The goal of any communication stack isn’t just to “make phone calls.” It’s to empower your team to collaborate, stay mobile, and provide an elite experience for your customers. At CallHarbor, we see businesses every day that are ready to level up but aren’t sure if their current setup can handle the future.

Is your communication stack truly future-proof? Here are 5 questions every business leader should ask.

1. Does your system follow your team, or does it keep them at a desk?

The “traditional” office setup is a thing of the past. Whether your team is hybrid, fully remote, or just constantly on the move between meetings, your communication system needs to be just as mobile as they are.

If your employees feel “tethered” to a physical desk phone to get their work done, your stack isn’t future-proof. With CallHarbor UC, you get the best of both worlds: high-quality desk phones for the office and a powerful mobile app and web softphone that take your extension wherever you go.

2. Are you paying extra for “essential” features?

Many providers lure you in with a low base price, only to “nickel and dime” you for things like SMS, video conferencing, or call recording. A future-proof stack is one that is inclusive.

At CallHarbor, we believe features like Business SMS and detailed analytics shouldn’t be “add-ons” they should be part of the foundation. If you’re seeing extra line items on your bill for basic communication tools, it’s time to rethink your provider.

3. How many “points of failure” do you have?

In the world of VoIP, uptime is everything. If your provider relies on a single data center, one local outage could take your entire business offline.

A future-proof system is built on Geo-Redundancy. CallHarbor utilizes three different geographic points of presence (Detroit, Atlanta, and Phoenix). If one location goes down, your system stays online and functional without skipping a beat.

4. Can you make changes in seconds, or do you have to wait for a ticket?

The needs of your business can change in an instant. Maybe you need to update an Auto-Attendant greeting for a holiday, or perhaps you need to onboard a new employee immediately.

If you have to put in a support ticket and wait 48 hours just to change a ring group, your stack is slowing you down. Your communication platform should offer an easy-to-use Manager Portal that puts the power back in your hands. Of course, if you do get stuck, our 24/7/365 US-based support is always ready to jump in.

5. Does it integrate with the tools you already use?

Efficiency is the name of the game.A communication stack that lives in a vacuum is a productivity killer. In a future-proof environment, your phone system should be an extension of the tools you already use every day.

Does your current setup integrate with your CRM to log calls automatically? When your tools talk to each other, your team spends less time on manual data entry and more time talking to customers. If you’re still manually dialing numbers from a spreadsheet or flipping through three different apps just to find a client’s history, your stack is stuck in the past.

The Bottom Line

If you answered “no” or “I’m not sure” to any of these questions, your communication stack might be reaching its expiration date. Transitioning to a modern, cloud-based UCaaS platform isn’t just about getting new desk phones, it’s about ensuring your business is ready for whatever the next five years bring.

Ready to future-proof your business? Reach out to the CallHarbor team today for a demo, and let’s build a communication strategy that grows with you.

The post Is Your Communication Stack Future-Proof? 5 Questions to Ask appeared first on CallHarbor.

As fireworks light up the sky and we celebrate independence this July, many businesses are taking a moment to reflect—not just on our nation’s freedom, but on their own. In today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, companies are realizing they’ve outgrown their outdated phone providers and are ready to cut ties with the technology (and contracts) that no longer serve them.

Just like any bad relationship, staying with the wrong phone provider can drain your resources, cause daily frustration, and limit your potential. That’s why more businesses are breaking up with legacy systems and embracing modern, unified communication solutions like CallHarbor.

Let’s dive deeper into why this breakup trend is growing—and how CallHarbor is giving companies the freedom they’ve been craving.

🚫 The Problems with Old-School Phone Providers

From long hold times and hidden fees to unreliable service and clunky hardware, the list of reasons companies are leaving their phone providers grows longer every day. Here are some of the most common complaints we hear:

1. No Flexibility in a Flexible World

The modern workforce has changed. Whether it’s fully remote, hybrid, or just highly mobile, today’s teams need communication tools that move with them. Old phone systems were built for a different era—one where employees sat at the same desk, at the same location, with the same desk phone, every day.

Unfortunately, that model just doesn’t work anymore.

With CallHarbor’s cloud-based UCaaS platform, businesses get:

• Mobile and desktop apps for seamless communication on the go
  
• Real-time syncing across devices
  
• The ability to make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection
  
• Features that support remote teams, field staff, and multiple office locations

Your team deserves the tools to thrive in today’s landscape—not struggle with yesterday’s limitations.

2. Support That Leaves You Hanging

When something goes wrong, response time matters. Too many businesses find themselves stuck waiting for help when they need it most. Whether it’s a service outage or a simple configuration question, slow, outsourced, or unhelpful support adds unnecessary stress.

