Omni Communications

Unleashing the Power of 5G Broadband: A Game-Changer in Connectivity

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 22:44:24 GMT

How 5G Broadband is revolutionising Internet Connectivity

In the digital era, where connectivity is the backbone of our daily lives, the demand for fast and reliable internet has never been greater. As technology advances, the arrival of 5G broadband services has sparked a revolution in the way we connect to the online world. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of 5G broadband compared to fixed line internet and connectivity services, examining factors such as lead times, speed of deployment, costs, latency, available bandwidth, flexibility, and geography. Join us as we delve into the exciting world of 5G broadband and discover the latest offering from Omni Communications: SwiftConnect 5G .

1. Speed of Deployment and Lead Times:

One of the key advantages of 5G broadband is its rapid deployment capability. Unlike fixed line internet services that require extensive infrastructure and time-consuming installations, 5G broadband can be quickly rolled out. This is particularly beneficial in remote areas or during emergency situations where immediate connectivity is crucial. With Omni Communications' SwiftConnect 5G, users can enjoy seamless connectivity without the long wait associated with traditional fixed line installations.

2. Lightning-Fast Speeds:

When it comes to internet speed, 5G broadband is in a league of its own. With speeds of up to 1 Gbps, 5G offers an unparalleled browsing experience, allowing users to stream high-definition content, participate in lag-free online gaming, and download large files in the blink of an eye. In comparison, fixed line internet services often struggle to match the lightning-fast speeds provided by 5G.

3. Cost-Effectiveness:

While fixed line internet services may require substantial investments in infrastructure and maintenance, 5G broadband leverages existing cellular networks, making it a cost-effective alternative. Additionally, the reduced lead times and quick deployment of 5G can result in significant cost savings for both providers and consumers. Omni Communications' SwiftConnect 5G offers competitive pricing plans, ensuring that users can access this cutting-edge technology without breaking the bank.

4. Low Latency:

Latency, the delay between sending and receiving data, is a critical factor in determining the quality of internet connectivity. With latency as low as 1 millisecond, 5G broadband offers near-instantaneous response times, making it ideal for real-time applications such as video conferencing, online gaming, and IoT devices. Fixed line internet services often struggle to achieve such low latency, making 5G a game-changer in terms of responsiveness and user experience.

5. Expansive Bandwidth:

5G broadband boasts an expansive bandwidth capacity, allowing for a greater number of devices to connect simultaneously without a drop in performance. This is particularly important in today's world, where the number of connected devices continues to rise rapidly. With 5G, users can enjoy uninterrupted connectivity, even in densely populated areas or during peak usage times.

6. Flexibility and Mobility:

Unlike fixed line internet services that tie users to a specific location, 5G broadband offers unprecedented flexibility and mobility. With 5G, users can access high-speed internet on the go, enabling seamless connectivity while traveling or in areas without traditional fixed line infrastructure. Omni Communications' SwiftConnect 5G ensures that users can stay connected wherever they are, empowering them to work, play, and explore without limitations.

7. Geography and Coverage:

One of the most significant advantages of 5G broadband is its ability to overcome geographical limitations. While fixed line internet services may struggle to reach remote or rural areas, 5G has the potential to bridge the digital divide. With its wireless nature, 5G can provide high-speed internet access in areas where laying cables is impractical or economically unviable. Omni Communications' SwiftConnect 5G aims to provide comprehensive coverage, ensuring that users in all corners of the country can experience the benefits of 5G broadband.

Conclusion:

The rise of 5G broadband services has ushered in a new era of connectivity, revolutionizing the way we access the internet. With its rapid deployment, lightning-fast speeds, cost-effectiveness, low latency, expansive bandwidth, flexibility, and coverage, 5G broadband has the potential to transform the digital landscape. Omni Communications' SwiftConnect 5G is at the forefront of this technological advancement, offering users a seamless and immersive Internet experience.

Embrace the power of 5G and unlock a world of endless possibilities.

To learn more about Omni Communications' SwiftConnect 5G, visit: https://www.omnicom.uk/swiftconnect-5g

AI and Automation is here to stay but it's not going to replace all jobs!

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 08:38:58 GMT

"Humans need and want more time to interact with each other. I think AI coming about and replacing routine jobs is pushing us to do what we should be doing anyway: the creation of more humanistic service jobs" - Dr Kai-Fu Lee , Chairman and CEO, Sinovation Ventures

What's the outlook for small businesses in 2023?

The United Kingdom has long been a powerhouse of innovation and technology, with start-up companies competing to bring revolutionary solutions to the market. With this in mind, it is no surprise that small businesses have the potential to take advantage of current technologies and trends in order to maximize efficiency and increase their profits.

This blog post explores how small businesses can utilize emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to optimize operations for their particular industry by 2023.

AI and Automation uptake to increase significantly

In order for any size business to succeed, entrepreneurs need access to powerful software tools that enable streamlined processes across multiple disciplines. AI-powered applications are becoming increasingly popular amongst decision makers due to their power in accelerating calculation intensive tasks whilst further reducing operational costs due to human labour requirements replacement or minimization.

As a result, many UK start-ups are already utilising AI algorithms within various industries ranging from automotive repair locations through online services like automated customer service portals or facial recognition systems enabling secure logins on phones and computers alike at significantly lower cost than traditional methods which requires manual coding or other costly solutions relative price wise when compared with AI apps available today markets.

Robotics continues to provide unmatched business efficiencies

Another rapidly developing area of innovation is robotics – an idea that dates back centuries but has seen huge leaps forward since modern computing began taking shape over ten years ago.

Robotics offers amazing opportunities for small businesses in fields such as manufacturing, retailing, healthcare delivery etc, allowing automated production lines while simultaneously cutting down time required per product manufactured, thus increasing productivity rates exponentially if compared with manual labour only.

Furthermore robots’ capabilities include task accuracy levels beyond what humans could easily achieve. The result is not just faster but also better quality results given same input parameters used per product run or work performed!

It's not only increased profitability possibilities brought about by automation but also increased safety. The reduced interpersonal contact associated with robotics in hazardous environments in particular has resulted in minimisation of the associated risks. Creating working environments where employees don't have be exposed to dangerous elements or potentially dangerous working practices leads to improved wellbeing all around, and also gives employees the peace of mind knowing that the company cares.

What is the potential impact of robotics for jobs replaced by automation?

