For years, the businesses across the UK have been hearing about this “Big Switch-Off”. We are going to see the end of the traditional telephone network as businesses are pushed towards digital alternatives to analogue phone lines.
Let’s be honest. We have been hearing about this for so long your business can be forgiven for putting it on the back burner. After all, we’ve heard it all before.
Yes we have.
The original plans have already been pushed back. That has given businesses more time to prepare. And whilst that extra time, for some, was undoubtedly useful, let’s have a show of hands from all those businesses who simply put the issue to one side.
Now, it is set in stone. The prophecy is coming true. The Big Switch-Off is finally approaching. Businesses still relying on traditional telephone infrastructure should finally ditch the rotary phones and take it all much more seriously.
So, What Exactly Is the Big Switch-Off?
The UK’s tradition Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) will finally be thanked for its service as it is put to pasture. The UK’s communications infrastructure moves towards modern digital networks.
This might not mean much to some people beyond making phone calls in a different way. For businesses, though, the implications are much wider.
Traditionally, a business phone system relies on a physical telephone line. The existing infrastructure still supports older phone systems and those that use fax machines or other connected equipment.
That means the Big Switch-Off isn’t simply a case of replacing an old telephone with a new one. It means businesses need to understand what their existing system actually does before deciding how to replace it.
Didn't This Already Happen?
This has been in the pipeline for years, it’s just that timetable has changed. Businesses that heard about the original plans decided that they had plenty of time and then moved onto other priorities are many. The problem is, every delay makes it easier to assume that there will be another.
But the truth is, technology is changing and the old network is no longer fit for purpose. The Big Switch-Off is happening, and waiting for another deadline extension isn’t a great business strategy.
What Does It Mean for a Small Business?
If your business is till using a traditional landline, the first step is to establish what is place. And though that may sound obvious, many businesses have phone systems that have evolved over the years. That line you think is there for making calls may also support other services.
There is also the question of your telephone number. If you have had that for years, it is probably an important part of the company’s identity. The good news is that changing comms technology shouldn’t mean losing the number that people have already committed to their mobiles.
This is why the transition needs to be planned rather than treated as something that will sort itself out when the old network disappears.
Is VoIP the Answer?
For many small business VOIP will be the “go to” practical alternative.
Voice over Internet Protocol allows telephone calls to be made over the internet rather than through the traditional network. However, modern VoIP is much more than simply replacing one phone with another.
A business can have calls directed to different members of staff, employees can answer calls from a computer or mobile device, and people working remotely can remain part of the same business telephone system.
It can also make it much easier for a growing business to add users and change how calls are handled without having to install traditional telephone lines.
For a small business, that flexibility can be just as valuable as the fact that VoIP provides a replacement for the infrastructure being switched off.
The Opportunity Behind the Switch-Off
It’s easy for us to view the Big Switch-Off as yet another techy disruption that businesses just have to get on with. There is, however, some opportunity.
If your business is already being forced to review its telephone system, it makes sense to ask whether the replacement should simply replicate what you already have or whether it should improve it.
That could mean easier home working, better call management, greater flexibility for staff and a system that is easier to adapt as the business changes.
Don't Wait Until There Is a Problem
The worst time to start thinking about your system is when everything stops working. Especially since moving to VoIP isn’t necessarily complicated. If just takes a little planning. You need to consider all numbers and connections before a migration can take place.
Starting early gives you time to identify potential problems and choose a solution that suits the way your business operates.
Leaving it until the last minute does the opposite.
If you would like to know more, contact us today on 01327 300 311 or email [email protected] with your enquiry.
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