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3 Good Technology Decisions that will Fuel Business Growth in 2022

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Many businesses are finding they are weighed down by technology choices they had to make quickly during the pandemic.

With little time to assess communication platform pros and cons, they made quick purchase decisions that may have been awkward for employees to navigate, saddled businesses with unanticipated costs, and introduced performance problems that frustrated staff and customers.

The beginning of the new year is an ideal time to ensure you have a communications platform that’s designed — from the ground up — to deliver the reliability, agility, and efficiency you need to optimize productivity today and respond quickly to unanticipated changes tomorrow.

To take advantage of that opportunity, you’ll want to make 3 smart choices:

1 – Choose the Cloud to Streamline and Strengthen Your Technology

The cloud is the easiest way to simplify and supercharge your communications technology. By consolidating disjointed communications tools into an all-in-one, cloud-based solution that offers team and video collaboration, mobility, and voice capabilities, you can unleash greater productivity and performance, while eliminating the cost and resource burdens of managing your current systems.

2 – Choose a Proven UCaaS to Meet Your Needs Today and Tomorrow

Customer and employee expectations have permanently changed. Businesses have gained new confidence in their staffs’ ability to work from anywhere. Employees value the balance that hybrid working environments provide. And customers just want great service — and don’t care where the employee supporting them is working from. That’s why TCI is partnered with Mitel and RingCentral to empower our clients with the world’s leading UCaaS technology.

3 – Choose a Trusted, Local Partner to Customize Your Migration Path

Your business has already made investments in its communications platform. You’ll want a migration plan that takes that into consideration. Look for the guidance of a local partner with extensive expertise in the full range of VoIP deployments — including on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud systems. TCI has been serving the DC region’s businesses and public sector for 40+ years. That’s why you can trust our experts to ensure your transition to the cloud will be based on a customized migration plan and timeline.

Choose the Freedom to Focus on the Future

If the communications platform you put in place during the pandemic isn’t providing you with all the functionality you need to grow and meet new challenges ahead, now is an ideal time to press the reset button.

Contact TCI to help you make the right choices for your business. Call us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

Digital Transformation in 2021… Keeping Up with Touchless & New Ways to Connect with Customers

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Adaptation has always been a necessity for survival, but now businesses are finding that they have to adapt virtually overnight to stay afloat. Touchless technology in the form of contactless payments, expanded mobile app offerings and remote contact centers is becoming the new normal for businesses across industries.

Touchless technology is impacting the B2C world primarily in payment transactions and customer communications. For example, contactless digital payments are replacing traditional paper checks in many transactions. While the primary driver is health and safety, there are other benefits: digital payments are received faster and cost less to process, improving cash flow and reducing costs.

B2B companies, as well as organizations with call centers or large sales teams, have had to quickly figure out how to stay in touch with customers and clients via a largely remote workforce…

  • Unified communications technology keeps the lines of communication open from any device and any location.
  • Cloud-based VoIP phones enable employees to communicate and collaborate via voice, text and screen share, making it easy to assist customers even when working from home.
  • A unified communications contact center empowers businesses to communicate with customers via chat, SMS, voice, email and social media – all with a virtual workforce.

All companies should consider the impact touchless tech will have on how their business is run, and we encourage you to explore Digital Transformation and new avenues of communications with your customers.

Looking for new ways to connect that will grow your business? Contact TCI today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

How On-Site, Wireless DECT Phones Offer SMBs Cost-Effective VoIP & Flexible Communications

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Smaller companies need mobility and flexibility. Employees have to be reachable by customers or colleagues from any location in the office or in the building. But your resources are stretched thin and you’re juggling a lot of balls. What should you do?

Going with VoIP DECT phones from TCI and Mitel provides an on-site wireless communications solution. Using a DECT mobile handset or headset, your people can transfer calls, set up conference calls, access the company directory, and more.

With one-touch speed dial everyone can communicate easily and quickly no matter where they are in the building. And because VoIP DECT phones use encrypted technology, you can be confident that all conversations are secure.

Quality, Security and Reach

Cell phones are great, but you can’t depend on them for a clear connection in every setting. With DECT mobile phones you get high-quality sound with no crackling or drop-offs. Both handsets and headsets include an ambient noise filter – essential when you’re calling from a busy environment. DECT’s use of encrypted wideband voice technology provides an extra layer of security to ensure conversations are confidential.

Ease of Use and Installation

VoIP DECT phones are intuitive with user-friendly features, applications and softkey prompts that will enable your people to manage calls with little or no training.

Systems are configurable via a web-based interface. A base station can support up to 20 cordless phones. The unit fits in a small enclosure that can be mounted on a wall or placed on or under a desk. You can expand the system by deploying additional base stations and add more lines without running more cable.

Although the phone’s range from the base station is 150 feet (50 meters), if you need a little more room you can simply add a repeater in another part of the building to boost the signal.