At CallHarbor, support isn’t just a department—it’s a promise. We provide:

• 24/7 U.S.-based support from knowledgeable team members
  
• Quick response times with no ticket black holes
  
• Friendly guidance from real humans (not bots or confusing IVRs)
  
• Hands-on onboarding and training for smooth transitions
  

We understand your communication system is mission-critical. That’s why we treat your problems like our own—because they are.

3. Outrageous Costs and Hidden Fees

Traditional phone providers often hit businesses with confusing bills and costly add-ons. Want voicemail-to-email? That’s extra. Need more extensions? There’s a fee. Scaling up your business? Suddenly your bill doubles.

You shouldn’t have to guess what your communication tools are going to cost each month.

CallHarbor simplifies pricing by offering:

• Transparent monthly billing with no hidden fees
  
• All-inclusive packages—get all the features without nickel-and-diming
  
• Flexible pricing that grows with your business

Our customers consistently tell us how refreshing it is to know exactly what they’re paying for—and how much more they’re getting.

4. Limited Features That Don’t Meet Modern Needs

In the age of customer experience, your communication tools need to go beyond just dial tone. Businesses today expect smarter call routing, integration with CRM tools, advanced reporting, and analytics to measure performance and make informed decisions.

Outdated systems just can’t keep up.

CallHarbor delivers robust UCaaS features, including:

• Call queues and auto attendants
  
• Call recording and analytics
  
• Voicemail transcription and email delivery
  
• Integrations with Microsoft Teams, CRMs, and help desk platforms
  
• Real-time dashboards and reporting tools
  

We’re always adding new functionality based on customer feedback—so your system gets better with time, not more obsolete.

5. A Lack of Partnership and Personalization

One of the biggest frustrations businesses face is feeling like just another number. Big-name providers often provide one-size-fits-all solutions with little room for customization or relationship building.

At CallHarbor, we pride ourselves on being a true partner, not just a provider. That means:

• Personalized setups tailored to your industry and goals
  
• Dedicated account management and technical consultation
  
• A relationship based on trust, communication, and shared success
  

We work with companies across industries—healthcare, education, manufacturing, legal, nonprofit, and more—so we know what tools and features matter most to your team.

🔁 Why the Switch to CallHarbor Is So Easy

We often hear: “We want to leave our current provider, but we’re worried the transition will be a headache.”

We get it. Change can be daunting. But we’ve made it our mission to make switching to CallHarbor simple, streamlined, and stress-free.

When you move to CallHarbor, we handle:

• Full account setup and onboarding
  
• Porting your phone numbers with zero downtime
  
• Training your team to feel confident using the platform
  
• Customizing your call flow and user profiles
  
• Post-install support to make sure you’re running smoothly

We don’t just get you started—we stick with you long after your first call.

🎆 This July, Declare Your Independence

Independence is about more than fireworks and parades—it’s about freedom of choice, freedom from frustration, and freedom to grow.

If your current phone provider is holding you back with outdated technology, poor service, or overpriced plans, now is the time to make the switch. At CallHarbor, we’re ready to help you reclaim control of your communications.

You deserve:

✅ Flexible tools that fit the way your team works
✅ Reliable support when you need it most
✅ Clear, honest pricing with no surprises
✅ Modern features that power productivity
✅ A communication partner who’s invested in your success

📞 Ready to Break Up with Frustration?

Join the growing number of businesses declaring independence from outdated providers and embracing smarter, more reliable communication with CallHarbor.

Let’s chat about your needs and show you how easy it is to make the switch.

➡️ Visit www.callharbor.com
➡️ Book a demo with our team
➡️ Start fresh this summer—with CallHarbor by your side

This July, don’t just celebrate freedom. Experience it.

The post Why More Businesses Are Breaking Up with Their Old Phone Provider appeared first on CallHarbor.

In this article, we’ll explore how BYOD works at CallHarbor, the benefits it offers, and how you can use your smartphone to unlock the full potential of our business communication platform.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Flexibility Without Compromise

Investing in new hardware can be costly and unnecessary, especially when you already own devices that could be integrated into your business phone system. CallHarbor supports a wide range of Yealink and Polycom phones as well as some SIP-compatible desk phones (although these will not be considered fully supported), allowing you to continue using equipment you’re familiar with.

How Does BYOD Work?

1. Compatibility Check: Before you begin, we ensure your existing device is fully compatible with CallHarbor’s system. We are partnered with Yealink and Polycom. Some SIP-compatible phones can be integrated but they will not be considered fully supported.
2. Configuration Assistance: Our support team provides step-by-step guidance to help you configure your device, ensuring it works seamlessly with our platform.
3. Full Functionality: Once set up, your device gains access to all the advanced features CallHarbor offers, from call parking to voicemail transcription.

Why Choose BYOD?

Bringing your own device offers a range of benefits that make it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes:

1. Significant Cost Savings

Purchasing new hardware can strain your budget, especially for startups or small businesses. BYOD allows you to save money by utilizing devices you already own, freeing up resources for other priorities.

2. Familiarity

Transitioning to a new phone system is easier when you’re already comfortable with the hardware. There’s no need to learn the ins and outs of new devices, which reduces training time and boosts productivity.

3. Eco-Friendly Option

By reusing your existing devices, you’re contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing electronic waste. It’s a win-win for your business and the planet.

Turn Your Smartphone Into a Business Communication Hub

Beyond BYOD for desk phones, CallHarbor takes flexibility to the next level with our mobile app. Available for both iOS and Android devices, this app transforms your smartphone into a fully functional business communication tool, providing all the features of a desk phone—and more—in the palm of your hand.

Key Features of the CallHarbor Mobile App

• Professional Call Handling: Make and receive calls using your business number, ensuring a polished and professional image.
• Unified Communications: Access voicemail, calls, and text messages, in one convenient location.
• Advanced Call Management: Features like call transfer, call parking, and conference calling are available right from the app.
• Work On the Go: Whether you’re at a coffee shop, traveling for business, or working remotely, you can stay connected to your team and clients.

The Benefits of Using the Mobile App

1. Enhanced Mobility

The CallHarbor mobile app keeps you connected, no matter where your day takes you. You’re no longer tethered to your desk, enabling greater flexibility and work-life balance.

2. Cost-Effective Solution

Instead of investing in additional desk phones or hardware, your smartphone becomes your primary communication device, saving you money without sacrificing features or functionality.

3. Improved Productivity

Having all your communication tools in one app streamlines your workflow and reduces the time spent switching between platforms.

4. Maintain Professionalism

Using your business number from the app ensures that all client-facing communications maintain a professional tone, even if you’re working from your phone.

Why CallHarbor?

At CallHarbor, we prioritize flexibility, affordability, and user satisfaction. By offering BYOD and a cutting-edge mobile app, we empower businesses to tailor their communication systems to their unique needs. Whether you’re a startup, a remote worker, or part of a large team, we make it easy to stay connected, productive, and professional.

Ready to elevate your business communication experience? Contact CallHarbor today to learn more about our BYOD options and mobile app! Let us help you build a system that works for you, wherever you are.

The post Bring Your Own Device to CallHarbor: The Ultimate Flexibility in Business Communication appeared first on CallHarbor.

Cloud-Based Infrastructure

One of the primary reasons why business owners are gravitating towards UCaaS is the cloud-based infrastructure. UCaaS providers like CallHarbor leverage cloud technology, allowing businesses to access their communication system from any location with an internet connection. This flexibility empowers employees to work remotely, ensuring seamless collaboration and improved productivity, even when teams are geographically dispersed.

Integrated Communication Channels

UCaaS  integrates various communication channels, such as voice, video, internal and external messaging into a unified platform. This convergence eliminates the need for managing multiple systems and streamlines communication within organizations. By providing a seamless experience across different channels, CallHarbor enables employees to connect with each other effortlessly, resulting in enhanced collaboration and accelerated decision-making processes.

Scalability & Flexibility

Scalability is crucial for businesses of all sizes, as growth and evolving needs require adaptable communication systems. CallHarbor and other providers offer scalable solutions, allowing businesses to add or remove features as required. Whether it’s onboarding new employees, expanding to new locations, or adjusting capacity, CallHarbor’s flexible platform can accommodate these changes seamlessly, eliminating the hassle of traditional hardware-based systems.

Advanced Call Management

UCaaS offers an array of advanced call management features that streamline business communications. Call routing, auto-attendant, call forwarding, and voicemail-to-email are just a few examples of the robust call management capabilities provided. These features enable businesses to handle incoming calls efficiently, enhance customer service, and ensure that no call goes unanswered. With CallHarbor, businesses can customize call flows and routing rules to match their unique requirements, resulting in a professional and seamless caller experience.

Unified Messaging

Managing multiple communication channels can be overwhelming sometimes. CallHarbor simplifies this by providing unified messaging capabilities. Users can access voicemails, internal messaging between employees and SMS/MMS from a single interface, reducing the time spent navigating between different platforms. This consolidated approach ensures that important messages are not missed, enhancing communication efficiency and responsiveness.

