BCS Provides Business Phone System Sales, Installation, Support and Service

Network Cabling and Structured cabling

How Structured Cabling Pays Off

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Many business owners are skeptical about the benefits of structured cabling.The prevailing myth being that only big companies with excessive wiring and an immediate need for more productivity can afford the enhancement. We beg to differ.

Sales offices, customer service departments and call centers remain common work environments that require the service. But, any business with even a small telecoms network will reap the rewards. Here are the ways we see structured cabling paying dividends for all business: 

1. Organization

Look around your office. Are there wires piling at the bottom of desks? Some with redundant uses and cords that don’t even work? Structured cabling eliminates the mess and gives your office a modern and sleek look. You’ll have confidence when prospective clients or visitors are on-site. Additionally, a tidy and presentable space creates a more productive working environment.

2. Faster Speeds

The worst scenario for any business is slow data when interacting with an important client. You don’t want to compromise your professionalism due to slow data speeds. Structured cabling uses high quality cables, including fiber optic connections, to decrease noise and interference, while increasing bandwidth and speed. Not only will your current data travel faster, but operations will not slow if additional connections are ever needed.

3. Minimal Downtime

That brings us to our next benefit, minimal downtime. You can’t risk current tasks when it’s time to upgrade or grow. With a direct point A to point B connection, both software and hardware upgrades are quicker. Better organization means that if you encounter a problem, it’s exact location is easier to find. And finally, increased bandwidth will accommodate additional equipment without slowing down other operations. 

4. Positioned for Growth

We have yet to encounter a business that didn’t want to grow, so BCS Voice and Data ensures the cable and network structure grows with you. Our designers create an organized framework that is easy to configure as your business grows, meaning you’ll be able to adapt without major additional investment.

Although the organized look is part of it’s draw, structured cabling is more than meets the eye. It ensures that you have a scalable infrastructure in place to best optimize your voice and data needs for years to come. Contact BCS Voice and Data to learn more from our team of designers and technicians about how structured cabling can work for you.

Growing Your Business With Technology Basics

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All business owners begin their venture with a mind for growth. In the past, growth wasn’t easy. Expansion sometimes presented more problems than opportunity. That’s because issues like managing larger teams or keeping costs low were difficult obstacles with limited solutions.  

With modern advances in technology, come improved methods for businesses to scale effectively and create opportunities for increased profit at the same time. Much of what presented obstacles 30 years ago are now problems of the past. That doesn’t mean growth is always easy, though.  

Here are some of our best suggestions for growing your business with new technologies on the horizon:

Utilize the Power of the Cloud

There are many benefits of using cloud-based programs and applications, but it’s especially conducive to growing companies.  

With these scalable tools, you and your employees have the freedom to manage operations from anywhere, any device and at any time. That means your team expands but your facility expenditure doesn’t have to, thanks to a remote workforce. For example, cloud-based phone systems can maintain the impression that your employees are on-premises by granting them a phone line wherever they are based. While cloud-distributed software means employees can access the systems they need, wherever they are.

Additionally, the cloud updates easily. Once you implement these types of systems, staying up-to-date is much easier.

Shifting your business to the cloud is a great approach to increase employee coordination, reduce spending and stay current, while growing the business.

Leverage the WIFI

These days, people wish to stay connected everywhere they go. Therefore, offering free WIFI to your customers is an effective marketing tool. We mentioned many of these benefits in a previous post but in terms of growth, it’s an instant win. Free WIFI increases client satisfaction meaning more business and increased profit. This applies to retail spaces, hospitality and even office environments – happy guests and visitors lead to happy customers, clients, partners and vendors.

Hire an IT Firm

No matter what your industry is, increased dependency on technology is inevitable. Unfortunately, new tech isn’t foolproof. A crashed telephone system or network brings business operations to a halt. Fixing these issues require a professional technician, but companies don’t need an in-house team. Maintain the bottom line by hiring IT consulting firms who will monitor your network and spot issues before they become show-stopping problems. Leading IT firms maximize the potential growth of your company by implementing and maintaining new technology correctly. The great ones can help you plant for the future and provide scalable solutions as well.

If you are a growing company and want to know how a firm like BCS Voice and Data can help, visit our website or call us today.  

 

Critical Elements of a Business Backup Systems

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There are countless ways to lose your important data, especially if it isn’t backed up regularly.  Information stored on devices falls victim to accidental deletion, hard drive crashes, theft or virus and malware infections. Storing information on paper runs the risk of losing it to fire, flooding or other natural disasters. By saving data on a single device or in one place and not backing up, you gamble on losing it forever. Without critical data, many businesses cannot perform, making a backup system crucial for protecting your business.

There are two steps to creating a proper backup system. First, identify the types of data you need to protect and second, make sure it’s performed regularly.

Identify Critical Data
What needs to be in a data backup? Anything you’ve created or modified. This includes everything from accounting files to emails. When deciding, live by this rule: If losing the data interferes with doing business, protect it.

It’s rare that you need to save applications. Most modern business software deploys through a browser, meaning they aren’t installed on the computer. This software is accessed online through any device. If you lose the device, simply reopen the application with another.

Implement Backups on a Regular Schedule
We recommend backing up your data nightly. There is software that allows you to set a schedule and perform these tasks automatically.  Software that also zips and encrypts files saves space and increases security.

Consider the Cloud
Now that you know the key elements of a backup system, it’s time to consider the best way to implement it. One of the many benefits of cloud storage is for safe, secure off-site backups. By using the cloud, your files live in a secured online account and you don’t depend on a single computer or server open to attacks or accidents. The cloud has other advantages, as well, like automatic backups, minimal infrastructure and quick recovery.

It isn’t easy finding the proper protection method, especially if your business quickly accumulates important information. Hiring a professional IT service like BCS helps navigate the confusion and find the best solution for your business needs. If you need assistance on backing up your data or moving existing archives, contact BCS Voice and Data services today.

The Benefits of Moving Your Phone System to the Cloud

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Your company doesn’t need to keep up with every tech trend, but sometimes there are advantages worth investing in. BCS helps firms to decipher what new technologies best suit them, particularly deciding between phone systems. Rather than sticking with traditional hardwired telephone equipment, we’ve found universal benefits by upgrading to a system based in the cloud.

#1 Easy and Cost-Effective Install
Implementing cloud communication is simple compared to a hardwired install. On-site phone systems take longer to establish because they require bulky hardware and labor. With fewer physical components, VoIP (voice over internet protocol) costs are lower and up and running quickly.

#2 Simplify Multiple Locations
Creating identical settings across multiple locations is tricky with the tedious hardware of business phone systems. A key benefit of cloud phone systems is the ability to centrally manage company communications through a single online portal, instead. With a VoIP system, implementing settings through shared software is easy. It also prevents employees from making changes and guarantees all locations stay on the same page with a few clicks.

#3 Automatic Upgrades
Upgrades are inevitable regardless of the phone system you choose. Capitalize on the cloud and give your company an edge with automatic upgrades. Traditional phones require on-site visits and potential downtime while the business owner bears the responsibility and cost. cloud-based environments shift the responsibility to the provider, handling the update virtually. It’s usually done outside of working hours and without service interruption, allowing for frequent upgrades and fewer missed calls.

#4  Accommodate Remote Workers
An on-premise phone system limits the communication capabilities for anyone outside of the office. Keep your remote workers connected despite the distance with a VoIP phone system. It eliminates boundaries by routing traffic to its destination through any internet connection. Send calls to their home office as easily as the actual office.

#5 Trustworthy Modern Security Practices
While you have more direct control over traditional business phones, they aren’t as safe as they seem. Physical office connections suffer more attacks than their cloud counterparts, according to this article. Traditional office hook-ups lack the extra protection from the presence of built-in protocols and encryption tools, like passwords and firewalls.

As with any new technology, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. This is why partnering with an experienced business telephone system integrator like BCS is crucial. We will evaluate your needs and ensure that whatever solution you select, you’re well prepared for future growth. Contact us today for a no-obligation conversation about your business phone system needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Important Words to Know When Shopping for a Business Phone System

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If your company has employees on-site (or off-site), you need a functional, efficient, and feature-rich business phone system to facilitate productive internal and external communication. Business owners shopping for a new phone system are often overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available these days. Whether you are thinking of purchasing a premise-based phone system, a VoIP system, or a used telelphone system, it can help to know some of the key industry lingo. Here are five important terms. Read more

You Deserve Better Conference Calls

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We’ve all been there. It’s 8am and three out of six participants have joined the call. Carl is unable to get through on the line, no one can hear Jennifer, and the office coffee maker is broken. Ok, that last part has nothing to do with the conference call but it definitely makes the whole situation more of a challenge. Read more

Fight Hectic Holidays

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The busy holiday season is almost over, and often no matter how hard employees try to get things done in advance, the weeks afterwards always seem to become a big game of catch-up. It may be a long list of unfinished tasks, or it may be getting in contact with clients or customers only to find heaps of important messages missed due to an unreliable voicemail inbox or forwarding system.

We still have a few more days before the end of the year, but it’s a great time to start thinking about your business resolutions. If you’re ready for smoother communication and fewer errors in 2019, it’s time to add “new phone system” to your list.

