them will need to check if they’re affected by the landline switch off. If so, a transition to online fax services or other digital alternatives may well need to take place.
CRM Systems
It’s worth considering not just the landline systems themselves, but other systems that integrate with them. One example of this is Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems that integrate with phone systems, as they may need adjustments to accommodate the switch to digital.
Regulatory and Legal Compliance Systems
In preparation for the landline switch-off, businesses should check to make sure that any systems related to legal or compliance requirements are updated. This will help them to meet new standards associated with the switch-off.
Don’t Let Your Business Get Left Behind
The specific impact of the landline switch off will depend on many different factors, and no two businesses are the same. Things that make a difference include what the current technology infrastructure is of the business, as well as what industry it’s in and how much it relies on landline-based services.
The fact is, the landline switch-off is unavoidable. But choosing the right digital replacement for your business can be tricky. That’s why we’ve put together a range of articles to help:
