Recession forces companies to adjust their PBX strategy...
Author: Louis Burger | Date: 20 October 2009 13:52
The lingering effect of the Recession is still being felt across the world, and a trend toward downsizing within both the personal and business sphere is becoming common. Leader in their field, CCS Africa, explores this topic.
Telecommunications: the first area to undergo cost analysis
Businesses are moving towards PBX units that offer less functionality, but still offer core services at a more realistic and manageable overall cost. The primary assumption is that by downsizing today, the long-term endurance of businesses are guaranteed. A range of areas within businesses are the focus of this change and due to the fact that telecommunications is often one of the largest bills that any business will pay each month; it is one of the first areas to undergo analysis.
What is a PBX network, and what services/functions are available?
A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a private telephone network that is often put into operation within medium-to-large businesses to decrease monthly costs. Essentially, the PBX will allow for employees to share a set number of lines to dial out to telephone numbers that are external to the PBX. In this way, costs are reduced, as each telephone in a business does not have to be hooked up to an external telephone line. In addition, the functionality of the PBX system allows for many services (often referred to as “calling features”) that a direct telephone line does not offer. This feature makes the cost of the PBX system more appealing to businesses and is easier to substantiate in terms of overall cost.
Cost reduction and minimised functionality
These units include functionality such as personalised voicemail recordings for each telephone user; an auto attendant which speeds up the routing process by connecting calls automatically; and computer integration (caller identification) – functionality which comes with CCS Africa’s (www.ccs-africa.co.za) PBX products. An additional function of a PBX network is cost control. This allows for business owners to scale the monthly costs to an acceptable level. This is maintained through the implementation of security measures (all through the PBX unit) such as the need for a PIN code in order to access an external telephone line. This can be restricted to the extent that cellular telephones cannot be called for certain codes – further reducing overall costs.
Smaller PBX units: a necessity for business in streamlining processes
Due to the fact that the abovementioned functionality is readily available within smaller PBX units, businesses have downsized in this area too. They have chosen instead PBX units that are smaller and have less functionality, offering the bare minimum while remaining useful and efficient. A PBX described in these terms may motivate businesses to view it in a negative light. However, these are the very factors that allow for this smaller unit to be more cost effective and user-friendly over the long run. Additional functionality such as automated directory services (which allows for callers to be routed to an employee by speaking or keying in the letters of said employees name) have become obsolete. Businesses are looking toward reforming methods in order to remain at the head of their industry. Therefore, additional functionality within PBX units needs to be removed in favour of the new trend toward smaller PBX units.
For more information on PBX systems, and which system will best suit your business, contact CCS Africa on 0861 227 729 or enquire here >>
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