The best way to find a new phone system for your business is to do your research. First, identify the needs of your business. If you have a smaller office with no remote employees, or are on a budget, a used phone system is a great option (check out our blog post on the pros and cons of a used phone system for more details). If you have multiple offices with hundreds of employees and remote workers, you’ll probably want something that can handle your call volume, transfer calls easily, reach remote employees and is simple to use.

Thankfully, the experts at BCS Voice & Data are here to make the process of choosing and installing a new phone system easier. We offer everything from used phone systems to cloud-based systems – all effective at helping you avoid missed calls and downtime.

Start the new year off smoothly by replacing your old phone system! For more information and expert advice on choosing the best option for your school, contact BCS Voice & Data at (757) 497-3100.

Create Fewer “Out of Office” Days

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Your business may thrive more having all of your employees in-office, but what happens on days the weather takes a turn? Winter temperatures are here, which means the possibility of snow days is increasing quickly. Is your office equipped to access the information you need from home?

Even if you don’t plan on having remote workers, making sure your office is ready for a work-from-home day will set you up for success. What does this mean? It’s different for every company, but here are a few suggestions.

1. Easy access to information. Making sure your employees can access the files they need remotely ensures a productive work day, even remotely. This can be done by having a cloud-based network for your employees to save information to and access from any device.

2. Cloud-based phone system. With mobile device integration, calls to desktop phones in your office can be directly routed to your employee’s mobile phones. This means that on days you just have one or two people in the office, everyone can stay connected with fewer missed calls from clients and customers.

3. Video conferencing. The holidays are often the busiest time of year, with lots of meetings to review the year and starting planning for the new one, and time off. A reliable video conferencing system means you won’t have to reschedule important meetings when you have deadlines approaching.

BCS Voice and Data carries a variety of cloud-based phone systems and video conferencing systems, and offers IT Support to help keep your offices running, stress-free. We also complete the set up and installation, and train your users to avoid confusion and mistakes once the system is ready. If you’re ready to improve your office systems to stay connected remotely, contact BCS Voice & Data today at (757) 497-3100 to find out what will work best for you.

3 Things to Scare Clients Away

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What’s the spookiest part of fall? It’s not always Halloween, horror movies or haunted houses. For the business owner or sales manager, losing clients or potential clients from communication issues can be the most frightening. But, how does it happen? Here are some common problems that can scare clients away:

  1. Never reaching the right person. If your phone system is too complicated and your employees can’t be reached quickly, or the call is dropped t in the process, clients can’t communicate their needs or requests efficiently. Make sure your phone system can handle your business needs, your employees are trained on how to use it effectively and your connection is solid.
  2. Being unprepared. You may have put together a great presentation, but if you can’t access the right files, or your conference room has dated equipment, it may fall flat — and certainly wont impress potential clients. Always have a backup method for storing your information, and consider updating your conference room with the right equipment for video conferencing and presentations.
  3. Down time. If you are a business that runs on technology, it’s important that your network is working at all times. Frequent down time is sure to scare away any clients that are relying on you to make announcements, updates or run their services. IT support and network monitoring can help your office run smoothly, without down time or data breaches.

If you’re looking for ways to improve the efficiency of your business and create the best relationships with your clients, it’s time to give BCS a call. Whether it’s remote network monitoring services and IT support, cloud-based phone systems or conference room solutions, our experts are here to improve communication and keep your information safe and accessible. Contact us today at (757) 497-3100 today, or use our online form.

Expand Your Office

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What if you had the ability to expand your office beyond one location without having to rent or buy a new space?  If you already have remote workers, this is an easy task. They can meet with existing and potential clients in areas that are too far for someone from the main office to travel to. But without a physical location, can you really call it a branch of your office? With cloud-based phone systems, you can!

We’ve written before about the benefits of having cloud-based business telephone systems for your remote employees. Communication and file sharing is easier than ever, making remote work just as efficient as being in the office. However, if your employee is in frequent communication with your clients or other important contacts, you may be concerned about what it will take to forward calls or make sure they can still be reached.

Thankfully, cloud-based phone systems allow you to connect not only your own phone to your remote employees, but also connect incoming calls to them, without forwarding the call to a different number. This makes communication easier and more efficient for remote employees, making it feel like you have a fully-equipped office in any location, and increasing productivity. You can also add more extensions in the future easily, and customize the phone system to your business’ needs.

For mobile sales people, calls can be routed to and from their cell phone, while still running through the main business numbers.

BCS Voice and Data carries a variety of cloud-based phone systems, and offers IT Support to help keep your offices running, stress-free. We also complete the set up and installation, and train your users to avoid confusion and mistakes once the system is ready. If you’re ready to improve your office systems to stay connected with remote employees, contact BCS Voice & Data today at (757) 497-3100 to find out what will work best for you.