Most of these agile teams were not led by an appointed lead developer, thus the teams had to jointly reach consensus on technical matters. I had been working as a lead developer, as well as a CTO at my own company, and, as such, needed to assume responsibility for the delivery and high quality of products. I, therefore, at first, found team equality strange, while I worked in Switzerland. As I didn’t have any key role within the teams, I felt that all I had to do was complete tasks, one after another, while sprints followed one after another. Team members didn’t dedicate themselves to different areas within a product development process, instead, after completing a task, they assumed a task on the task board and started to work on that.
The good performance of our team was kind of recognized, but I was rarely made to feel that I was a respected or even irreplaceable, member within the organization. I sort of felt that anyone could have done the job as I did.
Some of my acquaintances have also told me stories like this. For example, a friend of mine went to work for a Hungarian self-organized company (with appr. 20 employees) as a UX Designer, and one or two months later left the company, because he simply felt unappreciated and treated as one of many employees. He went to work instead for another company as a manager.
How to become a leader and shoulder individual responsibility
I’ve seen great potential in the startup organizational structure within the Swiss large company because of its products and the openness of the management and my peers. Nothing was farther from my mind than to leave the company, I, therefore, by virtue of the absence of alternatives, had to find a sub-area, within the product, that interested me and was not yet assigned to a team member.
At that time, we were at the product development phase where first users had already started to use the product. Apart from the fact that many were willing to use the system, we didn’t know the big picture of the possible defects of the product. As the system was a desktop application, we couldn’t draw correct conclusions from existing server-side logs, we, therefore, had to set up a system for collecting data on clients, and visualizing and making this data transparent (testing in production). My suggestion met with broad consensus, and my peers considered its implementation necessary, so I started working on it after receiving the authorization from the PO.
Naturally, there were a number of hitches, because I had to convince many of my co-workers and the management of the need for change. Not all of my peers backed the change at first, as it challenged the status quo, but as we wanted to prove ourselves on the market as soon as possible, which required high-quality delivery, eventually, everyone agreed to put these changes into effect. We changed our testing strategy and substantially reduced release cycle time. It completely interrupted the busy schedule of my peers within the organization. Of course, this change triggered conflicts.
However, the results spoke for themselves: We managed to significantly improve the quality of the product, while delivering measurable benefits, and to deliver the product faster than ever before. After a short while, this sub-system has become important to the other members of the team, too, they, therefore, have further developed it and relied greatly on the data delivered by this sub-system in the Production phase.
Who will give you recognition for your work well done?
Companies often employ Scrum framework to make the transition to an agile methodology. The Product Owner (PO) is responsible for managing the product backlog, which is to be broken down into smaller tasks and completed by team members.
Meeting sprint goals is shared responsibility within the team. The team members jointly show, in the form of a sprint demo, what they accomplished during the sprint review meeting.
As the PO defines sprint goals, has the responsibility to create the list of backlog items, and has an essential role in the team demo, it is very important for the PO to provide feedback on each demo to the team. That’s how the team could primarily receive recognition for work well done. There is, however, a catch: The team, and not individual developers, gets the credit, but this practice does not necessarily give the proper credit to individual developers in a longer-term perspective, thus they may feel that their efforts and work are not appreciated.
The team members share the responsibility for the success of the product because they have had a shared vision, a jointly developed product, and a collective code ownership. However, in my experience, it is important for everyone to find a sub-area that is dear to their heart, they can feel responsible for and are willing to work on. The team members should openly discuss that. They should discuss in detail which sub-areas have captured their interest, and make it explicit.
A team member is interested in measuring and making product quality transparent using SonarQube? Fabulous, go ahead, the team can only gain from it. Another team member’s first concern is to implement fail-safe logging to avoid losing messages and to ensure messages can be traced? Go for it, it’s also good for everybody. The third team member is passionate about measuring how and how often users use certain functions of the application? Cool, that is also very much needed. It is important for the fourth co-worker to make the API of the system transparent? (S)he should definitely come up with and implement a good solution. Another team member is interested in a feature? The team can also gain from the continued development of the feature. Endless possibilities.