There are inevitable job considerations. And these need to be taken into account. Job roles most at risk of automation in some environments may be those which are lower skilled and require little or no qualifications. And individuals with no qualifications will be more likely to lack confidence in retraining.

In these scenarios, organisations can assist by providing visibility of all internal opportunities available to employees, so they can search for opportunities based on their skills rather than their current job function. Employers could also streamline application processes, provide feedback for suggested areas for skills development and provide dedicated time for employees to build transferrable skills within their working hours. Deloitte have published a very useful guide on responsible automation for employers

Wrap Up

Overall there are tremendous opportunities awaiting small business owners who embrace technological innovations during these difficult economic times. In doing so, they have the opportunity to remain competitive even against larger corporations.

At Omni Communications , we are making advances in optimising digital marketing and telecommunications services using AI. Overall this means better optimised, more functional and cost-effective services which can be delivered to customers with reduced deployment times, all backed by comprehensive support. For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999 , or email sales@omnicom.uk

9 Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Virtual Phone System

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 09:33:45 GMT

"VOIP will even further change the equation here. The phone conversation, which used to be ephemeral, can now be like e-mail" - Jim Dempsey, Internet Privacy Expert

9 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Virtual Phone System

Effective Communication plays a crucial aspect in every business. Even though it's one of a company's most important success components, a communication system doesn't always get the attention it needs. Owners of businesses frequently focus on hiring employees, purchasing computers, equipment, and advertising, while the phone system is more of an afterthought.

An ineffective business phone system can have a detrimental effect on your business and bottom line, no matter how well everything else in your organization is functioning. In a world where the geographical boundaries for trade have expanded globally, and the lines have become blurred in terms of employee location due to the growth of remote and hybrid working, it’s become even more important to ensure your phone system is up to date.

As the future has gone digital, given the well-publicised BT 2025 switch-off, most businesses are switching towards a virtual phone system. But with a myriad of vendors and choice available, it's not easy to select the best virtual phone system.

Keep reading to find out factors to consider before buying a phone system.

What is a Virtual Phone System?

You might be unsure what a virtual phone system is and how it functions if you already use a conventional landline system.

Virtual phone systems function similarly to regular phones, except that you place and receive calls via a Cloud-based system. You can make and receive calls using a handheld IP Phone, your Mobile Phone, your PC, Mac, Laptop, Tablet or even your Web Browser.

You need a good Internet service to use a virtual phone system. The migration from a traditional telephone system to a virtual phone system should be simple if your company already has a reliable Internet plan.

Here are some things to consider while selecting a system for your organisation.

1. Quality

Call quality is the most important factor in any business-grade VoIP service. You should not accept any VoIP service that provides you with low-quality audio. Previously, VoIP calls could be choppy, or users wouldn't be able to hear certain words. Calls may be disconnected or abruptly dropped. That era has long since passed.

VoIP Service providers of today provide HD-quality audio same as traditional landlines. Many people are unable to differentiate between analogue and VoIP calls.

2. Types of Virtual Phone System

As traditional PSTN and ISDN based phone services are being phased out, most organisations have already ruled these out as part of their communications strategy. BT will announce a STOP SELL notice in September 2023, and this has already been issued in some locations in the UK. After this date, BT will not accept any new orders for traditional phone services.

For most organisations, deciding on the type of virtual phone system is one of the primary factors to consider.

VoIP refers to short over Internet Protocol; in simpler words, it uses an Internet connection to manage calls. There are three major types of VoIP available:

Hosted VoIP: This solution offers a high degree of functionality at a reasonable price, making it the ideal choice for small organizations. With hosted VoIP, the phone system services are delivered from the provider’s cloud-based infrastructure and the provider is responsible for managing all services, updates and optionally the maintenance of all of your telephone hardware on-site.

Hybrid: A hybrid solution allows organisations to maintain their existing traditional phone system, but enable it for VoIP with the addition of an on-premises hybrid device which enables the system to use SIP services in addition to any existing analogue and ISDN services. This allows them greater control over their connectivity, so businesses concerned about uptime may choose this option. This can be a more costly (in terms of capital investment) and complicated option for the majority of small businesses however.

On-Premises VoIP: This approach requires organisations to purchase all infrastructure and hardware and install all the equipment in their building. They are then ultimately responsible themselves for the upkeep, repairs, and upgrades necessary for the smooth operation of their business phone service. This can be costly, both in terms of capital investment and human resources. Phone services are also typically limited to the office locations, making them unsuitable for accommodating remote workers.

3. Features of Virtual Phone System

Professional features, including automated attendants, hold music, call forwarding, call transfer, caller ID, do not disturb, call recording, three-way calling, voicemail, and directories, are standard on most business phone systems.

Making a list of essential and nice-to-have features is advised if you require more than that fundamental capability. Then it is recommended that you order the list to determine which features are necessary before you proceed with a system. Some of the fundamental features include:

Call Tracking
Internet Faxing
Voicemail to Email
Time of Day Routing
Video Conferencing
In-office paging
Mobile Capability
Mobile App Preferences

4. Subscription Packages

The majority of virtual phone systems provide several subscription plans. Organisations select appropriate plans according to your business requirements. It’s important to check whether or not the features that you require are available in the payment plans, when comparing services from different vendors. In this way you’re aware if you need to pay extra fees for your requirements, when comparing like-for-like services.

It’s also a good idea to check if the service provider offers third-party systems. And also see if the VoIP system can work with your existing tools such as your CRM, email and calendar services. Finally, ask if the VoIP service would be compatible with future advanced services. Although you may not need them instantly, you may need them in the future.

5. Reliability

With virtual phone services becoming a preferred choice for small business owners, reliability is a big consideration when making a decision to contract services with a particular vendor. Reliable vendors will have multiple hosted data centres with diverse routing and failover circuits between them in the case of a major Internet outage causing disruption to their service. So it’s a good idea to ask vendors if they have a backup plan for emergencies. You should ask them If they have any plan B when the phone lines stop working.

Organisations also need to consider how employees can keep working effectively in case of any disruption in calls and how the service provider can help solve this problem. It is recommended that you ask the vendor if they have the necessary equipment and infrastructure as a backup plan.

6. Security

For small businesses in particular, data security is an essential consideration that cannot be ignored. With the ever-present threat of data breaches and other security incidents, it is vital to have the right tools and protocols in place to protect your business. VoIP services are no different, and require specific security measures to safeguard against risks. By taking the necessary precautions, you can help ensure that your business remains safe and secure.