Analytics & Reporting

Data-driven decision making is crucial for businesses to optimize their operations. CallHarbor offers robust analytics and reporting tools that provide insights into call volumes, call duration, missed calls, and more. Business owners can leverage this information to identify peak hours, improve customer service, and streamline their workflows. The ability to measure and analyze communication metrics sets CallHarbor apart as a powerful UCaaS solution and makes it easy to stay on top of data.

UCaaS has revolutionized the way businesses communicate, and we here at CallHarbor continues to evolve and grow as an exceptional solution in this domain. With cloud-based infrastructure, integrated communication channels, scalability, advanced call management features, unified messaging, and analytics capabilities, CallHarbor addresses the diverse communication needs of modern businesses. By bringing CallHarbor’s solution onboard, business owners can unlock the full potential of UCaaS, enabling seamless collaboration, improved productivity, and enhanced customer experiences. Embrace the power of CallHarbor and experience a new era of unified communication and phones that don’t suck!

The post Unveiling the Most Popular UCaaS Features and Why They’re Important appeared first on CallHarbor.

Automation in UCaaS

Applying automation to UCaaS can help your team stay organized, and can save time while doing it. From automating when your phones ring and what message plays, to automating wrap up times and call recording. By automating processes in your communication system, you leave less room for error. Spend less time making changes to your system, and spend more time taking care of your business.

Timeframe Automation

Utilizing timeframes to automate how your phone system acts is an easy way to keep your system organized. Instead of having to remember to change answering rules or set your phones to “night mode,” your system will simply transition throughout timeframes on its own. This gives you the assurance you need to know calls will be routed and answered as they should be.

Customers will get the correct auto attendant every time, and call queues will only be open and reachable when they are supposed to be. Having these features set in stone during certain hours means your customers will have a flawless experience. They won’t have to sit in a queue where no one is going to answer, they won’t press 2 to reach an operator when there is no one working, and they won’t have to wait to leave a voicemail to ask for directions when they can press 3 to hear hours & location.

Use timeframes to automate auto attendants, business hours, out of office & vacation messages, holidays, and more.

Call Center Automation

Using automation within your call center will leave less room for human error, and will allow you to utilize automated features that has heighten your customer experience & satisfaction. Taking a deep dive into the analytics & reporting of your call center helps you to analyze your call center capabilities, review how satisfied customers are with interactions, and find where your call center is lacking or needs more support.

Systems that allow you to automate dynamic reporting & analytics make sure that you’re always informed when it comes to your call center. Noticing any hiccups right away is crucial when it comes to the customer experience. Set up automated alerts if your wait time gets too long, or if your queues are too full.

Automating your call center includes options for call center agents too. This means that you can automate details for each agent, such as wrap up time, how many calls they can handle, call recording, and more. This makes it easy to cater and adjust to each agent, instead of having a one size fits all model.

Why Automation Matters

Automation can make a big difference in how your customer feel when they call into your business. It gives a professional look, saves time, heightens your agents’ capabilities, and allows for easier management & monitoring.

Agent Capabilities

Giving agents automated setting such as wrap up time + call limits will help them succeed in the call center. By allowing automation to be customized per agent, you can play to each agent’s strengths and ensure everyone is set up for success. When agents are given proper limits, the customers they interact with are going to be better taken care of, thus becoming a more satisfied customer due to higher customer experience.

Time Savings

Save time by automating processes within call centers, sales, support, and even internal communication. By mitigating how much manual work you have to do in between calls, before & after you log in, and throughout the day in general, you give everyone some of their time back to utilize in whichever way they need – whether it’s making an extra sales call, closing an extra ticket, or sending an extra document.

Easy Monitoring

Easily automate monitoring features such as call recording, call center stats that come to your email, and more. By automating your reporting & call monitoring, you don’t have to take an extra step to see the health of your call center. Keeping up with the trends of your call center will allow you to make changes as needed, or use that information for further training.

CX & Retention

66% of B2B companies stopped doing business with a company after one bad experience. This is why the customer experience is crucial when it comes to the success of a company. Automation and Integrations can up Customer Experience scores by making their experience easier and smoother. By upping CX scores, you’ll be able to better retain your customer base, thus becoming a healthier company financially.

Integrations + Automation

Desktop CRM Integration including:

• Click-to-dial
• Presence/BLF
• Address book
• Call History
• Recent calls
• Missed calls
• Call control
• Preview window
• Microsoft & Google Contacts Integration
• Busy light support
• App bar
• Microsoft teams status integration
• Integrated Softphone
• CRM Integration

Microsoft Teams Integration including:

• Calling direct from Team desktop/mobile
• Capability to control calls
• See CallHarbor portal inside Team window
• Maintain call forwarding/answering rules
• Receive voicemail notifications
• and more…

Physical Integrations

Providing different physical integrations can also up Customer Experience. Integrations with devices such as door calls, paging systems, and audio/visual alerters give your team a one-up on the competition.

