Introduction
Small businesses often grow quickly, but if their telecommunications setup doesn’t support this growth, productivity and service can suffer. With a few strategic habits, SMEs can avoid tech growing pains. Here are the top telecom habits that the savviest Australian small businesses adopt early on.
Consolidate Where It Makes Sense
It’s easy for businesses to end up with multiple vendors for phone, mobile, internet and IT services. While price-shopping can yield short-term savings, managing too many bills and support lines is time-consuming. Smart businesses assess where bundling makes sense, such as integrating internet and VoIP or consolidating mobile plans across teams, to simplify admin and reduce downtime when problems arise.
Move Beyond the Desk Phone
Traditional phone systems aren’t built for flexibility. Today’s teams need to answer calls from wherever they’re working, be it at home, in the office, or while travelling. Shifting to cloud-based VoIP systems enables features like mobile calling apps, voicemail-to-email and remote call transfers. It’s a modest shift that can provide major gains in responsiveness and staff satisfaction.
Always Have a Backup Connection
Downtime can cost money, in the form of lost sales, missed calls and frustrated clients. The most resilient businesses use mobile broadband as a backup to their main NBN service. This way, if the fixed-line connection drops, operations continue uninterrupted. It’s an affordable insurance policy that’s easy to overlook until it’s too late.
Prioritise Security and Performance
Cybersecurity isn’t just for big companies. SMEs often face the same risks including phishing, ransomware and DDoS attacks, but with fewer resources to recover. Ensuring your telecom setup includes features like strong router security and encrypted VoIP is important. Likewise, investing in quality routers and networking gear pays off in the form of fewer call dropouts and faster cloud access. Staff awareness training is also beneficial.
Review Regularly and Scale Smart
The telecom setup that worked last year may not work today. Smart SMEs schedule regular reviews, perhaps every six months, to check whether current plans, speeds, or services still align with their needs. Growing businesses should also favour providers or systems that allow quick changes: adding lines, increasing data caps, or shifting hardware with minimal fuss.
Support Remote and Hybrid Teams
The rise of remote and hybrid work models means businesses need tools that empower teams to collaborate from anywhere. Look for systems that support virtual extensions, integrated video calls and cloud-based messaging. This flexibility ensures staff can work efficiently without being tethered to the office.
Track Usage and Costs Proactively
Set up monitoring tools or dashboards that help track telecom usage, especially for mobile and internet data. Staying on top of consumption prevents bill shock and helps you determine the correct size of your plans. Some businesses have even saved hundreds each quarter simply by downgrading underutilised services.
Plan Ahead for Growth
If you’re planning to hire, open a second location, or expand into new services, think about telecom infrastructure early. Will your current systems handle the added demand? Scalability should be a key consideration when selecting your telco partner.