There are a few key considerations when it comes to securing your VoIP system. Firstly, you'll need to make sure that your network is secure and properly configured. This means ensuring that only authorized users have access to the system, and that all data is properly encrypted. You can also consider using a VPN service to secure your VoIP connection. Additionally, you'll need to have a robust disaster recovery plan in place in case of any incidents. By taking these precautions, you can help ensure that your VoIP system is secure and running smoothly.

7. Customer Support

The tragedy of customer support is nobody cares about it until something goes wrong. When incidents do occur it’s important that your service provider is responsive and efficient in resuming normal service operation.

Your VoIP service provider should be committed to delivering excellent customer support. You should expect them to be responsive to your needs, and to provide helpful and knowledgeable staff who can assist you with any issues you may have, and where possible, to provide an estimate of when the service will resume working.

In addition to email and chat, a good service provider should always offer telephone customer support and provide out-of-hours support options so that you can always get the help you need, when you need it.

8. Budget

As a general rule of thumb, providers with more experience tend to provide better service, although there are always exceptions. However, providers who remain in business tend to offer high-quality services. When considering new startups, experience in the industry and knowledge of a broad range of IT and Telecoms service considerations is important. Given your reliance on the smooth running of your business communications, it could cause you service downtime should your startup vendor suddenly go out of business unexpectedly.

In addition, it’s worth thinking about the vendor's expertise in your industry. Some industries are highly regulated and have strict compliance requirements. Some examples include healthcare, education, and finance. Businesses in such industries can access various vendors that cater to their needs. They may offer tailored features that will meet your needs better than a more generalized service.

9. Unified Communications

Unified communications (UC) is a term used in business and technology to describe the integration of real-time communication services such as instant messaging (chat), presence information, telephony (including IP telephony), video conferencing, call control, desktop sharing, and data sharing into a single interface that can be accessed from any device.

The goal of unified communications is to simplify communication and collaboration between employees, partners, and customers to improve communication efficiency and business productivity. The integration of these various communication tools into a single interface makes it easier for users to find and connect with the people and information they need, when they need it.

Several businesses use VoIP as a unified communications platform. Many service providers already offer conference calls, video calls, instant messaging and presence etc. It eliminates the need for employees to switch between multiple apps if you add other channels.

Ask your vendor about how their service offering delivers unified communications capabilities.

Wrap Up

Virtual Phone systems boost organizational productivity. An effective phone system ensures improved communication with employees and customers, and helps organisations achieve their business objectives with improved communications to resolve queries and deliver professional sales and support.

At Omni Communications , we have the industry experience, knowledge and support to help design and deliver the appropriate virtual phone system solution for your organisation. Our experts analyse your business model, make recommendations and and help you to deliver a communications service specific to your business requirements. Contact us to discuss your requirements and request a FREE TRIAL of our service.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999

, or email sales@omnicom.uk

How to Leverage Social Media for Small Business Success

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 12:06:38 GMT

“Social media will help you build up loyalty of your current customers to the point that they will willingly, and for free, tell others about you.” - Bonnie Sainsbury, Founder and CEO of Social Media Smarter

Leveraging Social Media for Small Business Success

If you’re a small business, you really should consider becoming active on social media. Social media has become a fundamental element of a successful business strategy. Unsurprisingly, 72% of companies utilise social media metrics to make business decisions. This is why your business is at a great disadvantage if you’re not online. It’s increasingly important to make sure that your business has a strong online presence.

Social media platforms allow businesses to reach a potentially massive audience. In today’s World, businesses cannot progress without properly utilising these digital media. Here are eight ways to leverage social media play to accelerate your business growth.

8 Ways to Leverage Social media for Small Business:

1. Identifying Ideal Customer Persona

Utilising various social media platforms can help you to learn more about your target market and consumer personas. Since each website's user base comprises of various demographics, interaction with a wide range of people enables you to obtain a comprehensive understanding of each audience you have and the best ways to promote to them.

There are a number of ways to use social media to identify an ideal customer persona. One way is to analyse the demographics of your social media following. Another way is to use social media listening tools to track what people are saying about your brand, product, or service. And yet another way is to engage in social media customer research, either by surveying your social media followers or conducting in-depth interviews with a select group of them.

Regardless of which approach you take, the goal is to gather as much data as possible about your potential customers. This data can then be used to create a detailed profile of your ideal customer persona. This persona should include information such as demographics, psychographics, behaviours, and needs. With the benefit of this information, you can then create targeted marketing campaigns that are much more likely to resonate with your target audience.

2. Branding

Every business needs a strong brand identity, as you want your customers to recognise and associate with your brand. Building your business' online recognition is one of the most important ways to establish your brand. Branding allows you to communicate your product and services better, and create recognition and differentiation in the marketplace. A strong brand identity can also build loyalty among customers and prospects.

Social media helps your brand identity by increasing your visibility. When you post regularly and interact with your followers, you're more likely to be seen by potential customers or clients. This can help you attract new business and build relationships with people who might not have otherwise heard of your brand.

Social media also helps you to humanise your business and brand. In a world where consumers are increasingly interacting with businesses online, social media provides an opportunity to show the people behind your brand. This can help build trust and loyalty among your customers and followers.

3. Managing Brand Reputation

A company's creditability and reputation are the main reasons customers consider or remain loyal to its products and services. Engaging directly with consumers is one of the most practical ways to demonstrate positive experiences and monitor positive and negative comments online. Social media testimonials can also be used effectively as promotional tools to emphasise the significance of your company values and reputation in relation to customer service and product quality.

In today's day and age, social media is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal when it comes to managing your brand reputation. With a few simple clicks, you can reach a large audience and deliver your message loud and clear.

However, it's not enough to just have a presence on social media. You need to be active and engaged, and you need to make sure that your content is high-quality and relevant. If you can do all of that, you'll be well on your way to managing your brand reputation effectively.

4. Maximizing Reach

Before Social media, only traditional forms of advertisements were available. And these were the source of marketing for the majority of businesses. Traditional marketing channels couldn't reach everyone, but social media has completely changed the narrative. By offering your service or product to a unique audience, you can easily reach the right audience for your business.

Analysing Social media data can help you identify your audience's demographics, what products they consume most, and where they are most active. Additionally, this increased specificity enables your company to focus on engagement, reach, click-throughs, and organic impressions. After analyzing the data in detail, you can prepare ad campaigns to reach your target audience more effectively.