Door Calls
Outdoor-rated intercoms with wideband audio for intelligible speech. Secure Door Entry with relay output for door/gate access control. Release doors from anywhere – even out of the office.

Paging Systems/Speakers
Paging adapters seamlessly bridge IP environments to legacy paging systems & eliminate complexity in paging environments. Ensuring effective communication with simplified configuration.

Audio/Visual Alerters
IP Strobe Lights deliver highly notable visual alerting for telephone ring detection, safety, security, and emergency notification. Assures key notification in noisy environments.

The post Using Automation & Integration to Enhance the Customer Experience appeared first on CallHarbor.

Increased Demand for UC in Non-Profits

A unified communications strategy makes it easy for non-profit employees to stay connected and keep their goals aligned, all while staying within their budget. The right UC solution in a non-profit environment allows for:

• Reduced costs: One of the biggest reasons non-profits are moving towards a UC system is the cost-effective savings. It’s a no-brainer that budget is a constant concern for non-profit groups. With UC, it’s possible to reduce the number of daily costs by combining your communications into a unified system, saving money in the long run. You’ll avoid excess roaming charges for long-distance calls out of the office, and you won’t ever have to pay for third-party conferencing software. You can also reduce travel expenses by replacing face-to-face meetings with virtual conversations via video or phone.
• Increased productivity: Fundraising, event planning, and gathering support for a crucial cause requires a lot of hard work. With UC, non-profits can communicate with team members and donors more effectively through a vast array of devices. This enhances worker collaboration among employees and volunteers, while improving overall efficiency. It also reduces the costs of communication, as company phones are no longer a necessity. Instead, personal devices can be used to access the phone network, thus increasing versatility and productivity.
• Enhanced collaboration: Consistent collaboration must be a primary focus if a non-profit organization wants to succeed. UC solutions include features that employees can use to collaborate more effectively with each other. If the entire team is using the same communication platforms, it’s much easier to stay connected with everyone throughout the day. This is especially true since many employees of non-profits frequently travel for fundraising efforts and events, so you can keep in touch with your team no matter what time zone you’re in. You can talk with co-workers in real-time about a project via phone, in a video conference, or by joining a group chat.

The Trends Driving UC for Non-Profits

With UC, it’s more possible for teams to work from home and do their part to keep their work sustainable. The demand for UC in non-profits has been increasing for years, and there are certain trends that are starting to get more hype, such as:

• Cloud communications: The cloud allows for non-profits to stay on track in unpredictable environments by ensuring that all employees can continuously operate as normal, no matter what. Because everyone has access to the same technology, there’s less of a risk for confusion when employees are shifting in and out of the office. With UC, companies can choose between multiple communications methods, including voice, video, email, social and text, while using a variety of features that exist within these channels. This gives employees the ability to communicate in the ways they prefer and to reach out to donors using their chosen methods.
• Analytics and data: Since non-profits typically have limited budgets, it’s important that they keep an eye on their analytical data on a regular basis. Access to the right insights can make it easier to determine which supporters to follow-up with and where to aim future fundraising strategies. With UC, you can get detailed analytics across all communication channels by having each conversations and piece of information in the same place. Through real-time analytics, companies can use their communications data to spot trends crucial to their success.
• Reduced carbon footprints: For non-profits that are trying to make a positive impact on the planet while keeping overhead costs low, reducing their carbon footprint is imperative, even when it comes to communication strategies. With UC services, employees can communicate easily via text, email, and phone, while receiving all messages on a single device. This reduces the need for note-taking and keeps employees in better communication, all while reducing their dependency on on-premise telecom.

To Sum it Up

A unified communication strategy can provide increased productivity, reduced costs, higher efficiency and improved analytics to non-profit organizations. When staff members have an effective and aligned experience, the results show through customer satisfaction levels and donor contributions. For non-profits, this can mean saving money and keeping their goals aligned with their limited budgets. UC makes it possible for these companies to unlock the opportunity to integrate multiple communication strategies through a single, simplified system.

Sources

• Grand View Research
• UC Today
• DGI

The post The Benefits of UCaaS for Non-Profits appeared first on CallHarbor.

