Although production and manufacturing companies have become better at digitizing and automating, telephony is still a must. Whether it’s internal communication within a factory or coordinating different sites and offices, telephony plays a key role in making the industry more efficient.
One of the most important but perhaps somewhat overlooked benefits of telephony is how it can be used to adapt your business to new circumstances. Here we explain how telephony can help production and manufacturing companies adapt to changes linked to growth, seasonality and changing working practices.
The benefits of telephony for manufacturers
There are many benefits of telephony for businesses involved in production and manufacturing. One of the main ones is improved communication and collaboration. Telephony gives you a reliable channel for employees to communicate with each other, whether they are on the factory floor or in another office. It also allows you to quickly get in touch with decision-makers and managers, which can be important in a fast-paced production environment.
At the same time, collaboration is strengthened as employees can easily communicate with each other to coordinate tasks and make sure everyone is on the same page.
Another benefit of telephony is that it can increase productivity. With communication channels you can rely on, employees can quickly resolve problems and get answers to their questions, ensuring things run smoothly.
With a unified communication platform, telephony can also make it easier to reach different departments. It also helps with information sharing and ensures that all employees are on the same page. This makes telephony an essential tool for industrial companies that want to improve their communication and increase their productivity.
Read more: 4 simple steps to successful business telephony
The challenges of a changing manufacturing workforce
Recruiting experienced staff is one of the biggest challenges manufacturers face, especially when the need for specialists increases. This is a particular challenge when the company is growing, as the need for new skills is often higher than how quickly they can be recruited.
In addition, managing staff in a seasonal environment where the number of employees varies according to changing needs can be tricky. This requires planning to ensure that the right number of staff are hired and trained on time.
By addressing these challenges and adopting an effective telephony solution, manufacturers can ensure that their workforce remains flexible and productive.
How telephony can help you with a changing workforce
With the right choice of telephony solution, manufacturers can solve the problems of a shifting workforce and capture the benefits that telephony offers.
Flexible licenses instead of cumbersome subscriptions
One of the challenges manufacturers can face when installing their telephony is the fact that many solutions are fixed, instead of flexibly meeting the needs of the business. Telavox uses licenses instead of subscriptions. This way, companies can easily add or remove users as needed and only pay for what they actually use.
This means that if a company grows and needs to add more people to the solution, they can do so quickly without extra, unnecessary costs.
On the other hand, if an employee leaves, licenses can be terminated or assigned to other users. This is particularly useful for companies that need to be flexible when some seasons are more active than others and the number of employees varies.
Easy onboarding
A crucial factor when evaluating solutions for companies that recruit regularly is this: “How long does it take for a new employee to learn how to use this solution?”
There are many systems that look good on paper and claim to have features that will completely transform your working day. That may be the case, but how long does it really take to get to that stage?
Manufacturing companies work to tight deadlines and their staff need to get up to speed quickly. That’s why it’s important that the solution they use is easy to understand and delivers what it promises straight away.
Telavox is built to be easy to use for a first-time user. There is also an expansive learning platform, the Telavox Academy, which guides the user through every step of the way. This allows managers to focus on their tasks and every employee to go from novice to expert in record time.
Read more: Successful digital onboarding with Ewa Thylén at Tillväxtverket
Fixed phone vs mobile vs softphone
When you think of business telephony, many people think of landline phones sitting on a desk. That’s understandable, and it’s something you’ll find in many workplaces. But combining fixed hardware with mobile devices and softphones can make you more flexible. For example, a receptionist might take a call on a softphone and transfer it to a landline in one of your factories. Or a salesperson might start a call on his computer, but continue it on his mobile when it’s time to leave the office.
Having a solution that combines different types of telephony can create a more resilient business that can be more easily adjusted as the work environment changes.
Read more: More efficient production: 5 benefits of UCaaS for manufacturing companies
One platform for all, on all devices
Having a combination of different devices sounds like a good idea, but it can be a headache. One advantage of a solution like Telavox is that the same platform can be used on all devices. This means that the different types of telephony can be used in the same way and work with each other seamlessly. Consistent ways of working and responsive tools make it easier to learn your choice of platform. These are must-haves when you regularly get new employees and have to meet tight deadlines.
Executive summary
Telephony is an essential tool for production companies as it facilitates communication, collaboration and productivity. However, a fluctuating workforce can be a challenge, which requires proactive solutions.
With a flexible telephony solution, like Telavox, businesses can adapt as your workforce or needs change. By implementing a single platform that is easy to learn and works across all devices, manufacturing companies can ensure they have consistent ways of working and faster delivery.