5. Establishing Social Proof

A psychological phenomenon known as "social proof" states that we will perceive conduct as more appropriate if we observe others performing it. In marketing, it can simply be: "More people will buy your product if they read more positive evaluations about it." Social media allows small businesses to more easily and readily use social evidence to positively promote their business and reputation.

In addition, customers and clients can use ‘social proof’ to share their experience with your products and services online. When they share unpacking videos, product reviews, and personal experiences on the internet, this creates positive word of mouth promotion and free advertisement for your business. As a result, this helps to encourage others (business associates, family and friends) to test your products and services because of social proof.

6. Building Brand Authority

There are many ways to build brand authority. One way is to produce high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience. This content can be in the form of blog posts, articles, white papers, ebooks, infographics, or even podcasts.

Another way to build brand authority is to get involved in your community. This can be done by guest blogging, speaking at events, or participating in online forums related to your industry.

Last but not least, you can also build brand authority by building relationships with other influencers in your industry. This can be done by networking, collaborating, or even co-authoring articles or blog posts.

Your company can become recognised as an authority in its field by regularly posting information on Social media that is pertinent, beneficial, accurate, and factual. Your audience and followers can rely on you to be an authoritative source of information.

When you share valuable industry information related to your business, this helps establish your reputation, and helps to increase traffic to your website. Providing valuable resources that inform and entertain builds audiences where readers honour your ideas, judgments, or reviews. As a result of this, you’re more likely to attract high-quality visitors to your website, build industry connections and enhance your brand exposure.

7. Leveraging Influencer Marketing

One of the most effective ways to market your business today is through influencer marketing. By finding and partnering with influencers in your industry, you can reach a wider audience and build trust and credibility for your brand.

However, it's not always easy to find the right influencer for your business. With so many options out there, how do you know who to partner with?

Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect influencer for your business:

Define your goals. Defining your goals will help you narrow down your search and find an influencer who is a good fit for your business.
Know your audience. This way, you can find someone who has influence over your target audience.
Do your research. Once you know who you're looking for, it's time to start your research.

8. Providing Personalized Experience

By personalising customer experience, small businesses can create a deeper level of connection with their customers, and build loyalty and trust.

Social media is an effective tool for small businesses to personalise customer experience. This can be done in a number of ways, but one of the simplest and most effective is to post relevant, targeted content that speaks to the customer's needs and interests.

Another great way to personalise customer experience is to use social media to connect with customers on a personal level. This can be done by responding to comments and questions, and by sharing personal stories and experiences.

No matter which approach you take, remember that personalizing customer experience is all about making your customers feel valued and appreciated. When you do this, you'll be well on your way to building a successful and thriving small business.

Need Help in Creating Effective Social media Strategy for Your Business?

To sum it up, social media has become mandatory for more or less every business. Without an effective social media strategy, a business cannot succeed in the modern world. Managing social media however can be a time-consuming task, and it can be difficult to keep up with the constantly changing landscape of social media. When you outsource this task, you can free up your time to focus on other aspects of running your business.

At Omni Communications we can take care of all aspects of your social media strategy, and leverage social media channels according to your business model and objectives. Our experts can help you develop an effective strategy that targets your ideal customers and helps you achieve your business goals.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999

, or email sales@omnicom.uk

How Your Organisation's Core Values Play an Important Part in the Success of Your Business

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 20:03:25 GMT

“Make sure everybody in the company has great opportunities, has a meaningful impact and is contributing to the good of society.” - Larry Page, Google CEO

What Role do Core Values Play in the Success of a Business?

It's interesting to think about how the core values of an organisation can have an effect on the way it's perceived by others, both positively and negatively. For example, if an organisation is known for its values of honesty and integrity, then that's likely to reflect positively in the way it's seen by others.

Conversely, if an organisation is known for putting profit ahead of everything else, then that's likely to have a negative effect on its external image.

An organisation’s core values are an important factor in making a business successful. They encourage employee teamwork, which helps in achieving organizational goals, and also help in effective decision-making and increasing employee satisfaction. Collectively, these traits help in boosting overall organisational productivity.

Let’s take a closer look at the importance of core values for a business.

What are Company Values?

Company values comprise of the core beliefs, values, philosophies, and principles that define the organisation’s culture. It’s the driving force that creates a sense of commitment and teamwork in the workplace. Company values also play a critical role in talent acquisition. According to statistics , 46% of job aspirants would consider core values before applying to any organisation.

Company values communicate organisational culture to customers, employees, and stakeholders. These values help organisations to set short-term and long-term goals. Hence, company values ensure that companies have a framework to achieve their objectives.

Why are Company Values Important?

Organisations’ core values provide purpose to their employees. And employee satisfaction relies heavily on purpose. According to a McKinsey & Company survey , 70% of employees said their work heavily influenced their sense of purpose. However, when non-executives were asked if they were living their purpose at work, that number dropped significantly to 15%.

Therefore, it’s important that all employees embrace an organisation’s core values, not just at the executive level. In addition to improving employee satisfaction, purpose increases the bottom line and builds customer loyalty.

Here are some reasons why company values are important for your business:

1. Values Define an Organisation

Organisational values define what matters most to a company. They give your employees a common purpose to work towards, understand, and align to their day-to-day activities. By defining and promoting your company's values, employees understand what is expected of them and by recognising and appreciating what your organisation stands for, and what it aspires to accomplish, employees gain an understanding of how they can contribute towards achieving success. This leads to an increased sense of professional fulfilment for your employees, in addition to improved performance and workplace morale.

2. Company Values Help in Decision Making

Employees should determine the right course of action by assessing your organisation's values and purpose. Even in volatile or uncertain times, your employees will make the right decision for your organisation by keeping your values in mind and following them.

Additionally, it can give employees a sense of confidence. Employees can ensure they are making the right choice by asking themselves if their decision reflects the organisation's values. For example, in a cohesive organisational environment, individuals are more likely to reconsider their decisions if they are not aligned with the company's values.

3. Values Ensure Employee Retention

For many employees, a job search is usually centred on finding that elusive 'fit,' a company where they can thrive and align with their business principles. Jobseekers are increasingly asking about employees' values before applying for a position, and not just what the company does.

Promoting your values will attract like-minded candidates with the same principles as your organisation. And recruiting employees who share your values will help you to retain them for longer. Often organisations who do not recruit based on alignment of values experience higher staff turnover since their employees’ principles may conflict with those of the organization.