After determining jointly who is interested in which sub-area, you will, willingly or unwillingly, become the leader and credible expert of that sub-area, and your co-workers will turn to you for help in matters pertaining thereto. Because if you’re really interested in that area, you’re going to search for further information and different solutions to identified problems, to wish to develop further on upgrading your knowledge on this area, and eventually you will become an expert in that field. I believe that if a problem area or field is very important to you and you’re working in an open working environment, you’re going to find ways to convince others of the relevance of the given area. You have great enthusiasm for it, want to provide assistance to others in relating matters, and wish to involve them so that they can also help you.
It’s a great opportunity for you, as it can also contribute to your self-improvement and professional development. There is a sub-area for which you feel responsible and which is of particular importance to you, so after a while, you might want to ask yourself: ‘How can I make it important for others as well?’ You cannot fully appropriate a sub-area, because you as a member of a team in a company work on a product, together with a team, which is why you have no choice but to involve your co-workers. You should consider feedback from the others on ‘your own sub-area’ and also allow others ‘on your territory’.
You should also be able to convince the PO to include the issue in your sub-area in the next sprint and to allocate time to it. (Interestingly, when something is very important to a team, there is no need to create a task, somehow it will be completed in no time… In contrast, when a team is totally unmotivated, even a clear, simple little task must be included in a sprint, which could be done in five minutes.)
Conclusion
We as software developers have the opportunity to have an impact on the world through our work. We could reach out and add value to hundreds, thousands, millions or even billions of users. It is important from time to time to meet with end users and to maintain people-to-people contacts with them, but in fact, developed software, owing to its digital nature, makes it impossible for us to enjoy their acknowledgment or recognition regularly.
However, everyone needs recognition. Receiving sincere appreciation, as long as a person takes the time to express it in person, means for me that I matter, am valuable to somebody or several somebodies, and my work is good for anything in the world.
Although we don’t work in order to receive recognition, we need it pretty badly.
In agile organizations, self-organizing teams make decisions. If team members think of themselves as one unit and have a feeling of unity, well, that makes a team good. But team members should be encouraged to assign responsibilities — after finding their own playground, a special area of competence — to them or themselves. When team members alone assume responsibilities, it will only serve their growing and improving, and, of course, they will get appraisals from their co-workers for that.
In our everyday work, we as part of a self-organizing team can expect recognition mainly from our peers. Often, not our bosses give us directions, as they rarely have the actual insight into our work, given that we often ‘organise’ our own work. We should always remember that, and help our co-workers find sub-areas that hold the promise of leading to self-improvement.
We should lead each other.
About The Author:
Shuhbham Sharma, I’m currently working as Content Manager with Adreno Technologies. I have a great passion for digital marketing and I help small and medium-sized firms to improve their online presence and grow their revenue by formulating effective digital marketing strategies for them. Apart from Digital Marketing, I have a keen interest in Entrepreneurship, Software development outsourcing, Brand Management, Tech Consultancy, etc.
With handheld devices becoming more advanced, you can now use mobile devices to do more complicated tasks than ever before. Your phone’s features are no longer limited to texting, calling, taking photos and playing games. You actually have the power of a full-fledged computer on your hands with your smartphone.
One of the great things about the evolving mobile technology is that you can now even start a business with it. Here are 10 business ideas that you can do with your mobile devices:
1. Mobile App Development
The proliferation of apps is one of the catalysts of mobile phone evolution It could be even said that apps running on smartphones and mobile devices can influence how it will evolve in the future.
It has never been this easy to create and offer apps that can run on different device brands within the same platform, and never this rewarding as well. What’s more is that you can now make apps right off your phone.
