Microsoft Teams Phones in Modern Workplaces: Advantages & Considerations
/The modern landscape for business is changing quickly, with new innovations around every corner. Nowhere is this more evident than in communications. After a 2020 study saw half of surveyed companies report a home-based workforce of as much as 81 percent, organizations globally are adapting to a post-pandemic hybrid remote work model, meaning that effective communication went from a vital aspect to the backbone of the entire enterprise.
In this new landscape, Microsoft has been at the center of this new digitally connected world, spearheading cutting-edge communications platforms. Their cloud-based phone software, Microsoft Teams Phones, has created a one-stop-shop for organizations to handle all their internal and external communication. From increasing productivity to lowering operating costs, let’s dive into the various features and benefits of this revolutionary organizational tool.
What Are Microsoft Teams Phones?
Simply put, Microsoft Teams Phones are the next step for communication in the workplace. Most office employees cycle between dozens of apps throughout the day just to keep all of their communications in line. They may use one app to generate a report, another to email it over to the right stakeholders, a third to notify the team, and a fourth to set up a call about it, all for just one task. A report by Slack showed that 68 percent of surveyed workers spend at least a half hour every day just loading up different apps for tasks.
Situations like this can lead to information getting lost or misconstrued. It can create gaps in knowledge and break chains of communication if a single box is left unchecked by any employee. This leaves your business vulnerable and can easily lead to a slow workforce, frustrated employees and clients, and ultimately less revenue.
This is where Microsoft Teams Phones come in. It combines the ergonomics and reliability of traditional desk phones with digital software to have your workforce completely connected the instant someone picks up a physical phone. This can take the form of a conventional phone and receiver, a call center headset, or a conference room phone, turning a siloed communication system and integrating it with messaging, video calls, as well as file storage and sharing.
It doesn’t replace those apps we mentioned earlier, it consolidates them. Having a unified communications system is all the more crucial when your workers need to juggle apps on a day-to-day basis.
Advantages of Microsoft Teams Phones
Making the switch to Microsoft Teams Phones has a host of advantages that can bring your organization’s communication systems to the next level:
It Consolidates Your Communication
Using Microsoft Teams Phones brings all of your communication systems under one roof. Voice calls, video conferences, file sharing, and instant messages are all streamlined into one platform, reducing communication silos, encouraging more collaboration between teams, and keeping your organization more connected than ever before.
It’s Flexible and Scalable
If one thing is true about business, it’s that it constantly changes. Organizations that fail to adapt quickly are often left behind. With your company’s need for regular change, Microsoft Teams Phones offer the flexibility to evolve with the needs of the business itself or the industry as a whole. The added benefit is that a flexible system is also a scalable one, allowing your business to grow and expand using the same single platform to unite every piece.
Productivity Increases
It should go without saying that a company that is better connected is one that is more productive. The time wasted by redundant communications or managing multiple systems is replaced with a single, streamlined platform with Microsoft Teams Phones. Plus, it helps to prevent things from falling through the cracks, and avoiding unneeded work being done due to poor communication can have a significant effect on your bottom line.
It Integrates with Microsoft 365
If you’re already using the Microsoft 365 Suite, you’re in good hands. Teams Phones can be fully and easily integrated into your current Microsoft product suite, synching with other apps like Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, or OneDrive. Workers can call, chat, meet, and access files across all programs straight from Teams to create a more productive work environment and a happier, more informed workforce.
It’s Cheaper Than Alternatives
When it comes to the price tag, it’s no contest. Less hardware, easier management, and unified communication features all serve to make Microsoft Teams Phones a more cost-effective answer to traditional phone systems. You can even utilize existing licenses for your Microsoft 365 product suite to grant more usage for less investment.
Challenges and Considerations
While using Microsoft Teams Phones has substantial advantages, there are some things to consider before making the decision to migrate over. These include:
Integration: It’s important to consider the technical implications of integrating Microsoft Teams Phones into your current communications systems. This tool is all about unifying these systems, so each one will need to be incorporated into the new platform. Be sure to have your IT team assess your current infrastructure and requirements before creating a plan for integration.
Change Management: Like anything new for an organization, change management is an important part of migration. Supervisors will need to guide, support, train, and communicate throughout the process so that workers are encouraged and taught to use Microsoft Teams Phones as effectively and safely as possible.
Security and Compliance: For most industries, data security is a top priority. This is especially true in industries that are more regulated than others. Working with both your legal and IT teams to make sure that customer data security adheres to industry standards throughout the process is the best way to avoid issues down the line. Features such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, and access controls can help protect both your organization and your customers.
How The Maynard Group Can Help
This is the age of remote work and digital interactions. Whether you’re talking with a client across the globe or a coworker in the next room, having a platform that facilitates communication all through one system can help eliminate errors, miscommunications, and redundancies all while saving money and giving you the flexibility to take your business to the next phase. More than 80 million people have made the switch, which shows the power of this solution.
We provide custom telecom solutions for reaching your best outcomes. With over 30 years of experience in the industry serving clients nationwide, we are uniquely positioned to help you utilize Microsoft Teams Phones to consolidate your communications platforms and provide a seamless, collaborative environment for your workforce. Give today us a call to learn more about how MS Team Phone can benefit your business: 888.376.5577