With the future economic turmoil showing on the horizon, running a successful startup will require a lot of budgeting on all levels. Exploring new areas where the savings could be made might just help your business outmaneuver the competition and live to fight another day. Obviously, the less talked about costs create a greater distance between you and the competitors.
That brings us to the topic of telecoms which are rarely considered worth giving too much thought to. That makes them an additional target for emergency budgeting. Let’s see what you can do about it.
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Review your current contracts and call patterns
First and foremost, you need to see if the special offers you got when you started the contract are still in force. Most telecom contracts default to standard terms after two years, which is something you must avoid. Also, look for the services that may be part of the initial offer but you are not using. Bundled services, in general, should be avoided since they are not very scalable. Finally, try to review your call patterns. Your current provider may be offering different packages better suited to your current needs.
Are you using all the lines and unlimited calls?
In the ISDN phone systems, the number of lines in use can ramp up the telecom costs. This situation gives you a very good reason to check if all the business phone lines are properly used and if there’s any way you can cut their number down. If you notice too much idling, simply relegate the user to some other phone. The same goes for unlimited calls. The providers are doing their best to convince us they are necessary. In reality, though, you can get to the end of the month with far more affordable plans.
Consider switching to VoIP
If you are unfamiliar with the term, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and refers to the form of communication that is conducted entirely over the internet. What do you get out of this upgrade? Some of the most important mentions are lower overall call costs, greater scalability (for instance, the number of lines can be changed within minutes), and the maximum use of available internet connections. So, it would be a good idea to take a look at the best available VoIP services and see if there’s anything for you.
Are you in need of video conferencing?
This is yet another topic that leans heavily into the topic of VoIP services. Namely, up until recently, video calls required an entirely separate infrastructure from classic line-based calls and texts. And, as you can guess, separate infrastructure requires additional costs. We are happy to report that now, the VoIP market has upped the ante and some apps like Telegram now offer integrated video call features. This is great news since you are killing two birds with one stone and saving money along the way.
Are you overpaying your smartphones?
The smartphone market has undergone a drastic change over the last couple of years. These days, a top-tier performance that was once available only in the flagship market corner can be found even on the bargain bin price. Brands like Motorola, OnePlus, and Xiaomi are pushing the envelope of what can be achieved even on a modest production budget. So, here is another opportunity to save a lot of money without hurting your telecom capabilities – stop being so loyal to famous overpriced brands.
We hope these few tips gave you some general idea about the ways you can cut the costs of your business telecoms without losing any productivity. Judging by the early signs, the period ahead of us will be very turbulent, to say the least. With that in mind, there is no bad way to cut the operational costs of your company.
About the Author
Emma Worden is a digital marketer and blogger from Sydney. After getting a marketing degree she started working with Australian startups on business and marketing development. Emma writes for many relevant, industry related online publications and does a job of an Executive Editor at Bizzmark blog and a guest lecturer at Melbourne University. Interested in marketing, startups and latest business trends. Follow Emma on Twitter.
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