Small business owners: Stay flexible – 8 reasons to switch to a softphone

Are you a business owner still using legacy landlines or cellular phones? Unfortunately, this means you’re using outdated technology that can limit your growth. No matter what business you’re in, here are eight reasons why you should ditch your desk phone and switch to a softphone.

8 reasons why every small business needs to switch to a softphone

Why use the postal service when you have email? Why use cheques when you have mobile and online banking? Similarly, why use desk phones and mobile plans when you have softphones? These eight reasons will convince you that it’s time to switch to a softphone.

1. It saves you money

Desk phones require hardware and can cost thousands of pounds to set up if you want additional features and maintenance. A softphone is an app that you download. There’s no hardware cost or maintenance fee to be worried about.

Once you have the app, you can use it from any device as long as it’s connected to the internet. Plus, the subscription fees are also lower for virtual apps like Chalkboard.

2. It saves you time

Desk phones require time for installation. With a softphone, you can download the app without the help of any technician. For small businesses that are working remotely, this is a significant advantage.

If you decide to switch to a softphone, your entire team can get new numbers in a matter of minutes even when you’re in separate locations.

3. It's more practical

Working from your couch while your smartphone is getting charged in another room? If you get a call on your softphone or if you have to make a call, you can do so from your laptop or tablet.

Small business owners who make the switch to a softphone also realise that since its usage is spread over several devices, the pressure on the individual devices is low.

4. It saves you space

As anyone who has ever worked from an office knows, desk phones take up too much space. Other than the device, you also have to make space for the wiring. It’s clunky and makes it more difficult to keep other devices such as laptops.

It isn’t just desk phones that take up space. A hardphones versus softphones comparison will show you that the fixed-VoIP hardphones have the same problem.

5. It comes with business tools

A digitalised world requires digital communication tools like softphones. You won’t be merely making or receiving calls with these virtual apps. You’ll get a host of business tools that will help you optimise your communication and even automate your marketing.

Call forwarding, call routing, quick transfers, notifications, auto-reply, contact organisation and group broadcasts are only some of the features you would get with a softphone like Chalkboard.

6. It's centralised

With an easy-to-use interface that unifies all your communication, softphones make it effortless to track your calls and messages and make the necessary changes. This has enormous implications not just for internal but also for external communication.

You will know how many customers call you and who answers their calls. This will help you improve the customer experience.

7. It's scalable

Irrespective of the number of people in a workplace, you will need a minimum number of desk phones. Whenever you opt for additional units, you’ll have to pay per unit for the device. Mobile phones are also problematic since they come with complex contracts.

If you switch to a softphone, you can upgrade your plan as your business grows. You don’t have to commit to any long-term plans that you may not need.

8. It's secure

Since you have a new second line for work, a softphone prevents your personal mobile number from being shared with strangers. Most softphones also come with end-to-end encryption. This means that your communication will be secure from hackers.

Knowing that VoIP communication carries a certain degree of risk, Chalkboard uses mobile networks to make and receive calls. This gives you added protection.

Chalkboard: A flexible solution to your business phone

Chalkboard is a softphone that’s loaded with features to help small businesses grow. You can organise your contacts and broadcast SMS to groups. You can use the messaging feature for conversational marketing.

Switch to Chalkboard and try it now. Switch to a softphone built for your business growth.