2. Mobile Translation Services
If you are proficient in more than one language, then you can use this skill to help you earn extra income. You can offer mobile translation or interpretation services to anyone from anywhere in the world through your phone. The demand for translators and interpreters have grown considerably, and this opens a large opportunity for you. If you have friends who can also speak the language, then you might even be able to create a translation business.
3. Become a Mobile Auto Mechanic
If you have a passion for fixing broken things, then starting an auto mechanic business can be a good idea. You’ll need to invest a bit in your tools. Mobile can help you eliminate the need for a shop. Set up an online service hub where clients can reach you, and you can go to their home, or wherever they may be. Set up a small team so you may be able to handle more than one assignment at a time.
4. Mobile Cell Phone Repair
If your fascination with mobile technology has directed you to study how all the parts work hand-in-hand, then you can start a mobile phone repair business. Our friends from advancedcomputers.co.nz also suggest that you can set up a virtual shop where customers can get in touch with you, browse your services and pay at the same time. This eliminates the need for you to set up a physical repair shop, and also expands your reach.
5. Mobile Tutoring
Another growing mobile service is tutoring. Since video conference is the usual medium for this, you can replace a computer with a smartphone. If you have a stable internet connection, then you are all set to start a mobile tutorial business. Imagine teaching a kid from another part of the world!
There’s also a lot of subjects that can be taught through mobile tutoring. It really depends on your expertise. Form a team with various expertise and you will be able to start a full-service tutorial business. But one of the most famous tutorial services if for the English language.
6. Social Media Marketer
Yet another facet of the evolving digital world is the large role of social media not only to our social lives but also for marketing. Social media marketing is one of the most effective ways to do modern-day marketing, and this is something you can do using your mobile phone.
Social media influencers can find that they can earn a lot by offering marketing services. So if you have a knack for both social media platforms and doing marketing, then this business is ideal for you.
7. Chatbot Developer
While a lot of app developers concentrate on games, another worthwhile project that you can develop are chatbot. This is an artificial intelligence-based technology that plays a big role in providing a holistic service experience to online clients. Chatbot development can now be done using mobile phones.
8. E-commerce Seller
If sales interest you, then setting up an online shop can be the right business for you. There are more and more customers of online shops that are browsing through mobile devices, so there’s no reason why managing an e-commerce business cannot be done via mobile as well. Just study well what kind of products you’ll be selling.
9. Airbnb Host
If you have the ability to offer accommodations to travelers, then being an Airbnb host is ideal for you. You can start off with just one, but you can definitely grow and offer more Airbnb accommodation. You can also manage your business through the use of your mobile phone. If you are thinking about this option, please be informed that this entails a decent amount of investment.
10. Photography
Most photos taken using mobile phones are already on par with professional cameras. If you have a smartphone that has an outstanding camera quality, and if you have what it takes to be a photographer, then you can find a business opportunity in photography.
Start a Mobile Business Now
With a plethora of mobile business ideas, you are bound to be able to choose which one is best matched with your skills and interests. In the long run, it really depends on what you want to do in life. Select the best mobile business for you. Start now!
About The Author:
Samantha helps businesses build effective processes for vetting ideal clients and building a business that doesn’t take every hour of every day. When she isn’t working, you can find her watching psych thriller films or keeping up with the latest buzz in the tech world.
One of the challenges of being a business owner is getting things organized. Apparently, it’s not as simple as cleaning the desk and sorting documents on your table. In fact, an organized business could lead to better productivity and increased profitability. Can you imagine how much this would benefit the 5.1 million firms in America?
The question now is how you can do it.
Here’s how:
Tip No. 1: Start with the desk.
If you want a more organized business, then everyone in the company must start in their own space – the desk. This could be a haven for clutter, so start there before you move on to the next.
Follow a color code and put a label on everything so you know which one goes where. Place writing and office materials in one container and assign a specific area only for your office paraphernalia such pens, printer, and documents. Don’t forget to throw or donate office supplies you no longer use or need to free up space both on the desk and in the office.
Tip No. 2: Do something with paper.
