Wondering if landline phones are outdated? Learn when a fixed phone can still make sense for your business in a mobile-first world. Explore benefits now.
It’s easy to think landline phones are a thing of the past. And indeed, there’s been a general decline in landline phone usage as people have shifted to using their mobile phones for calls and much more. But even if mobile phones dominate modern communication, landline phone services still offer benefits that help support great business communication in certain contexts.
Landlines remain an important part of many business phone systems. The reason? They can help provide a great experience for customers and staff alike. Be that at the front desk or when working from a home office.
For example, you might like to separate your business phone from your mobile service. Or if you’re running a busy retail operation, you might not want staff using mobile phones in the workplace. In these cases, and more, a business landline might be a great solution to offer you a reliable and professional way to communicate with customers and suppliers.
Let’s explore when a fixed phone service might make sense for your business, whether it’s a simple landline set up, or part of a broader, feature-rich, communication and collaboration solution.
Fixed phone services provide critical value to many small businesses. They can offer credibility and reliability, as well as helping you to enhance customer experience.
A dedicated business phone line does more than ring. It helps offer a sense of trust, stability, and readiness to your customers and partners. Many small businesses still see value in keeping a landline phone. Here are some of the reasons why.
A fixed phone number for your business can be reassuring for potential customers and partners. It gives the impression that your business is established in a fixed location which can help boost professionalism. You can even explore if a 1300 number is right for your business.
Although many people find it easy to engage with businesses online these days, a landline phone can still serve as an important back up. It may be especially useful for important, complex or time critical enquiries.
Even if it’s not your primary means of communicating with your customers, having a fixed line available can help build trust and position you as a reliable business.
Landline phones, especially when they use voice over IP (VoIP) technology, offer call forwarding features and tools that can help you manage high call volumes.
Choosing a business phone solution that takes advantage of modern cloud calling features can help ensure fewer missed calls and smoother customer service, which is critical for businesses with frequent client interactions
For example, if you’re in professional services, a business landline set up at your shared office can help centralise inbound calls so you can ensure work is directed to the right person at the right time.
Explore how VoIP benefits businesses
Installing a landline as your primary work phone line can help you create more separation between work and your personal life. You can still forward calls from your fixed line to another phone out of hours or use your personal phone for certain contexts. But having a separate fixed line for business can help you create boundaries, especially if you’re a sole trader or are working from home.
An additional benefit of using a fixed phone system or number for business is that you can avoid publishing your mobile number as a public means of communication for your business. This helps protect your privacy.
Having a fixed line installed at your place of work can also be a great option if you want phone use in the workplace tied to specific functions. For example, if you’re running a restaurant, you might want customers to be able to call to confirm a booking, but you may not need all your staff to always have access to a phone system.
Some small businesses may have operations where a landline phone system is better suited than other options. For example, if you have a busy office-based team who need to manage a high volume of calls with transfers, a fixed phone solution can help them do this efficiently.
Or consider service or hospitality businesses operating out of fixed locations. Reliable voice connections can be essential for bookings and inquiries.
While mobile phones are a critical part of business communication today, landline phones also offer your business a reliable and high-quality voice solution. You might still use your mobile for work, but opting for a fixed line too can help you and your team navigate some of the challenges of using your personal mobile for work.
You may have preconceptions about landline phones. But they’re not all about clunky handsets and tangled cords.
Today’s modern business phone solutions include:
These tools can be very useful for remote or hybrid teams that need to maintain a professional business presence without being bound to a desk.
You might even explore unified communications solutions which bring together multiple communications tools, including voice, to help you communicate effectively.
There are many options for your business phone system available today. Not every small business needs a landline phone. For some it doesn’t make sense. But where it does make sense, it can help you enhance professionalism, boost efficiency and offer a great customer experience.
A simple landline, which you can get bundled in with your business internet plan might be all that you need. Or if you have more sophisticated business operations you could explore Telstra’s Adaptive Collaboration product suite which offers different options to cater for different business needs.
If you’d like to explore how you can transform your calling and collaboration capabilities, request a callback from your local Telstra Business Technology Centre. We’ll explore options to help your business stay connected, find efficiencies and offer a professional, reliable experience for your customers.
Request a callback from a Technology Centre and we’ll be in touch to discuss your needs.
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