You know it’s time to change your computer when it gets slow. You know it’s time to change your delivery partner when the deliveries are delayed. But how do you know it’s time to change your business phone system? And start thinking about how to get a second number on your phone?

Local business owners and entrepreneurs know it’s time to change a system when the old one becomes demonstrably outdated, complex, unfriendly or expensive to manage. There are similar signs that will tell you when it’s time to say goodbye to your old business phone system.

If your business phone exhibits the following symptoms, it’s time to think about how to get a second number on your phone.

6 signs that tell you it's time to change your business phone

1. Phone calls are managed manually

You have a receptionist on your payroll who has to answer all your calls. When they are not around, it’s up to you or someone else in your team to take care of the calls and messages. This is an outdated, expensive and needlessly wasteful system.

This ensures that whoever takes the call has to figure out the person they should forward the call to. Plus, when they are absent, the phone will ring continuously until someone goes to the reception and takes it.

The solution: With a second-line app, those calls can be directed to your website

2. It requires a technical team to maintain it

If you use a physical phone system, you would need a technical team for not just installation but repairs. This could leave you without communication capability for extended periods.

You’ll have to get in touch with customer support from your phone company, hire a third-party maintenance team or keep someone on your staff.

The solution: All you’ve got to do is install the software of a second-line app. You don’t have to worry about maintenance or repairs.

3. It’s expensive

You’ll have to spend on the device and any other hardware you might need. With traditional phone systems, these costs are non-negotiable.

Importantly, you won’t be able to forecast your business phone expenses since the usage and pricing can fluctuate.

The solution: Second-line apps offer straightforward subscription plans. Plus, you don’t have to spend anything on any additional device or hardware.

4. It has no advanced features

We all expect our computers and personal smartphones to be advanced. But the traditional offline business phone systems we use have outdated technology.

They have no call routing or auto-reply function, to name just a couple. These are the value-added features that will make your business look professional and optimise your call management.

The solution: A second-line app is a smarter alternative with call routing, auto-reply functions and automated online review requests.

5. It ruins your work-life balance

With a conventional phone system, you don’t have any off-hours. You might get a call from a vendor or customer in the evenings or at weekends.

If you don’t respond to them, your business will look unprofessional. These missed calls could cost your business important opportunities.

The solution: You can set up auto-reply with a second-line app. Now you can separate your professional and personal lives.

6. It's your private and business number

If you use the same number for work and personal calls, you’re risking your privacy and putting unwanted pressure on your device. You could also miss out on important business calls when you use the line for private calls.

If your customers can’t reach you when they need to, they might take their anger online and leave a bad review.

The solution: You can get a second number for work with a second-line app.

In short

Traditional phone systems aren’t equipped to meet the challenges of modern business. You should be interested in how to get a second number on your phone because a modern solution like a second-line app will help you interact with customers easily and effortlessly and separate your personal and business lives.