Why patients prefer voice-only telehealth

Some patients prefer to interact with providers without feeling compelled to be on screen. This is especially true if the patient has a condition that impacts their physical appearance or abilities. Furthermore, it’s easier for a bed-ridden patient to talk on the phone than to appear on video or in person. (1)

On top of that, patients dealing with chronic health problems may find that it’s not always easy to leave the house and drive to in-person appointments. Many people have also admitted to putting off care to avoid the hassle of in-person appointments. (4)

The voice-only appointment option eliminates the hardship of leaving the house and driving to an appointment. This is especially true if the patient is not feeling well and is prone to get more stressed from a trip to the doctor’s office.

Fewer issues with missed appointments

One of the biggest inconveniences to health providers is missed appointments and last-minute cancellations or rescheduling. With voice-only telehealth, missed appointments are much less likely to happen because the patient does not have to drive to the physical location. They don’t even have to leave the comfort of their home!

With telehealth, the limitations of not being physically well enough to travel or having a condition with restrictions are not an issue. Providers can gain efficiency when interacting with patients if there are fewer missed appointments.

Other positive outcomes with telehealth

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends telehealth for chronic health mediation due to reduced risk factors that typically come along with chronic diseases. (1) Based on its reviews of telehealth systems, the CPSTF identified the following key positive outcomes:

• More patient adherence to medication and treatment programs: Patients are more accountable to providers for following care instructions when appointments occur more frequently.
• More focused one-on-one conversations: A telemedicine encounter eliminates all of the distractions of a busy medical office environment. The patient and the provider can focus on the present concern. (5) The option of voice-only visits makes it easier for the provider and patient to craft a comprehensive treatment plan that may address needs not always met in an office setting.
• Better health outcomes: The use of telehealth for both routine and intervention appointments reduces health risks associated with chronic conditions and increases patient health outcomes. Moreover, during a voice-only visit, a contagious person can be assessed without exposing other patients or office staff to the ailment. Patients who don’t have a communicable condition benefit by being seen remotely because they don’t come in contact with contagious people who must be seen in the office.

UCaaS systems provide quality healthcare

Today’s health providers need to be able to operate faster than ever, with access to specialist support on a range of channels. The only way to ensure business continuity and efficiency is with a unified approach. UC keeps specialists, institutions, and experts aligned on the same network to collaborate efficiently on complex health issues. This allows for faster diagnosis, treatment, and care management.

With a unified communications solution, you can more efficiently manage phone calls with patients, take and organize notes during the calls, and send follow-up instructions. (1) A unified communications solution also enhances opportunities for collaboration between primary doctors and specialists. Patients can visit with specialists who might not be in their area, who can then interact with the primary doctor to discuss care plans.

Professionals in the healthcare landscape spend a lot of time on their feet while rushing between patients. With the workforce now more distributed than ever, mobile clinics, in-home care specialists and telehealth providers need to extend the workplace. The traditional office must expand to merge with a new era of care – one driven by unified communications. 

Trust the data

The data shows that telehealth can not only be as effective as in-person care, but that it actually contributes to better patient outcomes when compared to the traditional approach. Since the pandemic began, telehealth has offered a bridge to care, and now offers a chance to reinvent virtual care models. The main goal is that of improved healthcare access, outcomes, and affordability.

Around 40 percent of surveyed consumers stated that they believe they will continue to use telehealth going forward—up from 11 percent of consumers using telehealth prior to COVID-19. On the provider side, 58 percent of physicians continue to view telehealth more favorably now than they did before COVID-19. With innovators focusing on creating value through personalized virtual care experiences and need fulfillment, it’s clear there is a promising path forward for telemedicine.

Sources

(1) Ring Central

(2) McKinsey

(3) Rock Health

(4) mHealth Intelligence

(5) Chiron Health

The post The Rise of Voice-Only Telehealth: What Providers Need to Know appeared first on CallHarbor.

Expanding & strengthening remote work

One thing we know for sure is that remote work is here to stay. Whether it’s fully remote or hybrid approach, what was once a temporary fix is becoming permanent. The past year and half has shown just how affective and productive remote work can be – and now, employees everywhere don’t want to let the perk go.

Allowing employees to work remotely isn’t the difficult part of the switch. Ensuring that they have the capabilities and resources to be as productive as they would be in the office is the true challenge. UC is critical to remote work solutions in many ways. It allows remote teams to facilitate collaboration from anywhere, or everywhere! 😉

Looking at long-term solutions

Remote workers don’t just want a solution that works in the present, they want a solution that will last. With CallHarbor’s platform, once you are a customer you get upgrades and updates for free. You’ll never have to worry about an outdated system, and all of our updates are automatic. The best part, is that you don’t have to worry about scheduling in the updates, because they require zero downtime.