Everything You Need

Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean you can’t have all the bells and whistles the big guys enjoy. For example, using VoIP DECT phones with a cloud communications solution, your people can access a company directory, transfer and forward calls, use call waiting and hold functions, and conduct conference calls.

When choosing a VoIP DECT phone, ease of use should be a priority. Look for features such as a color backlit handset, intuitive menus and navigation, and a speakerphone option. A long-lasting battery should be a requirement, so you don’t have to worry about recharging mid-day.

If your small business is ready to sound like a big player, contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

Webinar Recap… Supporting Your On-the-Go Workforce with Mobile-Ready Cloud Voice Services

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Workers today are no longer tied to their desk. They’re working in the field, traveling, and balancing time between office and home – proving that how work is done is more important than where it is done.

In this Mitel webinar, you’ll learn how you can better support your free-range workforce with cloud communications and collaboration tools. Among the topics covered:

  • How the workplace is shifting and creating new demands for a mobile workforce
  • Ways collaboration tools increase business efficiencies and user productivity
  • Why providing employees with the right tools will make your business more successful

Watch the webinar now [28:22]

TCI mobility experts enable work anywhere, anytime, on any device. Support your on-the-go team… Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

How VoIP Phone Technology Closes the Communication Gaps for Small Teams & Business

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Integrated VoIP phone solutions facilitate collaboration with intuitive, easy-to-use technology. They can improve business outcomes and help you compete with the “big guys.” Here’s how VoIP phones can be a game changer for your business…

Enhance Collaboration without Sacrificing Mobility

With VoIP phones, everyone in your company stays connected, no matter where they work. Using a smartphone mobile app, your employees can take their in-office phone capabilities wherever they go. Employees can seamlessly transfer calls across devices and tap into features such as audio, web and video conferencing, group messaging and SMS to instantly connect to office colleagues.

Focus on Business, Not Your Phone Service

Because VoIP phones are easy to deploy, your employees will transition to your new system with minimal disruption and minimal training. This means your staff will spend more time on the big picture and less time on non-productive tasks. With new technology that’s updated regularly, frustrating service problems and dropped calls become things of the past.

Plus, native integrations with the leading CRMs mean your contact center can run at full throttle. Call and customer histories are integrated so you can analyze the data and uncover insights that will help your team make more meaningful connections with customers and prospects.

As your business expands, your VoIP phone solution adapts to your changing needs. You can add functionality, employees or locations as needed. Because there are no physical landlines required for VoIP phones, the systems are very cost-effective to scale.

Improve Your Bottom Line

VoIP phones also deliver the benefits of unified communications without a steep investment. When you move your phone system to the cloud, you can manage your IT budget as an operating expenditure (OPEX). Instead of incurring hard costs for equipment that may become obsolete within a couple of years, you pay only for the capacity you need at the moment. As requirements change, it’s easy to scale.

Another benefit of the OPEX model… Your VoIP phone provider is responsible for technical support, reducing the need for your IT team to be continually involved with upgrades and maintenance.

When it comes to deploying VoIP, you can count on your local TCI team. We handle all the details, set up everything and get your people up to speed on Day One. Contact TCI today: (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

 

Looking for a Way Out of your VoIP Contract? Check Out this Buyout Offer!

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With fast-paced changes in technology, service plans and pricing, you could find yourself saddled with an out-of-date phone system sooner than expected. Don’t let outdated technology slow you down.

With our flexible TCI Advantage Service, you can empower your teams with tools that help your business achieve greater efficiency and productivity.

We’re looking to help you tear down the barriers and break free. To help you switch, we’ll buy out your contract for up to $200/line.

Here’s how TCI Advantage stacks up against the competition:

Feature

TCI

Vonage

Ring Central

 8×8

HD Voice✓✓✓✓
Simultaneous ringing✓Optional✓✓
Analytics✓✓✓Optional
Group chat✓✓
Mobile first technology✓
Fully integrated collaboration software✓
Extensive integration with over 10+ CRM Systems✓
Mix-&-Match Licenses✓
Buy out your contract to help you switch✓

Don’t miss out on this Limited Time Contract Buyout offer… Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

6 Easy Steps to Prevent Phone Hacking

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Phone hacking, also known as “phreaking” costs businesses billions of dollars every year.

Decades ago, hackers accessed the public telephone network using a series of tones input via a “blue box” to fool Ma Bell into allowing them to make free long distance calls.  Now hackers can access phone systems through voicemail ports to make free international calls.

The good news is that there are simple measures you can take to ensure your phone system stays well protected.

  • When installing new equipment, always change the access credentials from the default settings.
  • Never use easy passwords such as 1234.
  • Routinely review itemized telephone invoices for any anomalies.
  • Ask your service provider about their fraud monitoring policy.
  • If you have more than one administrator accessing the telephone system, make sure they use unique access credentials.
  • Whenever staff members leave the organization, immediately disable their access credentials.

Your phone and IT systems are essential to your daily operations. Set up time with TCI to talk about implementing best-practice security measures for your business.

Ready to learn more?  Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.