For landscaping companies large and small, new innovations in technology can have a major impact on productivity, profit and successful communication with team members and customers. Because the landscape business is a rapidly changing industry, utilizing business tools such as VoIP is paramount in order to become a pioneer and customer-favorite in your field.
But what exactly is VoIP, and how can it impact the way you do business?
VoIP, or Voice over IP, is a business communication tool which relies on an internet connection—instead of a phone line—to make phone calls. By relying on the internet to communicate with your employees and customers, VoIP enables businesses to get rid of their phone lines, generally resulting in lower costs for communication. For landscape managers and leaders, VoIP can reduce the amount of money spent on local phone calls by up to 40 percent.
How does VoIP work?
Similar to the way a computer delivers an email from one device to another, the audio signals used for VoIP are converted into digital packets before they are sent. This technology, combined with increased internet and broadband connection speeds, contributes to a decrease in poor sound quality and dropped calls. As a result, your calls will often be clearer and more time-productive than if you were to call with traditional wired phone service.
How can I use VoIP to make my business more effective?
While mowers, transportation services and safety equipment are needed for day-to-day service, tools that provide software, customer management and communications support are equally essential. Here are a few of the ways VoIP can help you maximize your time, grow your customer base and keep your business afloat in the long-term.
Auto-attendant functions let you direct calls to the correct department or individual instantly and can easily be customized to best suit the specific needs of your operations. This helps ensure that your customers are receiving the correct information as quickly as possible, even when you may not be available to answer. And unlike a person, your virtual receptionist is available for calls around the clock, will never share misinformation and will always maintain the same degree of professionalism.
Voicemail management offers complete control on the way that you manage incoming calls from potential customers, employees or outside vendors. With advanced voicemail technology, you can let certain types of calls ring through while sending others immediately to voicemail. And if you’re out of the office converting new customers, capabilities like voicemail transcription emails help you prioritize your workday without losing track of your calls.
Portability features help your calls go wherever you do, as long as you have internet service. Unlike most call systems that require dedicated phone hardware, you can choose to answer or receive phone calls on your tablet or cellphone. That means you can still effectively answer urgent, work-related calls during trips to a neighboring office or at times when you need to work from home.
Eliminating the “phone tag” game with potential or existing customers helps lessen the chance of frustrating your customers or delaying information sharing with them, which is especially crucial for small or growing landscaping companies who rely on every sale they can get. Because many VoIP systems allow calls to be transferred to multiple phones before being directed to voicemail, your customers have a greater chance of their call being received by a member of your team.
Is VoIP the right choice for me?
Depending on the frequency and dependency of phone systems for your landscaping company’s administrators, a quick VoIP installation can be an easy solution for lowering costs and maximizing productivity. And because it is a tool that scales to the size and needs of your business, VoIP is an ideal tool for growing landscapers looking to grow and thrive in their communities and beyond.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written by Selena Dombrowski. Dombrowski is a business writer whose specialty lies in upcoming technologies and workplace trends, as well as the ways in which these innovations can impact company culture and production.
Landscapers use a variety of attachments for doing everything from snow removal to jobsite cleanup, and regardless of how often they are used, every landscaper has a favorite attachment.
Photo: Pexels