As much as you want to hold on to paper, they can take up too much space in the office. This could affect your productivity as well because of the mess it could cause.
In this digital age, why not scan those important documents, save in respective folders, and say goodbye to paper forever (or recycle it instead of throwing them away). It will take some time, but you’ll be happy to see that you can finally get rid of those filing cabinets and documents in it you’ve been keeping for years.
Did you know that one’s working environment has the direct impact on productivity? In fact, the sight of chaos could infringe one’s ability to focus on a certain job. This means even if your desk is clean, the sight of a cluttered computer could affect your ability to work.
Therefore, clean and update your computer. Scan to get rid of viruses or malware. Backup and then delete files you no longer need. Create a filing system so you will know where to find certain documents. Put important folders on one side of the desktop so you can easily see them. The next time you open it, you will be more motivated to work.
Tip No. 4: Manage your email.
Email can be an effective tool, but it could be one of the most cluttered areas in the business – even if it does not take too much space on the table. If you are serious about keeping things organized in the workplace, then here’s what you can do to manage your email and eventually boost productivity:
Turn off email notifications both on your smartphone and computer to minimize distractions.
Unsubscribe to email newsletters you don’t read.
Set aside a specific time during the day to read and respond to email messages.
Try using rules in the email client that will sort, move, flag, and organize your messages. In case you are using Gmail, maximize the Google extensions to organize your inbox.
Tip No. 5: Use the right tools for increased productivity.
The good thing about doing business these days is that many things can be done with just a few clicks. Don’t take this negatively. These productivity tools could actually streamline certain tasks that will make everyone’s work easier.
Below are productivity tools you should consider getting:
Contact Management – This tool helps manage contact information as well as handle customer questions and overdue invoices among others.
Social Media Management – Being seen in social media is a must because it allows you to reach to a bigger audience at more affordable costs. Take advantage of this by using social media management tools that allow you to schedule posts throughout the week or month.
Project Management – This tool helps you track assigned tasks and projects, collaborate with teammates, and even share files within the workplace. In case you’re in Sacramento, CA, this Project Management Certification might just be what your business needs.
Accounting and Bookkeeping – The company accountant will be happy with this. This kind of productivity tool not only organizes the company books but also streamline certain tasks such as invoicing, making payments, and even managing cash flow.
Repetitive tasks, no matter how vital they are in the business, are something you don’t have to do – every day. Why not hire a virtual assistant (VA) who can do those tasks for you.
The good news is VA doesn’t have to be physically present in your office. In fact, they are self-employed workers who remotely offer affordable administrative services that could range from scheduling appointments to creating presentations and everything in between. All you have to do is to find the right VA for you so you can focus more on equally important things – growing your business.
Organizing your business can take time, but the effects will be worth it. After all, an organized business leads to increased productivity and how can you say no to that?
About The Author:
Grace Frenson is a freelance writer from Philadelphia. She recently graduated from Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in businesses administration. While studying for her degree she interned under a notable financial consultant in King of Prussia, PA. Grace has a passion for finance and writing. As she continues to learn more about running a successful business and new business technologies, she plans to share her insight and knowledge with those who are equally as passionate on these topics.
Cyber criminals seem to be the buzz of the last decade. Granted white-hat techniques developed have become far more efficient. Yet, it seems cybercriminals have little to no struggle keeping up with innovative ways to hack and cause havoc for businesses.
The crazy thing is…
Almost 80% of businesses believe that they may just be lined with the scope of cybercriminals in the coming year. And of these, 69 percent of these businesses are sweating it out due to the belief that they do not have the financial or infrastructural means to protect themselves from looming threats.
The word cybersecurity is almost as intimidating for a business owner as the word dentist is for a little boy or girl.
The good news is that you are not alone. I did tons of research, and interviews to find some of the easiest, most effective ways that you can protect your business from cybercriminals in the coming year.
