Accommodate Your Customers
September 28, 2009
Given the convenience and ease of use associated with debit cards, it’s very rare that I carry cash at all these days. Some stores seem to be stuck in the past, insisting that their customers pay with cash or leave the premises without buying anything. Needless to say, this is brash and wrongheaded approach for any savvy business to take. I’ve come to appreciate the store owners who recognize that the times are changing and update their registers with merchant credit card processing.
When I worked in sales and customer service at a book store several years ago, the credit card machine relied on dial-up Internet, and it took what felt like a century to access accounts. Although this left plenty of time to make small talk with the customers, it didn’t exactly expedite sales. Once the store upgraded, the sales numbers reflected the change right away.
New Flexibility for Your Business Phone System
September 25, 2009
Communications Assistant IP Softphone – New Flexibility in Your Business Phone System
The Panasonic Communication Assistant IP Softphone module allows road warriors, sales and support staff, or any other power user to use their computer as an IP Phone for anytime, anywhere access to unified communications; meaning their communication will be “through” the home office phone system for extremely efficient, unified communication. The user simply needs to connect to the corporate IP network over a secure managed broadband connection to enable the IP Softphone. Transferring calls, accessing extensions and utilizing voice mail all become as simple as working from a “land” desk. Your business phone system just went mobile office! On the road employees have all the home office communication support they need.
With Your Wi-Fi Mobile Device
Panasonic IP Softphone for Windows Mobile devices enables mobile workers to have anytime anywhere access to comprehensive and powerful business telephony on their Windows Mobile devices. Panasonic IP Softphone for Windows Mobile is an IP business phone system software for WiFi-enabled Windows Mobile based devices. It provides transparent access to real time voice communications and productivity-enhancing Panasonic Business Telephone System features such as call set up, transfer and multiparty conference – all in the convenience of a handheld device. The software helps you manage call appearances and provides access to speed dial numbers and other personal calling features.
Integration with Microsoft Outlook
Communication Assistant seamlessly integrates with Microsoft® Outlook® allowing users to easily dial contact phone numbers and receive incoming call pop-up alerts. A small dockable toolbar appears within Outlook, allowing users easy access to advanced telephony applications.
Just What is a Virtual Private Network?
September 18, 2009
- The Way it Works
“The world has changed a lot in the last couple of decades. Instead of simply dealing with local or regional concerns, many businesses now have to think about global markets and logistics. Many companies have facilities spread out across the country or around the world, and there is one thing that all of them need: A way to maintain fast, secure and reliable communications wherever their offices are.
As the popularity of the Internet grew, businesses turned to it as a means of extending their own networks. First came intranets, which are password-protected sites designed for use only by company employees. Now, many companies are creating their own VPN (virtual private network) to accommodate their communications needs of remote employees and distant offices.
Basically, a VPN is a private network that uses a public network – usually a VoIP system to connect remote sites or users together. Instead of using a dedicated, real-world connection such as leased lines, a VPN uses “virtual” connection routed through the VoIP from the company’s private network to the remote site or employee.”
Taken from HowStuffWorks.com
Scouting out a New Office Space
September 14, 2009
When my small business began to expand last year, we had to seek out a new office environment. The old one was becoming cramped, and it just didn’t suit our changing needs. It was my job to scope out new quarters, and the task wasn’t a simple one. I had a rudimentary grasp of the sort of space we would need – a place big enough to accommodate 30 employees, their desks and computers, and an additional space for a conference room.
After scouting out locations, I finally chose the one that seemed best-suited for the company. It had been used as an enormous single-family dwelling up until the occupant and his family moved out. Suddenly it became clear that I hadn’t done all my homework. The space wasn’t equipped for network cabling. I began to panic. Luckily someone from our company knew of a place that could handle every aspect of the wiring process – even drilling holes in the floor.
Expanding Your Phone System
September 4, 2009
a great phone system
When selecting a business phone system a very necessary component has become the business voice mail system. Whether you purchase one at the same time as your phone system or will wait until later here are some things to consider.
Voice mail systems have emerged as essential and beneficial communication tools which help all businesses to increase their productivity through improved communications. Even the basic voice mails and conferencing phones can be very expensive. Therefore, before making an investment, organizations should do some research and select the equipment which will prove to be most useful for their business.
The first and foremost area that an organization may want to consider before buying a phone voice recorders, a voice mail system or a conferencing phone for the business is, the ability or need to expand in the near future. Ignoring the near future plans of expanding may cost the business lot of extra expenditure in upgrading and restructuring the equipment in the next few years. Although it might cost more, it is always better to make a onetime investment, than making expenditures on upgrading the equipment every few years.
Given below is a checklist which will help you to choose and buy the best equipment for your business:
- Make estimation about how much your business will grow in the next few years. Calculate the number of lines and extensions that your business currently requires and the numbers that it is likely to require in the near future.
- Before interviewing sales reps for conferencing phone systems and other equipment, ensure that you have calculated and planned a budget. You should select equipment which will prove highly beneficial for your business, but is within your budget.
- Do your own research and check out the different models of equipment that will integrate with your business telephone system.
- You should go for the systems with the features that are beneficial for your business. There is no use in investing in a system with too many features as it will be expensive, and may be of no use to your business.
- After finding the most suitable voice mail system for your organization, compare its prices as offered by different vendors. This will ensure that you are buying the best equipment at the best price.
- While selecting a vendor to make your purchase, don’t get carried away by the low prices offered by them. Ensure that the equipment that you are buying are of high quality and that the company you are working with can install, program, and maintain and upgrade your equipment. If you have selected a system that can grow with you, you will need a service company to support you in that.
