Cloud-based phone systems have been viewed as important and valuable for a while now. However, in the last few months with the coronavirus pandemic, this perception has evolved, and a growing number of businesses of all sizes — from startups to enterprises — now believe that cloud phone systems are essential. What is the reason for this mindset shift? It’s all about flexibility. We have entered the Era of Uncertainty, which means that the ability to adapt is arguably a business’s most vital core competence and competitive advantage. Cloud phone systems drive flexibility on several levels, including: Capacity Flexibility: With a...

We’ve all heard that we are living in “The New Normal.” It’s a term tossed about by the news media and anyone else trying to wrap their heads around how much the world has changed seemingly overnight thanks to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and, not too long ago, the recession of 2007-2009 - often referred to as “The Great Recession.”The dictionary defines the word normal as “conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; average.” As a business owner, do you want the label of average? Being average doesn’t make much of an impact nor does it drive innovation...

Security is a top-of-mind concern these days and for good reason. The costs of a data breach can be significant — and in some cases enormous. For example, the Target breach in 2013 ultimately ended up costing the company a cool $162 million. And who can forget the Epsilon breach back in 2011? The price tag for that incident? Four (cue Dr. Evil voice) BILLION dollars. Of course, most data breaches aren’t as staggeringly expensive as these notorious cases. However, all breaches are costly and can take several weeks, months, or even years to investigate and clean up. And we haven’t...

In the business world, there too are many acronyms to try to remember them all. The same goes for electronics. But there are a few that will make your workday so much easier. One is “BLF” which stands for Busy Lamp Field on your IP business telephone. While it doesn’t sound very sexy, the BLF indicator just might be your new BFF (Best Friend Forever). The BLF has been around for quite some time but is more useful now than ever on cloud-based phones.On most modern telephones, the BLF is usually a small Light Emitting Diode (LED). Great, another acronym!...

Carolina Digital Phone endorses and highly recommends Total Computer Solutions as a valuable resource for technical support. We are very happy to have them as a trusted partner. — Nicky Smith, CEO Carolina Digital Phone The analysts and staff at Total Computer Solutions (TCS) are experienced, capable, and care about your organization’s success. They understand that a reliable IT infrastructure can elevate your bottom line and give you a competitive advantage in your industry. Genuine concern for you and your organization paired with their expertise in the use of Microsoft cloud and on-premise solutions makes TCS unique. TCS helps provide managed...

First things first: we all know that customers don’t like being placed on hold, and some of them downright hate it. But what you may not know is WHY customers find this experience so dreadful. As with many things in life, this reaction has less to do with reality and more to do with perception.It’s All in the MindResearch has revealed that what rankles people so much about waiting on hold isn’t actually waiting: it’s that they have nothing to do, which makes them feel that they’re waiting much longer than they truly are. For example, a customer who is...

While there have been advances in the telephone industry over the years, the basic concept has not changed much for over a hundred years. However, in the 21st Century, a major shakeup in the business phone industry means you should seriously consider updating your business phone system....

One of the most important — and also the most loved — features of a cloud-based phone system is Auto-Attendant. Much more than an answering machine, Auto-Attendant is an automated, sophisticated, customizable, and VERY easy-to-use virtual receptionist.Key Benefits Here are some benefits of Auto-Attendant that will make your team wonder how they managed without it:Answer calls with a professional and customized company greeting. You’ll never miss a call again, even during busy times and after hours.Route incoming calls based on business hours, date, date range, or specific caller ID. For example, you can automatically direct calls from a key supplier...

At the height of World War II, Sir Winston Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Think about it. On the surface, what possible good could arise from a crisis? The answer is that it gives us an urgency to examine and rethink how things are working and how we can improve. With that in mind, here are five ways companies can learn and benefit from the coronavirus crisis:Embrace and Encourage Working From HomeNaturally, some businesses cannot implement a distributed workforce. However, allowing some employees to work at least partially from a home office is not only...

Carolina Digital Phone, a locally homegrown business based in Greensboro North Carolina is committed to helping Arts of North Carolina in uniting people and communities to strengthen and celebrate a creative North Carolina. The arts and culture industry, an essential economic driver as well as a vital cultural asset for North Carolina, has been devastated by COVID-19. Along with airlines, restaurants and sports, the arts and cultural sector took the first major financial blow dealt by the coronavirus. In the earliest days of the crisis, nearly all performances and festivals were canceled, and museums shut their doors to comply with calls...