So, let’s get into it:
Train Employees On The Risk Of Cyber Crime
The easiest way cybercriminals use to access critical business information is through your employees. The majority of the time, businesses are so focused on their software and infrastructure, that they forget their Achilles heel – employees.
It’s as simple as clicking the wrong link or opening a phishing email from the office network – a simple 2-second hack, which could cost your business thousands, and thousands of dollars.
Take the time to update employees on various popular hacking techniques from phishing techniques from hoaxes, scams, and pretty much everything and anything that relates to digital security.
At the end of the day, this also helps your employees protect their own personal information – so it is a win-win.
Keep Your Software Up To Date
If there was any way that I could further emphasize how important this is. I would. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, my hand cannot reach through the screen right now.
But…
If your antivirus is not up to date, stop reading this article right now, and head over to get it sorted straight away.
Antivirus software can only handle what it knows how to handle. That means if your software is outdated, it may not be able to recognize the latest malware, trojans, or worms injected into your organization’s network.
Enforce Strict Password Policies For Office Terminals
Weak passwords are hidden gem mines for cybercriminals.
Steve1234, SecretPass101, and your cat’s first name all have one thing in common. They make terrible passwords if you are trying to keep someone out of your account.
Although this should fall under your employee cybercrime training, I find it prudent to mention this specifically.
Although it may be a bit frustrating from an employees perspective – it contributes to your security against cybercrime, which could not only cost you thousands of dollars – but also the trust your customers have in your business.
More than worth it, I would say.
Back Up Company Critical Information … Often
Ransomware has grown by almost 300% in the last year alone. Cybercrime totaling a whopping $100 million in expenses for the United States. But at its current growth, officials state that they expect it to increase to $1 trillion by 2021.
Not sure what ransomware is?
Essentially, this is when a particularly sinister cyber criminal manages to get through your firewalls, your antivirus, and your employees – right down to business, and sensitive customer information.
Here’s where it takes a nasty turn for your business.
This particular type of crime involves taking this information, removing it completely – and leaving a note… similar to a hostage situation.
Not only will this cost your company millions of dollars, but it is also likely to leave a huge dent in your public relations tactic.
Which is why it is so important to ensure that all of your company and client sensitive information is backed up to an off-site location. Such as the secure cloud.
This backup will help you keep running your business like normal if you do ever happen to fall victim to a ransomware attempt against your business.
Hire A Professional Cyber Security Consultant
As innovative as cybercriminals are – we have our own team of insightful experts ready to lend their helping hand to businesses in need.
If you have the financial means, and you would like to find someone to help you double check the securities implemented to mitigate the risk cybercriminal activity poses to your business – there are professionals out there.
Check out this link to find out more about finding the right cybercriminal consultant to help you protect your business in the long run.
If Things Do Go South – Invest In Protecting Your Assets
If your business does happen to fall victim to cybercriminal attempts, there is always a path to redemption. If you manage to back route the hacker to his origins, there is a high likelihood that you will be able to catch him red-handed. Which is where you will need a premium attorney to handle the case and ensure that your business receives compensation for losses caused by the criminal’s activities.
There are ways to protect your business from cybercrime – you just have to figure out what works best for your business. If you want the most protection possible, it’s best to use a combination of all of these tips. Don’t take this lightly, it can happen to your business, and it will if you don’t take the necessary steps.
About The Author:
Grace Frenson is a freelance writer from Philadelphia. She recently graduated from Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in businesses administration. While studying for her degree she interned under a notable financial consultant in King of Prussia, PA. Grace has a passion for finance and writing. As she continues to learn more about running a successful business and new business technologies, she plans to share her insight and knowledge with those who are equally as passionate about these topics.
Trends, technology, and the constantly evolving lifestyle of people often change the landscape of business. Several years ago, having an almost equal footing in terms of advertising between big companies and small businesses is an unrealistic concept. Now, social media has made it the norm. With this continuously changing world, could you be guilty of holding on to some small business beliefs and practices that have long gone defunct?
