Stay connected and productive with VoIP during the COVID-19 pandemic

If there’s one thing we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that communication is key during a crisis or emergency. Poor communication can lead to misinformation, which can cause undue panic. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony offers organizations in all sectors with the perfect solution to keep their workforces, clients, and partners in the loop at all times, among other benefits. Read on to learn more about them.

VoIP telephony ensures effective communication and business continuity in times of crisis.

Facilitates remote work and service delivery

VoIP is an indispensable tool for organizations that have rolled out work-from-home setups. Through VoIP platforms like Skype, remote workers can jump on calls and join meetings from anywhere, at any time. Employees stay connected as long as they have an internet-connected device — they don’t even need any additional hardware. Managers can also easily check in with their teams through direct calls, voice notes, and instant messaging.

VoIP solutions also promote collaboration among distributed workforces so workflows stay efficient. When collaborating on productivity […]

Stay connected and productive with VoIP during the COVID-19 pandemic2020-04-02T15:23:50-07:00

What The CARES Act Means For Your Business And Employees

President Trump signed the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (the CARES Act) on the afternoon of March 27, 2020, following voice-vote approval earlier in the day by the US House of Representatives and a unanimous 96-0 vote by the US Senate on March 25. The CARES Act’s estimated $2+ trillion price tag includes: extraordinary public health spending to confront the COVID-19 pandemic; immediate cash relief for individual citizens; a broad lending program for small business; and, targeted relief for hard-hit industries.

Here is a great website that breaks down what this 880-page document means for your business and your employees:
https://www.steptoe.com/en/news-publications/president-trump-signs-cares-act-into-law.html

What The CARES Act Means For Your Business And Employees2020-03-30T14:42:45-07:00

States Step Up Enforcement Of “Do Not Call”

In December 2019, New York State passed the “Nuisance Call Act,” prohibiting anyone from “knowingly making unsolicited sales calls to [anyone]……during a declared state of emergency.” This includes B2B calling!

Earlier this month, New York governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency due to the spread of the coronavirus in the state, therefore any telemarketing or other unsolicited sales calls or text messaging to anyone in NY is illegal! And this declaration may last until September 7, 2020.

If your company is making these types of calls or texts, as part of your sales and marketing, to anyone in New York State, we strongly recommend you stop now. Even if your company is located in another state!

New York has setup a hotline and website for their residents to register their complaints, and the governor has indicated New York will act “swiftly to stop these people from preying on our citizens!”

States Step Up Enforcement Of “Do Not Call”2020-03-30T14:34:05-07:00

Pandemic pushes millions to the cloud

COVID-19 is now a global pandemic. Millions of people are affected as countries go on lockdown to halt the spread of the disease. Many employees are forced to work from home. That’s why there’s a sudden surge in demand for cloud-based services worldwide. Can the web infrastructure survive this pandemic, too?

Even before the pandemic, many companies were already turning to online productivity and collaboration tools for their business. While projections on how long this pandemic will force people to stay in their homes vary, it is certain that for the next month or so, cloud usage will continue to rise. This has many people worried that the internet is not ready for this sudden increase in activity.

What you should and shouldn’t be concerned about

The internet’s performance depends on many things, including network infrastructure, how things are wired up, and points of presence.

  • Will the internet collapse? Experts say this is unlikely. In fact, the internet is built to survive such surges in activity.
  • Will it affect the quality of service? […]
Pandemic pushes millions to the cloud2020-03-30T14:34:05-07:00

Business impacts of the coronavirus disease

Consumers and businesses are already dealing with the huge impact of COVID-19. As governments and private businesses continue to find ways to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, they turn to all available technology resources. In the long term, expect the following changes in the use of technology.

Increased reliance on communications technology
The need for remote interactions and stronger communications technology will inevitably increase. Businesses are expected to immediately adopt things like 5G technology to enhance communication speeds and performance.

Meanwhile, specific industries like healthcare will adopt technologies that optimize current processes. This includes using telehealth platforms that will let healthcare providers diagnose and issue prescriptions remotely. To do that, they need 5G-powered systems that will efficiently facilitate consultations.

Many companies have already shifted to remote work setups. Business leaders now and in the foreseeable future will use more platforms that efficiently facilitate collaboration with colleagues, business partners, and customers. Tools that will let them achieve this include teleconferencing solutions like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and others.

Digital ways to network
Now that many businesses […]

Business impacts of the coronavirus disease2020-03-30T14:34:05-07:00

Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams

More and more people are forced to work from home to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic. But Microsoft Teams is rising to meet the needs of affected companies. This powerful tool recently underwent several changes to make it easier for its users to effectively collaborate and communicate with each other.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams combines workplace chat, video conferencing, and file storage and collaboration. It also has extensions that integrate with third-party apps, even those not made by Microsoft. As a unified communication and collaboration platform, Teams is like combining Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom into a single app.

How do you get Microsoft Teams?

If you have an Office 365 license, then you can readily access Microsoft Teams. But that’s not the only way to access and take advantage of the platform.

Individual users can use their work or school email address to sign up through this link. You will automatically receive a license valid until January 2021. This license lets you take advantage of chat, screen sharing and recording, […]

Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams2020-03-30T14:34:06-07:00

7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home

Working remotely comes with many benefits, such as saving you time and money on commuting, dealing less with office politics, having less stress at home, and reducing your risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. However, if you get too settled, you might experience what’s called hermit habit. Hermit habit is a term used to describe remote workers who become too settled with their remote job. So much so that they forget to do regular activities such as go outside, buy food and supplies, and engage in any physical activity.

Here are some tips to help you avoid it.

#1 Dress up for work

Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you don’t have to look professional. As strange as it may sound, planning what you’ll wear while working remotely can help you be more productive and take out the rut from wearing sweatpants and hoodies every day.

#2 Motivate your brain

Before you start your workday at home, you need to get your brain moving in the right direction. Author Ayn […]

7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home2020-03-30T14:34:07-07:00
Go to Top