4. Organisational Values Promote Teamwork

Your organisation's purpose and vision helps your employees to understand how their contributions add value to the whole. A strong sense of community and a willingness to be good brand ambassador can result from this, which can positively impact your company culture. Having teamwork in your organisation also helps increase productivity, and contributes towards ensuring that the company achieves its business objectives.

It is your organisational culture which helps to create a bond between employees. As a result, they will collaborate and work daily to achieve long-term organisational goals.

5. Values Encourage Employee Empowerment

A company's values; particularly those which foster harmony and productivity at work, often outline key characteristics of successful employees. Good examples of these attributes are respect, open-mindedness, transparency, and loyalty.

Managers and employees can develop a two-way contract that improves cross-functionality by discussing these values with direct reports during employee reviews. Regardless of rank or status, employees at a company should be able to hear and respect each other's values.

How can you Fortify Company Values in your Team?

Every organisation has its unique core values. Therefore you must develop and communise the company's values to craft a unique identity. Here are three ways to reinforce core values in your organisation:

1. Identify Employees that Illustrate Core Values

Employees will be more motivated to live up to your company's basic principles when you give them the authority to do so. Recognition enables them to express their ideas in actual, everyday activities rather than idealistic notions.

If "determination" is one of your key values, you might emphasise this value by honouring a worker who goes above and beyond to satisfy a challenging customer. These values give workers a good illustration of how to exhibit this fundamental value during typical job activities. Additionally, adding a modest incentive to this acknowledgment might strengthen its significance even more.

2. Communicate Your Values to Your Current Employees

Core values are typically written on the walls around the business in a physical setting. But in a virtual setting, developing additional strategies for maintaining these ideals is crucial. You can keep your fundamental values at the forefront of your daily communications by posting them on your corporate intranet page or by including them in your weekly newsletter.

Additionally, you can bring your core beliefs to meetings. Its good practice to encourage your leadership team to present business updates regarding your organisation’s values at company-wide meetings and events. Being open and honest about how your business upholds its values and how it strives to do better, builds employee trust and strengthens their understanding.

3. Embed Core Values in Employee Acquisition, Hiring, and Training

Your company's core values should always be listed on your career pages. You’re more likely to be successful in achieving your organisation’s goals by attracting candidates who share your values and by deterring those who don't. In addition, it’s important to evaluate new job candidates on a company value basis. It is also easier to determine whether a candidate is a "culture fit" by evaluating them based on company values.

When hiring a new employee, it’s important to introduce your organisation’s core values and explain their importance early on. Providing videos, flyers, and media resources helps them to understand your values.

Wrap-up

Company core values play a critical role in the success of an organization. Over the past few years, the corporate world has undergone drastic changes with the global pandemic and significant changes in workplace conditions also. Organisational leaders have to alter their core values due to these changing times.

It’s not easy to go through this transition. Understanding and adequately addressing customer and organisational objectives in a timely manner are important factors during the transition to the new ways of working. And having an effective way of managing internal as well as external communications is central to this. At Omni Communications we understand the importance of organisations’ core values and can work with you to optimise all aspects of your internal and external digital communications, ensuring your organisation's smooth functioning.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999 , or email sales@omnicom.uk

The Future of Hybrid Working

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 23:58:58 GMT

“We like to give people the freedom to work where they want, safe in the knowledge that they have the drive and expertise to perform excellently, whether they’re at their desk or in their kitchen. Yours truly has never worked out of an office, and never will.” - Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group

The Future of Hybrid Working

The Covid-19 Pandemic saw UK businesses adapt very quickly to the sudden onset of change, with many smaller businesses rapidly adopting digital communications in ways they had not experienced previously. Businesses were forced out of necessity to adapt their setup, and business processes to ensure continuity with a mixture of free and paid resources.

Now, with the height of the Pandemic behind us, businesses have adjusted to these new ways of working and adapted their technology infrastructure to thrive in the new normal.

What is Hybrid Working?

Hybrid working combines elements of both remote working and traditional office-based work. This can involve working from home some of the time, and from a shared office space or co-working space the rest of the time. It’s a style of work that’s becoming prevalent in many big name corporates. The likes of BP, Twitter, Capital One and Microsoft have all announced their intentions to continue this indefinitely, giving staff the flexibility and freedom of working from home, with the social interaction and collaboration of working in an office.

Hybrid working certainly doesn’t come without it’s own set of challenges though. It’s important for employees to have a good work/life balance; but this can be tricky to achieve working from home, as it can be easy to work longer hours and ‘burn out’.

It’s also important to have a designated workspace at home that is separate from your living space, so that you can mentally ‘switch off’ at the end of the day. And it’s essential to have a good Internet connection and the right technology to support remote working.

The Commercial Benefits of Hybrid Working

Implementing hybrid working initiatives can be challenging for organisations, but it also offers them opportunities to explore new technologies and ways of working. Creating an environment where employees can work in their most preferred manner has the benefit of maximising their potential output whilst also delivering job satisfaction. However it often requires organisations to adopt technology solutions and services to facilitate this.

The greatest enabler is the widespread adoption of cloud-based services. These facilitate ‘working from anywhere’ and are most often delivered as OpEx services based upon monthly subscriptions. Often they are accessible without necessitating further expenditure on on-site IT & Telecoms hardware. This makes the transition much simpler and more palatable for the Finance Department too. Then there’s the added bonus of improved cashflow due to reduced needs for upfront expenditure. Compliance, resilience and scalability are also improved with cloud-based services.

Some of the less tangible benefits begin to be realised over the longer term. These include lower office-related costs (especially requirements for office space), and internal technical support costs as many of these fall upon the cloud services vendor.

The Benefits of Hybrid Working for Employees

Many employees have become used to working from home and now that the Pandemic is behind them they no longer want to necessarily return to the office on a full-time basis. For the majority of those in favour, the most tangible benefit of remote working has been the time gained by removing the need to commute. This has led in many ways to the creation of a better work–life balance for them; allowing them more time for family, friends, and exercise.

These employees also mention higher levels of motivation and reduced distractions leading to greater productivity.

There are roles where it is necessary for employees to be present in an office-based capacity however. And not all employees prefer to work remotely. Hence employers need to accommodate their needs also when devising a suitable Hybrid Working Policy. Ultimately this leads to a better work/life balance for all employees and improved metrics relating to absences and job satisfaction.