Our solution is truly evergreen. We grow with your company, our platform is easy to navigate, and your technology will always be the latest and greatest. Your IT and support staff will no longer have their hands full with complicated phone systems and complaints. Our Michigan-based support is 24/7, never outsourced, and always free. You can email, call, or live chat with us to get fast help, makes adjustments, and answer any questions.

With our free hardware upgrades included at no extra cost, your phones will continue to be the latest and greatest. All DaaS (device as a service) hardware rentals also come with warranty for the life of the hardware as long as you are a customer. This means that even if your speaker goes out, buttons break, or cords fizzle, you can get a replacement rental phone for free. While most companies replace all of their hardware every 5 years with a costly overhaul, your company will no longer have to worry about that large upfront cost. As businesses plan their long-term strategies, they’re taking these factors into account.

Why a UC approach is critical for businesses

Team and employee collaboration is extremely important when it comes to a business’ success. Teams from different departments need to be able to connect easily and confidently. By utilizing different UC channels such as chat, voice, video, and SMS, your teams will feel more connected than ever. The best part of it all being on the same platform is that your team doesn’t have to worry about downloading a bunch of applications, or remembered which system has which feature. Organizations and businesses need to break down communication barriers to ensure work gets done, customer get taken care of, and employees feel connected.

CallHarbor includes inner-office chat, business SMS, video, and voice in our basic package. You don’t have to pick and choose or get nickel and dimed as you ass features. Employees have the ability to choose their most convenient or comfortable means of communication. CallHarbor’s platform is especially critical to businesses and long term UC utilization because of its ease of use. Gone are the days of juggling between applications and struggling to remember which app is for what.

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Working from home has put a bit of pressure on productivity. It has also emphasized the need for fewer tools that do more. Instead of learning another tool, what if workers had all their communication tools intelligently brought together in one place? They could chat instantly with co-workers, make high-quality phone calls, and securely join video meetings. An ever better dream would be if they could do this all from a browser of their choice on any desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. No need to download any software or applications. This dream is absolutely a possibility if your business switches to CallHarbor’s fully unified communications platform.

One spot for all your communication needs

CallHarbor UCaaS platform transforms any browser into a robust communications workspace. Our platform brings all essential business communications together. It’s a fact that switching between separate communication apps interrupts workflows. This impacts the user’s focus, and can cause less productivity in the workplace. Our fully integrated platform cut out the switching from app to app, so users can communicate and collaborate more fluidly. Your team will be able to quickly move from a chat message, to a phone call, to joining a video meeting smoothly. We make it easy to manage the daily tasks and get more done.

Integrated features of unified communications keep users productive

CallHarbor’s UCaaS platform incorporates all the communication needs in one easy spot. Users can see colleagues’ real-time presence status and start a collaboration session in a private or group chat, making it easier for everyone in a group to stay on the same page. Users can make and receive high-quality and reliable phone calls right from their browsers. Businesses utilizing CallHarbor’s platform benefit from auto-attendants, voicemail, unlimited calling, call recording, and more. Anyone can easily manage users through an intuitive administration console with tiered user access. Managers can instantly view live, rich analytic reports that offer valuable insights into their remote workforce.

_{Check out our blog article on managing your UCaaS platform with zero tech experience.}

Today’s collaboration-centric workers prefer video meeting and screen-sharing, which surfaced as essential remote working requirements during the pandemic. For remote work models to succeed, organizations need to maintain security and compliance for their users and data. With CallHarbor, remote users can connect securely face-to-face in video meetings with up to 250 participants. Advanced moderation controls give meeting hosts greater control over sessions.

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The Four Critical Elements of Working from Anywhere:

In his presentation, Richards explains that there are four elements that are critical to flexible work. These four elements all come together to create the perfect environment when moving towards flexible work.

1) Strategy

Working from anywhere requires a decent amount of strategy from the backend. It isn’t necessarily a lot, but it does need to be well organized in order for everything to run smoothly. This goes for both employees and the company as a whole. You need to have organization within your office facility, and provide a strategy on how your employees will be welcomed to come and go. Do you want to organize your office so that employees are welcome to come and go for work as they please? Maybe you want to divide it so employees can only come into the office on certain days of the week.

Whether you have in house IT or you outsource your IT, make sure your IT team is comfortable remoting into computers. They’ll have to help employees with issues while working from different locations. You’ll also have to make sure your Human Resources department is vetted with dealing with virtual onboarding. Your communication team will also have a difference in role as opposed to in-office only employers. Your communication team should make sure everyone on the team feels connected and comfortable. If you’re moving into a new anywhere work solution, your communication team will be front of line for all mailings. They’ll be in charge of all communication regarding the change. They will need to be well-informed and ready to take on any questions.

