The digital age has revolutionised the way people work. Even more so after the pandemic began. 

But did you know the adoption of technology is different from generation to generation?

A study conducted by the Cavell group found:

• People born after 1981 are more likely to easily adapt to newer technologies.
• Those from the age group of 25-35 are digital natives. They prefer minimal communication while buying something online. 
• Whereas those born before 1981 are not comfortable with no-contact purchasing. They prefer telephonic conversations over texting or social media. 

The pandemic has seen a tremendous shift in people adapting to technology. Companies had to meet the technological requirements of their employees for the smooth functioning of their organization. Even though Gen Z and Y are technologically advanced, there are still 22% of Baby Boomers (1945-1960) and 31% of Gen X(1961-1980) in the workforce who had to struggle to keep up with the latest technology. 

Despite when the pandemic ends or when the restrictions are eased, the concept of remote working will still boom. In 2019, 20% of the companies had half of their employees working remotely but now, 77% of companies across all verticals expect some of their employees to work remotely. However, the number of people working remotely in a company varied from industry to industry. For example, 54% of people in the construction industry can work remotely comfortably. On the other hand, only 1% of people in the education industry are more likely to be able to work remotely. 

Digital commerce broke all records with 84% of consumers buying things online during the pandemic. In almost 10years, the growth was not as much as it was in the three months last year.

How is multichannel communication the new way to communicate?

The digital age is demanding a digital mindset from people. Since the pandemic began, it forced people to stop meeting in person and shift to their screens even for their essential meetings. This is where the concept of multichannel communications came into place. Platforms such as Google meet, Slack, Zoom or Microsoft Teams were used rarely before 2020. The awareness about such software increased when people could not step out of their homes. 

The online communications channels saw a surge in demand in 2020. With features such as calling plans with operator connectivity, telephony services, SIP connectivity, additional PBX overlay features, Microsoft Teams is one of the most used online communication platforms. 

Advantages of multichannel communication

With transparent communications using different channels like email or social media, staying connected with your audience becomes a lot easier. Getting their preferences, needs, and wants is more straightforward when you understand how they prefer to interact with the brand. 

With cloud systems and multiple channels of communication in place, data sharing and storing is no more a hassle these days. 

SMBs are keen on establishing a mobile workforce. No matter where the employees are, connecting through online platforms with other employees is manageable. The flexibility of work then boosts productivity within the employees. 

Death of PBX and Emergence of VoIP

A PBX is a Private Branch eXchange, a hardware system that controls routing and switching of calls between a business location and the telephone network.

With a traditional PBX, the number of outside telephone lines (trunks) and the maximum number of internal telephone devices or extensions are restricted. Users of the PBX phone system (phones or extensions) have to share the outside lines for making external phone calls.

For small business owners to keep a PBX has more cons than pros. The installation charges of traditional PBX are too high and the maintenance charges are also through the roof. Moreover, these systems do not provide any additional features apart from telephony. 

The new-age technology of VoIP has gained immense popularity in recent years because of its features and ease of access. The digital phone VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is a system of connecting calls over the internet. You don't necessarily need a landline to make calls with VoIP. 

The VoIP phone system can be installed at an extremely affordable price, has low maintenance charges, and comes with countless features. Things like call recording, call forwarding, voicemail, call queuing, setting on-call greetings, business hours and holiday schedules can be done on a VoIP phone. 

Due to the mobility and flexibility of a VoIP phone, businesses are switching to VoIP. The amount of money it saves in comparison to a traditional phone line is huge. With HD voice and video call, it also provides stability and excellent quality. It's a complete package that can be a reliable mode of communication for your business. In a hybrid working model or a remote working business model, VoIP can help you to keep up with the technologically advanced world.

To see how a bOnline VoIP phone can benefit your business, speak to an expert on 02036974166.