Whether you are an aspiring or existing small business owner, you need to realize that you should be as open to learning as possible. Part of this learning process is reassessing the way you currently run your business. You don’t want to be the reason why your company can’t reach its full potential.
Here are top 5 small business myths to forget now:
Small Business Myth #1:
You will have more free time if you start a small business.
Many people quit their 9-5 job and decide to start a business because they think they will have more time on their hands. If you are one of these people, it’s time to gain a new perspective: starting a new business will not mean more leisure time.
Sure, you don’t have to punch in every 9 o’clock and work 8 hours a day to complete a work day. You will, however, invest more time in research, marketing, product development, and improving your business every day. Business operations do not mean you have a stringent schedule to follow. While it is true you have more control over how you use your time, it does not mean you will always be out on vacations.
This may seem disheartening at first, but remember that the hours you put in determine how high your business can take off. Sacrificing a few leisure hours at the first stages of your business is crucial. The sooner you learn to accept this, the earlier you will ease yourself into the flexible and dynamic world of entrepreneurship.
Small Business Myth #2:
You must be on top of everything to manage your business.
It is common for new business owners to feel that they should be on top of every little facet of their business. Realistically speaking, however, you cannot spearhead marketing and supervise administrative work simultaneously. You cannot be the company’s social media administrator and manage your local store all at once.
If you want to optimize your time, you cannot spend hours on the desk doing the same task all the time. Managing multiple business operations means that you are not giving each part of the work your A-game. You need to be comfortable with the fact that outsourcing is not just for big companies. You can get an administrative assistant even if you are just starting out in business. This will give you more time to focus on your managerial responsibilities and still ensure that the paperwork and other administrative tasks are taken care of.
Small Business Myth #3:
Success is guaranteed as long as you follow your plan.
If you want to go far in business, you must learn to accept that success isn’t achieved overnight – or more accurately, after your first attempt to launch your business. This also means that your initial business idea or strategy is the only notion and technique you can dabble in. Flexibility, the humility to learn, patience on your progress, and open-mindedness are key ingredients to a company that lasts.
Small Business Myth #4:
Hire associates with a 5-year plan and extensive experience.
It is understandable to choose associates with the best résumé. However, this doesn’t mean dismissing aspirants who are just fresh from school or those who do not yet have years of experience in their field.
You must take into account the talent, interest, and passion that people have for what they do. Ultimately, a person who enjoys and is passionate about what they do will do better work than someone who has years of experience but is only there for the paycheck.
Small Business Myth #5:
Digital marketing is overrated.
One of the most critical mistakes you can make as an owner of a small business is thinking that digital marketing is overvalued.
If anything, digital marketing is something you should focus on and make sure to optimize. After all, this branch of marketing gives you an almost equal foothold with bigger companies. You have direct access to your market through social networks and Google makes it possible for local businesses to be seen in its search results pages.
Business success is a moving target because strategies that worked years before may only be just myths today. Knowing the top 5 small business myths to forget now ensures you are not trapped in the past. What business operations are you shifting today?
About The Author:
Catherine vanVonno, the author, is the President and Executive Director of 20Four7VA, a global Virtual Assistant (VA) Service Provider. She holds a doctorate degree in Applied Statistics, Research Design and Program Evaluation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has over 10 years experience in facilitating evidence-based strategic planning, product development, brand management, legislative communications, and medical policy. She is married and has four children. You can reach her at communications@20four7va.com.
Cloud phone systems are on the hype and are now profoundly utilized by different businesses as it offers them a list of advantages. But what are these exactly? A cloud phone system is hosted in the cloud meaning, every data is stored on a protected server which you can easily access the internet.
A cloud phone system is kept digitally instead of responding to a machine tape, acquiring phone bills, and tons of wires. This makes it less expensive and easy to use. Hence, it can improve the way businesses run. Here are several ways on how a cloud phone system can help your small business.