Finances are a big part of moving to an anywhere working strategy. You will have to consider your budget and decide if you want to allocate any money to your employees. This would be to make their at home office more comfortable and inclusive. Depending on your budget, you might consider allocating $500-1,000 per team member as a starting point. Some basics that your remote employees might want include a desk or table, comfortable chair, computer, webcam if not on computer, headset with mic, and fast and reliable internet access.

2) Technology

Technology is of course a very critical element of flexible working. You have to make sure that your technology is three things: secure, private, and easy to use. To start, you have two options when it comes to your employees’ technology. You can supply technology such as a laptop to your employees. They can use this both in the office and outside of the office. This is a great option for ensuring your employees have the equipment they need to be flexible.

Having secure technology is essential when it comes to working from anywhere. One way to secure data as it moves between your core systems and externally based employees is to deploy a VPN. These services provide an additional layer of security, which (in simplified terms) provides hiding the user’s IP address, encrypting data transfers in transit, and masking the user’s location. Most larger organizations already have a VPN service in place. Check that you have sufficient seats to provide this protection across their employee base. Smaller enterprises may need to appoint a VPN provider. Make sure up-to-date security protection is installed and active on any devices that will be used for work. That means virus checkers, firewalls, and device encryption should all be in palace.

Having privacy and protection on your technology is another essential. Your company should conduct employee password audits. That doesn’t mean requesting people’s personal details. It does mean passcodes used to access any enterprise services are reset and redefined in line with stringent security policy. Alphanumeric codes and use of two-factor authentication should become mandatory. You should ask your people to apply the toughest possible protection across all their devices.

The technology that you deploy to your employees to work from anywhere also needs to be easy to use. You don’t want an overcomplicated system with too many layers of protection. If you over complicate your technology, your IT department is going to become overloaded with tech calls. Your employees will be less productive because they’ll be wasting too much time trying to figure out their technology.

3) Culture

Maintaining existing culture while also building new culture is hard. If you decide you want to start deploying a flexible work from anywhere workstyle, you’ll need to gather a team to discuss culture and what moves you need to make going forward. There are three main issues that newly flexible working employees said they felt with the new culture of their workplace. 40% of employees said their challenge was poor team communication. 37% of employees said their challenge was lack of human interaction. 30% of employees said their challenge was losing motivation. There are a few ways to adjust your culture to combat these specific challenges.

When making any type of change, but especially a change as big as moving everyone to flexible working, you should reset and revisit your company guidelines. Make sure everyone is clear with your expectation and what they can and cannot do. Set guidelines around company tools. Say for example you give all employees a laptop when you move to flexible working, you’ll have to make sure you set guidelines on how to use and proper care and instructions for the laptops. It’s always good to be more clear than not. It is very helpful to train on the nuances of remote performance reviews for anywhere workers. Performance reviews are an important part of company culture. They give your employees a good benchmark of where they are at and how well they are fitting the culture. Training your higher up staff on how to perform these reviews and how to make them as affective when dealing with remote workers is key.

Your upper management should always encourage goal alignment that is directly connected to the company’s strategic initiatives. By being able to build off of your company’s goals, your individual employees will be more directly connected and supported. You should also outline when your employees should solicit help from upper management. By giving clear instructions and points where they should be reaching out for help, they will be more likely to feel comfortable with reaching out.

4) Behavior

A huge part of successfully deploying a working from anywhere environment is the management driving the right behaviors. Behavior starts with management. It’s more likely that employees will feel comfortable with working from anywhere if their management team is leading by example. There are a few problems that many employees vocalize when explaining why their motivation is low when working remotely. One problem is that there is a lot going on at home and they find themselves being distracted. As a manager, you can combat this by scheduling structured daily check-ins to try to help keep your employees focused and on task. Another problem is that many people find themselves working more when they have the ability to work from anywhere. Checking your email on your laptop while on vacation, or working after hours and eating dinner at your desk is much more likely than someone who usually works 100% in the office. Working too much will cause burn out and lost motivation. Managers should encourage their team to sign off after their day is done. They can also lead by example by not sending emails late at night, or calling on the weekends.

All in all, the work from anywhere era is here to stay, It’s not a temporary thing, and it’s definitely something many offices are going to have to get used to. Focusing on the four critical elements of working from anywhere will help your team stay on track and give everyone the tools they need to succeed. Flexible work is happening already, and it’s time to lose the commute.

Bonus: Check out our post 5 Steps Towards Creating Work Flexibility for more tips on moving over to a flexible environment.

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