They say the covid19 pandemic brought the world to a grinding halt.
The reality is that the world has not missed a spin. It is us, the human race that has haltered the routines. Maybe we were forced to. Though the point is the meandering existence on the planet has come to an unexpected pitstop.
Every day and most mundane of the habits have been disrupted. From the chats by the water-cooler in the office, going to school to the night out with friends. Going grocery shopping today seems part of a movie that you would normally see released on Halloween.
The fact is the work and our daily lives are changing and transforming in ways that we do not yet fully comprehend. Today is different from yesterday and tomorrow may be different as well.
However, most experts agree some of the changes are here to stay. Take the work from Home, for instance, COVID-19 only accelerated the trend of work from home arrangements.
The Deep Impact on Businesses
Right after Canada started tightening the borders and other operations (March 16th) Versature, a Business Phone Provider, saw customers support calls spike by over 350% as the businesses of all levels scrambled and shifted to support or expand work from home arrangements. Julia Ferreira, from Versature, reported that support calls are returning to normal levels as the businesses have completed the initial transition.
From a Home Phone perspective, Don Hunter from VoIP Much said they have seen Canada wide long distance calls from their customers increase by 300%. International calling is up by 75%, with calls to the USA up by 25%. This is not only happening in Canada. In the USA, Shea Georgetti from VoIPly mentioned they have seen their customer’s call volume grow 30% overall since the onset of the pandemic.
It is clear that the Home Phone and office phone are proving to be a vital part of the new reality. An essential communication tool in the social distancing era.
The Phone, rider of the storm
We have written before about the prevalence of the digital Phone over other means of communication, particularly those mobile. Though, COVID-19 has acted as the invisible judge that dictates needs and suitable tools. Businesses and governments at all levels need phones to maintain a point of contact with their customers or constituency, that will not change. The reality is that Call Centers or dedicated offices to it may never look the same. Did it ever matter where a Customer Support Representative is located? If in a busy office setting with hundreds of other voices piggybacking on every conversation or in quiet at a home office? It seems an easy choice.
Homes are better suited to ride out a prolonged period of isolation if they have a Digital (VoIP) Home Phone. Put any cost consideration aside, and there are many, using a Digital Home Phone is a lot more convenient for talking. Also, take into consideration that a digital phone is not internet bandwidth-hungry like some Apps are.
Sure one can still use the mobile phone to do Facetime or WhatsApp video. Though those are not meant to be extended conversations. The truth is the battery may decide for how long the video chat lasts. Not to mention video quality may vary. Plus adding an extra strain on overstretched wireless networks. Which in the present times we are living in, we can all agree we do not need to add sources of frustrations. However, and the good news in all of this, we have the solution for that.
Facilitating conversations is what a digital (VoIP) phone is perfectly suited for. Based on the data, people have been taking notice.
Be it Thanksgiving, a birthday, or the holidays, do make the right call and talk more.
Stay safe and fundamentally, test negative and stay positive.