What are the challenges organisations face with Hybrid Working?

According to Gallup , one thing’s for certain: Hybrid Working is here to stay! More than half of those surveyed in recent polls expressed a preference for Hybrid Working, with many going further by expressing a wish to work exclusively on a Remote Working basis. The challenge lies in the fact that whereas leaders and managers prefer to enable Hybrid Working for employees, many are not so much in favour of employees being fully remote.

Then there are the administrative challenges associated with implanting Hybrid Working policies. These often involve legal, technical and HR considerations. There are a number of associated requirements, such as changes to other company policies such as travel and expenditure policies, use of company equipment and Data Protection & Information Security for example.

HR Departments also have to give thought to management of employee mental health and wellbeing as this can be more difficult to manage without an adequate setup to manage communication, performance management, training, team and relationship building and collaboration in a Hybrid Working environment.

One of the biggest considerations for organisations to facilitate a Hybrid Working environment which accommodates these requirements is to ensure that the technology stack deployed encourages relationship building and collaboration.

Instant Messaging and collaboration tools such as Teams, Zoom and Google Meet promote ‘ad-hoc’ discussion, and enable easy setup of online meetings. But there are even greater benefits if these accommodate the ability to make and receive external phone calls also. Hence in some SME businesses and the majority of larger enterprises, a unified communications strategy is also an essential consideration for the rollout of an effective Hybrid Working environment.

There’s also a need for awareness of the Information Security considerations associated with working from home. Although, the increased challenges of managing remote security can be managed (and to some degree overcome) by implementing suitable IT and mobile policies, and threat defence & remediation software.

How to ensure you can meet the technology challenges of Hybrid Working

The commercial and employee benefits of Hybrid Working are undeniable, especially in relation to cost savings, improved agility and better work/ life balance. But there are definite adjustments required to ensure that organisational policies and technological architectures are set up to meet the associated challenges of delivering an ideal working environment. This may necessitate a requirement to invest in new technologies and also a shift in business culture and mindset; especially amongst leaders and managers.

We understand the technological challenges of ensuring ease of connectivity between people in the office and those working remotely. And in some organisations, older solutions may not translate seamlessly into hybrid work environments. Our professional team at Omni Communications can help you with guidance and services to effectively deploy, manage and support the next-generation communications architecture to support your organisation’s Hybrid Working needs.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999 , or email sales@omnicom.uk

5 Reasons Why Quiz Marketing is Important For Your Business

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 15:12:29 GMT

“The goal is to transform data into information, and information into insight.” - Carly Fiorina

5 Reasons Why Quiz Marketing is Important For Your Business

Marketing is an integral aspect of business, and there are many ways to succeed in this area. One of the most effective marketing strategies is to solicit client feedback, and quizzes and surveys are the tools to gather these responses. Potential clients take feedback and recommendations seriously when choosing between companies to purchase products and services from. Therefore, creating quizzes and surveys for your business is something you shouldn't ignore.

Let’s take a look at what Quiz Marketing can do for your business.

What is Quiz Marketing?

Quiz Marketing allows organisations to collect primary data through structured questions that generate quality feedback on products, services, and marketing campaigns. Utilising the expertise of specialists from various fields of activity to design and develop, quizzes, scorecards and surveys can be highly effective. Developing a questionnaire for the researched product may include specialists from various fields depending upon the domain of the industry.

Types of Quiz Marketing

A quiz can serve various purposes and be used in various scenarios regarding quizzes as a tool. Depending upon the objective and resources of the business, it can leverage any form of Quiz. Here are common tools for Quiz Marketing.

1. Direct Mail

Direct mails are the most common ways to gather information from your target audience. By testing commercial subjects, it aims to obtain the main data. Researching the market using this method is one of the most common methods. However, it will not generate as specific or accurate quiz results as other methods.

2. Scorecards

Scorecard Marketing uses the data collected from a quiz in the form of a questionnaire or assessment and uses this to instantly provide valuable insights back to the person taking it.

Scorecard Marketing also provides significant mutual benefits for you and your audience. The person taking the Scorecard receives valuable insights tailored specifically to them, and you receive valuable data which increases your ability to sell. It’s a great way of getting to understand your audience better before they become customers and a powerful way to grow your business.

3. Polls

Polls are an increasingly popular quiz type. Polling enables the collection of data from a large sample, resulting in more reliable results. Polls also allow marketers to distinguish between surveys with closed questions which limit the possible answers, and surveys with open questions in which respondents can provide more information. For polling to be effective, this usually relies on detailed work designing questionnaires for market research which define the questions clearly to improve response rates.

4. Mystery Shopping

In the last few years, mystery shopping has become one of the fastest-growing quiz marketing campaigns. Using this market research technique, companies often hire specialised or even ordinary people to conduct scheduled purchases to gather specific information, which they capture later by asking them to complete a questionnaire.

Organisations use Mystery Shopping for a number of purposes, including the identification of weak points in their distribution chain, to assess customer service and sales techniques, and to evaluate return policies.

5. Focus Groups

In many scenarios, discussion groups work well as quizzes, where 10 to 15 participants have grouped and a specialist moderates the conversation. Often, moderators follow a prepared script that asks participants for their opinions about a brand, a product, or a specific service.

The collaborative nature of these types of group discussions fosters participant interaction with each other. Researchers also use focus groups to narrow down their search criteria for highly specific interaction related to their target markets.

Reasons Why Quiz Marketing is Important for Business

Quizzes are the perfect method for your business to create brand awareness, capture leads, and build relationships with your audience. Here are 5 reasons to utilise quiz marketing to help you to achieve your business objectives:

1. Generates Leads

Did you know that every person who answers your quizzes could potentially become a paying client? You can strategically insert product recommendations based on the answers they provide on the Quiz. Furthermore, if the quiz takers have never heard of your products, now is the time to introduce them. Posting quizzes can be an effective new strategy for generating leads for your business if you've been struggling to generate them.

2. Gets More Social Shares

People love quizzes, which is one reason quizzes are so popular. Well-targeted and well-crafted quizzes will capture almost anyone's attention and make them want to take them. When people find out their results, they naturally wonder what other people they know would do.

Marketing quizzes should not necessarily reach millions of users - they should reach the right audience. Quizzes and their results aren't shared as much by businesses as by regular people, but they're often shared with a much more focused and niche audience within their professional networks. As a result, your Quiz is more likely to reach precisely the type of person you want it to reach: companies and individuals in your target industry.