Top of the line Business Features
Cloud phone systems enable some of the top line business features such as advanced email, voicemail options and automatic attendants, and other communications options.
It could likewise provide other features like traffic shaping which is very beneficial in preserving bandwidths and in ensuring call quality and reliability. As a matter of fact, some providers opt to choose to offer this cloud voice system over privately managed networks to prevent call travels over the public internet. Another advantage it offers is that it could provide backups since cloud phones can also connect with two different on-site internet circuits.
It is cost- efficient
It is always desirable for small businesses to cut operational costs as much as they can. Most of the time, customary telephone systems necessitate upfront investment, regular maintenance costs and a lock-in period.
Hosted VoIP solutions, on the other hand, eliminate these hassles since it will let you to pay-as-you-go, depending on your actual need for the service. Moreover, the lack of physical hardware will save you a lot of maintenance and upgrade expenses simply because it is hosted in the cloud. It just maintains and upgrades all of the PBX technology for its clients. So basically, your telephone system is scalable and more cost-efficient than any traditional landlines.
Flexibility to scale up
It is one of the primary objectives of a business to scale up. So should their phone system. And a cloud service constantly provides the flexibility your business needs today and also for its future growth. Cloud phone systems offer businesses access to the newest voice features without any hardware updates.
For anybody who had experienced to expand or transfer an on-premise phone system, they certainly know the degree of a struggle it entails. Lots of equipment, lots of manpower and lots of careful moving, of large hardware. A phone system in the cloud is effortlessly and quickly systematized and organized. The only shifting necessary is for handsets or cables, with no any extra encumbrance on your business’ IT department.
No Hardware or Installation
Having a phone system modified for a business may mean a lot of clunky and expensive hardware, as well as an IT expert to look over its required maintenance and upgrades. And unfortunately, when all upgrades did ensue, it also meant that most of your hardware was obsolete.
With the Cloud & VoIP, modifications and upgrades are completed on the provider’s end, so you don’t need here an IT consultant or ad intricate process involving multiple decision makers or a company’s body to approve new installations and upgrades.
This sign means that you can acquire a full-featured PBX without buying any expensive equipment, and merely paying a monthly subscription for the services. And this advantage is one of the essential things to customers switching to VoIP for the first time.
Convenient and efficient
Workplaces nowadays are progressively becoming mobile, and small companies especially need to be able to operate from multiple different locations. With a cloud-based system, small companies’ personnel have access to features that allow them to log in from anywhere so that they can be reached while on the go, giving customer-facing and revenue-producing employees greater control over their efficiency and productivity.
Also, web-based customer portals enable IT staff to manage their system more conveniently and efficiently. With insight into the installation, service configuration, trouble tickets, training, billing, and call analytics, this full access to a customer’s system and account allows them to devote fewer resources on project management and put more attention on work that adds to the bottom line.
Also, cloud solutions can be straightforwardly incorporated with other cloud-based applications, thus giving mobile employees access to all the features and functionalities they want to work just as efficiently as if they were in the office.
To sum it up
When it comes to phone systems, solutions for small and medium-sized businesses provide customers an innovative kind of flexibility and reliability. So if you are now thinking you might benefit from these platforms, it’s never too late to make a wise decision to switch to put your phone system in the cloud.
About The Author:
Samantha helps businesses build effective processes for vetting ideal clients and building a business that doesn’t take every hour of every day. When she isn’t working, you can find her watching psych thriller films or keeping up with the latest buzz in the tech world.
We love to create awesome websites for small businesses! It is our passion and goal to help as much as possible people with a beautiful online presentation that represents who they are and what they stand for.
Catherine vanVonno, the author, is the President and Executive Director of 20Four7VA, a global Virtual Assistant (VA) Service Provider. She holds a doctorate degree in Applied Statistics, Research Design and Program Evaluation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has over 10 years experience in facilitating evidence-based strategic planning, product development, brand management, legislative communications, and medical policy. She is married and has four children. You can reach her at 
