Setting Up Your Business to Work from Home

Things are starting to get back to normal here in Westchester County NY. But the threat of another coronavirus wave or future pandemic continues to loom over citizens and businesses alike. This means that being able to move your business operations to your home and your employees homes so work can continue is a must. Not only is it important today, but it’s also important should we need to shelter at home again in the future. Here we’ll take a look at what is required to get your business running while working from home today and down the road if need be.

Outdated Business Communication Systems Won’t Cut It

If you are using an older business communication system, whether that be copper wired phone lines or cable or DSL internet connections, you may be really left out on a limb should you need to move operations out of the office. These older systems simply are not set up to be mobile and that can mean major slowdowns when it comes to keeping your business moving forwards. When you can only service business calls from your business line at the office, that is a problem. When important files can only be accessed from the computers at the office, that is a problem. Systems built prior to the early 2000’s will have major limitations when it comes to working in our digital fast paced world, especially when you can’t physically go to the office.

What VOIP for Business Offers

best VOIP for Business Westchester County NY

VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol. Essentially it is a phone or communication system which uses internet connected devices to make calls and conduct business like conference video calls and more. These systems can be used on laptops that can be taken home as well as personal or company smart phones which are by nature mobile. This means that should we have to shelter in place again soon or anytime in the future, your business is ready to adjust to working from home. As long as you have an internet connection, either through a cell phone service data plan or home wifi, you can use VoIP to conduct your day to day business functions. Keeping your normal business phone numbers and employee extensions.

You may be asking yourself, can’t I just use Zoom? Services like Skype and Zoom are VoIP systems except they are not suitable for businesses. We’ve all heard of Zoom conference calls being “zoom bombed” where hackers took control of the video conference gaining access to documents and user personal information. This is a major security risk for businesses. With proprietary internal VoIP systems you get all the best features at a far more cost effective way than traditional phone lines. Those features include:

• Conference calling
• Video calling + video conferencing
• Working from home availability
• Screen share & screen image capture
• Voicemail
• Multiple Lines (users)
• Scalability (adding users not physical lines)
• Call forwarding
• Call recording
• Local, national and international calling
• Cost effective rates (far cheaper than traditional phones)
• Additional security
• and more

Using the Cloud + VoIP

Cloud storage and cloud computing allows you to store important business documents, software, and customer information on a protected and decentralized server system. The cloud allows you to access work files from any internet connected computer meaning that you can take your work with you. Either home, on vacation, or on the road. Storing important documents solely on computers or servers at the office has major limitations. Not only during a pandemic where we may be forced to shelter at home to conduct business, but also in normal circumstances. If an employee has to be in the office to make edits to an important legal document for your law firm (for example), then they can’t do work at home. This is just one way older communication systems are limiting.

Using a cloud communication system can be done two different ways. Either with VoIP as the connection protocol or through a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phone system. This is a system that functions within the office phones but can also be used through the Cloud and VoIP at home. This essentially combines traditional phone systems with modern phone systems offering you the best of both worlds.

Low or No Work From Home Setup Fees

Prior to the pandemic many business owners never even considered that one day they would have to move their entire operation to their home and their employees homes. Many business owners were in fear of huge operating costs to get every employee properly and securely set up at home to conduct day to day work operations. That could not be further from the truth. Through the best dedicated business phone system companies like here at Top Line Communications, getting set up was as easy as scheduling an appointment. If you’re already paying for VoIP and the Cloud, your basically already set up to work from home.

Staying Positive

We won’t have to work from home forever and we’re already seeing signs of life coming back to a sense of normalcy, even if it’s a “new normal”. Be sure that you prepare properly and stay positive during this time period. Your employees will feed off that positivity and when the going gets tough can turn to you as a pillar of stability.

For the best VOIP for Business Westchester County NY, look no further than right here at Top Line Communications. We proudly support the WBC (Westchester Business Counsel) and live right here where we operate. Stay safe from the entire team and we can get through this if we work together! 1-888-426-8647