3. Builds Brand Awareness

A smart marketing quiz generates leads and increases your website and business engagement. The specific kind of interactive information you request should be optimised for completion on the types of devices used to access the quiz.

A well-structured quiz provides an incentive for website visitors to begin taking a quiz, and to complete it, by stimulating an eagerness for them to know their results. There could be a prize for completing the quiz or the quiz results could form part of an evaluation criteria for a selection process for example. There should be no shortcut to getting there; requiring participants to complete the entire quiz and respond to every question to receive their results.

4. Gathers Important Information

Quizzes are a terrific way to get valuable data about your leads, which is another useful advantage of using them. These details range from the most basic contact details, such as name and email address, to the most specific, such as their job title, company size, and even their budget. You can even request their business phone number to make follow-up calls related to the quiz, or for the introduction of other products and services.

Quiz data is extremely useful and enables you to divide your leads into various groups according to their demands. In this way, quiz results can help identify and prioritise leads, so that you can with get in touch with your contacts from ‘hot leads’ straight away if you know that they are the decision-maker for their company's budget.

5. Drives Traffic To Your Website

Traffic is one of the most crucial factors for any business website. The more visitors your website receives, the more potential leads and customers there are. Using quizzes is a great technique for boosting website traffic. As quizzes are easily sharable, they have the potential to become popular, which can increase traffic to your website. Of course, this isn't the only reason quizzes are a successful traffic generator. Quizzes are also excellent for SEO because they increase organic traffic. Because quizzes are interactive and interesting, they are a favourite among the search engine juggernaut.

Want To Create Leads With Scorecard and Survey Marketing For Your Business?

We understand that creating Scorecards and conducting surveys to collect meaningful information is not an easy task. But you don't have to worry about it all by yourself; we can work with you to take care of all the necessary steps. Our professional team at Omni Communications can help you create effective quizzes to collect relevant data. And we can use the best information to assist you to make smart decisions in relation to your audience.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999 , or email sales@omnicom.uk

7 Digital Strategies to Upscale Your Business!

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:08:32 GMT

"The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing" - Simon Sinek

7 Digital Strategies to Upscale Your Business!

Digital marketing is changing constantly with every passing day. This evolution in marketing techniques and strategies has led to the emergence of several new trends. Although small businesses have limited capital and resources, this doesn't mean that they won't be able to utilise these latest trends.

Small business owners can still leverage digital strategies to upscale their businesses. This article explores 7 digital strategies which small businesses can leverage to scale their business.

What Digital Strategies should you leverage to upscale your Small Business?

Digital Strategies allow businesses to acquire key customer information. They can further utilise this customer data to take effective decisions. Businesses are able to examine customers' online behaviour and identify where they spend their time. Choosing an effective digital strategy also depends on your budget.

When choosing a digital marketing strategy for your business, don't be afraid to test a few different methods. Analyse your client base's results to see what works and what doesn't, and make sure you’re gaining a positive return on investment (ROI). While some marketing strategies are difficult to measure, you should be consistent with the methods you use to measure them.

Here’s a breakdown of the digital strategies used by businesses to deliver success :

1. Establishing and maintaining an Online Presence

In today's world, more customers than ever are shopping on the Internet. If you don't have an online presence or your online content is stale, they won't even know that you exist. An effective website must at a minimum have modern features and be visible on relevant social media sites, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Businesses that interact with followers and frequently post brand-related content are most successful at converting users into growth. A good rule of thumb is to indicate your presence by posting some responses daily.

2. Paying attention to and answering Customer Feedback

In today's marketplace, customers put a lot of stock in the online feedback they receive from other customers and pay attention to how and if you respond to them. You shouldn't ignore feedback due to daily crises or personal emotions. Scaling your business this way could be the least expensive option.

You can prevent spurious negative reviews by asking every customer for a positive review so that any negatives will become lost in a sea of positives. This helps ensure that negative reviews doesn't stand out.

3. Leveraging Influencer Marketing

You can use advocates to use their social media and connections to assist you to gain more customers. An influencer is a pseudo-celebrity or an expert who picks products or starts new trends. Influencers should also be resources you can reach out to for support and assistance in a proactive manner.

With the rapid growth of influencer marketing, brands that employ influencers are turning to influencer tracking systems such as Traackr or Pixlee to monitor conversions. It’s also important to find influencers who are relevant to your business before using them.

4. Designing personalized Email Marketing campaigns

These days, customers prefer a human connection with a brand. Whereas chat bots enable an instant interaction with customers, they also need to be supported by personalised email communications to develop a more personal interaction. Email Marketing is one of the best digital strategies for customer acquisition and retention.

Personalised emails have an important role in creating a bond with your customers. This can also play a decisive role in customers purchasing your product.

5. Leveraging Storytelling

Storytelling is one of the most effective strategies to increase conversions. Although storytelling is an ancient old technique, it's just as relevant now as ever. There’s no rocket science behind the effectiveness of stories. As human beings we love stories; they’re in our psychology and we can often relate to them. Embedding storytelling in your marketing strategy provides you with an effective too to skyrocket your sales.

Content marketing is the most appropriate place to embed stories. You can create stories to help your customers in making their purchase decisions. It’s also important to make sure your stories involve problems and illustrate how your products and services provide the solution to these.

6. Attending or hosting Digital Events

Digital events have been gaining popularity in recent years. Organisations utilise podcasts, online conferences, and webinars to generate leads. Additionally, these online events allow brands to learn more about their audiences and promote to them directly.

Participating in online events is also a great way of gathering useful information regarding your customers through feedback surveys and polls.

7. Utilising Marketing Automation

Automation provides an opportunity to streamline several business operations. Small businesses should automate their marketing procedures to save time and increase employee productivity.

Several effective automation technologies are available for email marketing, lead scoring and nurturing, systematic content posting, and social media management. Automation also helps increase customer conversion rates.

Need Help To Develop effective Digital Marketing Strategies That Deliver For Your Business?

In the age of digital communications, organic business growth is not enough to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Businesses also need to utilise digital channels to thrive in today's world. It’s essential for your small-scale business to have an online presence; otherwise, you are digitally non-existent. Because an increasing number of your customers are found online, that’s where your business should also be.

Utilising digital marketing strategies maximises your chances of customer acquisition and retention. The Digital world is rapidly changing, so it’s crucial for businesses to be able to adapt accordingly by keeping an eye on new trends, news, and technological updates and analysing their competitors.

