In part one we looked at why it is time the hospitality industry moves past the 10-year ROI telco model. We continue that series here as we look at how to bring together disjointed communications and embrace new technology.
Bringing Together Disjointed Communications
It’s been proven that today’s hosted, cloud-communication solutions alleviate many of the challenges facing today’s hoteliers. These new best-of-breed communication platforms improve telecommunications through scalability, reliability, and a centrally hosted system. In the end, they provide hoteliers with short-term and long-term values that save time and resources.
It’s no longer about the infrastructure sitting in the hotel, rather it’s incorporating smartphones and text messaging. How do you communicate with the guests beyond the physical copper cable sitting in the walls, connected to the hotel telephone? You take it to the next level by blurring the infrastructure.
What does that mean? The infrastructure is not as relevant as in the past. Instead, communication and a direct link to the guest and staff have become a greater priority. Therefore, it is necessary to break down the physical parameters that we have had in the past and begin the next steps to remove the old technology without disrupting communication.
The good news is that less equipment is required than before. Just as the huge computers of yesterday have been replaced by the devices in our pockets, so is the phone system of yesteryear. Hotels that are still stuck in the 10-year ROI mentality won’t be able to get past the idea that phone systems have changed, are changing, and will continue to evolve along with cloud and mobile communications. Those that buy and install a PBX today will face larger up-front capital expenditures, as well as maintenance and upgrade costs.
Using cloud-based technology, the new phone systems of today are designed for almost limitless scalability. For instance, they can treat multiple locations as one office or they can share a centralized receptionist and use extension dialing between remote locations. Even more important is the ability of the hotel to eliminate separate vendors such as interconnect, telecom carriers, and low-voltage repair technicians, resulting in fewer finger-pointing moments.
Moving away from traditional phone system vendors provides insight into what your hotel is spending on telecom. Flat monthly fees eliminate the guesswork of operating traditional on-premises PBXs, many of which require spending 10% to 15% above the purchase price for annual maintenance.
Embracing Evolving Technology
The benefits of today’s cloud-based communications platforms are far outpacing those of the traditional phone system, for instance, not unlike the software updates that automatically occur on your computer, software upgrades to a hosted solution can be done on the fly at no additional charge.
That means ongoing advanced telecommunication upgrades result in a system that is continually evolving. Security and reliability with reduced downtime, 24/7 support from one vendor, built-in redundancies that reduce service interruptions even when a loss of circuit occurs, are all features that next-generation hosted telephony services provide.
Today’s advanced cloud-based phone systems offset initial costs. Unlike aging analog, copper-based infrastructure, new digital, ethernet phone systems actually get better with age. Cloud solutions will be relevant 10 years after installation versus the traditional phone system that will ultimately be 10 years older and technologically outdated, and soon not supported at all as copper lines are replaced.
Those customers that already made the investment in cloud-based phone systems two, five, or even 10 years ago, will have access to the same advanced features that are being offered to new customers today. These benefits are often overlooked, or not taken into account when basing buying decisions on the 10-year ROI model.
Times are changing, faster than we could have imagined. If you haven’t taken the time to evaluate your phone/PBX needs in the past 5-10 years, you may already be behind the eight ball. Now is the time to make a move to ensure your communication platform is ready for the massive infrastructure changes coming your way.
Want to learn more about how you can save money with today’s best-of-breed communication systems? Contact info@thinksimplicity.com to learn how you can save money and reduce friction through an end-to-end cloud communication platform.