SMEs form the backbone of the business scene here in Malaysia — but small business owners have certainly been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As many employees now work from home, a key factor in the the success — or simply survival — for SMEs in Malaysia is digtalisation. Arguably, there is a digital divide between businesses in Malaysia, and there are a number of challenges that SMEs face in order to digitalise. This can be a challenge, but with digital tools such as altHR and Omni Hotline, the transition to digital is now more seamless than ever.
A full-featured phone system is an essential part of every business — from the largest of corporations to the smallest of startups. However, bloated landline systems can be costly, tedious, and simply not worth the cost and effort. Enter digital telephony services, known as VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol), such as Omni Hotline.
There are a number of useful benefits from VoIP, ranging from ease-of-use, flexibility, and of course, low cost. But ultimately, these virtual business phone systems help to keep you, your team, and your customers in contact.
Yes, your small business is a lean, mean, well-oiled machine. But a small business shouldn't look "small" to clients and customers. Thanks to modern technologies (such as Omni Hotline), a business of any size is able to affect impact in today's business world. Here are a couple of quick tips to get you started:
For a detailed breakdown:
There are a number of options out there in the market today for business phone systems — so how do you choose the best software? Thankfully, the team has gone through some of the virtual phone systems available to help you find the best choice for your business. Here, we compare Omni Hotline, a hassle-free and cost-effective virtual business phone system with the more traditional TM fixed line solution — any guesses on the winner?
You might be wondering if a landline number is even needed in today's world, with many opting to rely on mobile numbers instead. However, the ability to order products and services from businesses — while communicating with them — has grown in importance along with the digitalisation of various economic sectors. Email and bot communication can be useful, but it' essential to offer customers who are facing issues a direct line into your customer service team.
Landline calls are phone calls that are made with telephones which use metal or fibre-optic telephone cables to transmit messages. Traditionally, companies used landlines as their official business phone but in recent years, there is a significant shift towards using mobile phones for business purposes.
Personal numbers should not be mixed up with business phone numbers — this is why it is advisable for companies to opt for business landlines with separate phone numbers. While companies are advised to use business landlines, it may not be practical or convenience to operate using the traditional landline phone system. This is where digital phone systems like Omni Hotline come into play to offer flexibility to business owners. The best part? Omni Hotline allows you to use business pre-fixes — while receiving and making calls via your smartphone.
Virtual landline phones come with integrated modern technologies which enable features, applications, and enhancements that simply cannot be matched by traditional phone systems. This includes all features and value-adds from VoIP desk phones — along with other benefits such as portability, a professional appearance, and the reassurance that you'll never miss a call again.
Additionally, these technologies also ensure that you'll have a reliable connection with good sound quality, which offers a huge edge over physical desk phone systems. This is because connections are made over the Internet, and the digital nature of VoIP makes for improved performance here. And no — it isn't more expensive.
The process of digitalisation is basically a process which includes the transformation of a business' data, business dealings, procedures, and operations — from analogue to digital. This process is crucial, as it helps employees to better organise and access data, while offering a competitive edge over other businesses. This can also lead to significant cost savings. For example, when business documents are converted to the digital sphere, this means that large storage space is no longer needed.
For a quick breakdown on the crucial steps that you must take in order to digitalise your Malaysian business, read more.
Omni Hotline is a great way to digitalise your business' phone operations — but conversations over the phone still require a certain manner of etiquette and management. This includes background "homework" or research on the recipient of your call, along with finding the right environment to make a clear, uninterrupted phone call.
To view the guide to better business phone calls for small businesses:
Digitalisation may sound like a complex process but can be as simple as establishing a WhatsApp Business account with your business phone number. That's right — even WhatsApp can be a powerful digital tool for your business when you use it right. WhatsApp and other instant messaging services are playing an increasingly crucial role in business communications, with the Facebook-owned service evolving as a marketing and customer service tool. Features include automated responses, as well as catalogues, so be sure to sign your business up with a WhatsApp Business account.
Here are a couple of critical reasons why your business needs a WhatsApp Business account.