At Omni Communications , we help small businesses to upscale their business and deliver a return on their investment with effective digital strategies which maximize your business potential.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

Why is SEO Important for Business?

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 23:19:59 GMT

“If you are trying to grow your qualified search traffic, you have to combine your content marketing with your SEO efforts.” – Neil Patel

Why is SEO Important for Business?

Wondering what SEO does for your business? Well, it does many things to cost-effectively enable businesses to both understand and reach customers for organic business growth.

SEO ensures your customers find you when looking for your product and services. Secondly, it matches search intent. And most importantly, it increases the visibility of your business.

That said, it is crucial to understand which factors could ruin your SEO efforts.

Below is information about what SEO is and how your website structure affects your search engine optimisation efforts.

What is SEO?

SEO (search engine optimization) refers to getting traffic to a website through organic search results. Several tasks are involved in SEO, such as creating high-quality content, optimising content for a specific keyword, and establishing backlinks.

Search engine optimization (SEO) improves a website's organic (non-paid) ranking in search results. Effective SEO enables websites to receive "free" traffic for specific keywords.

How does SEO Work?

Search engine optimization involves optimising your website for search engines such as Google, Bing, Amazon, or YouTube. In other words, it’s purpose is to ensure that a search engine sees your website as the best result possible.

Google's algorithm determines the "best" result based on authority, relevance, loading speed, and more. According to experts, Google's algorithm includes over 200 ranking factors.

On-Page SEO vs. Off-Page SEO

Generally, two types of SEO strategies are effective: on-page SEO and off-page SEO.

On-page SEO refers to factors and techniques you control that affect your website's performance.

Off-page SEO focuses on promoting your brand or website across the Internet.

In essence, On-page SEO involves creating a website that appeals to users and, as a result, search engines. In contrast, Off-page SEO involves getting exposure for a website while building trust and authority.

On-Page SEO

On-page SEO refers to everything you do on your website to improve its search engine ranking. Keywords, HTML tags, page titles, and mobile friendliness are "basic" parts of search engine optimisation.

This aspect of SEO ensures that your website's content can be crawled, indexed, and understood by search engines. Nevertheless, it's much, much more.

In addition to improving the user experience for users on your website, on-page SEO also includes techniques to improve your website's performance. On-page SEO needs to make your website "delicious" for humans to visit so that search engines can recommend the best websites to users.

Off-Page SEO

An off-page SEO strategy involves getting links from other websites to increase the authority of your domain. Here is a fun way to understand how off-page SEO works. Suppose the duckies in your bathtub are your pages, and you start filling water (links) in your tub. As a result, your duckies will move to the top due to water filling (links). Your website works. Similarly, the more quality links they have, they will move to the top result of search engines.

Search engines evaluate the website's authority through a Domain Authority metric. Hence, the higher the website's domain authority, the more it would rank in the top results.

Which One is More Important?

There is no comparison regarding which is better between the two. Both on-page and off-page SEO play a crucial role in increasing the visibility of your website. Therefore, it’s necessary to balance your SEO strategy by considering both of these factors to enable you to earn higher rankings on search engines.

How Does Poor Website Structure Affect SEO?

Website structure is one of the pivotal factors to consider for SEO success. A great website structure helps ensure you achieve your SEO goals, and visitors don't bounce off. Without a logical website structure, users are unable to interact with your website effectively. The following are ways in which website structure can impact your SEO efforts :

Navigation becomes Difficult

Poor Web design can result in poor navigation. Hence, users may be unable to find what they are looking for on your website. Examples are when some buttons may not operate at all, or dropdown tabs may not drop. This means visitors won't be able to access other website pages, which cannot be good for your SEO. Eventually, it leads to fewer visitors and overall traffic on your website.

Content becomes Inaccessible

One more outcome of poor website structure is that your material becomes inaccessible. Mobile users are more likely to experience this. Even if visitors can access your information adequately on desktop devices, this doesn't guarantee that mobile users will have the same experience.

If the content is not optimised, it can appear fragmented or too big to fit on a mobile device. In some instances of poor graphic design, ineffective ad placement also renders content unavailable.

Website Traffic Bounces Off

Badly designed websites sometimes have high bounce rates among their users. The statistic known as bounce rate tells us how long visitors stay on a website before leaving. When the bounce rate is higher, less time is spent on your website's other pages.

This occurs as a result of a bad link-building strategy. Your goal should be for visitors to click on a link and then return to finish reading the rest of your article. However, visitors will most likely leave if your page has a poor design and may never return to your content.

Need Help in Creating Effective SEO Strategy For Your Business?

SEO has become fundamental for your online business success. It plays an elementary role in making sure customers find your business. For this reason, both On-page and Off-page play a decisive part in ranking your website. Furthermore, your website structure is another aspect that must be considered to make your SEO efforts fruitful.

At Omni Communications , we understand how difficult it may be for business owners to develop a winning SEO strategy. Everything requires a lot of planning, from taking care of SEO factors, search engine algorithms, and building a logical website structure, which may become a difficult task for many business owners. We can work with you, so you don't have to worry about it. Our SEO experts will provide you with a free Website SEO Audit and guide you in the process to ensure everything is up to speed.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

8 Technology Trends that are Revolutionising Small Business

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 09:42:11 GMT

“The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don't really even notice it, so it's part of everyday life.” - Bill Gates

8 Technology Trends that are Revolutionising

Small Business

You may be excused for thinking that small business has stood still in the past 2-3 years. Especially given the calamitous events of the recession, furloughing employees, cost of living crisis and the impending recession.

In fact the opposite has been true. The last few years have seen the development of Innovative new technologies, designed to revolutionise how Small-scale businesses perform their business operations. These are providing new ways for small businesses to run their business operations and provide value to their customers. It’s a steep learning curve for some, but as technology continues to develop, businesses need to adapt to in order to serve their customers effectively.

Here are some of the technology trends that are revolutionising small business.

5G Integration

One of the most revolutionary technological advancements for business is the increasing availability of the 5th generation Internet (5G). 5G has the potential to provide remarkably faster Internet services in comparison to its predecessors.

Not only is 5G providing faster connectivity services; it’s also enhancing the usage of other revolutionary technologies. As many technologies require faster Internet, 5G is paving the way and make them an accessible option.

Many organisations are already leveraging the power of the Internet of things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and smart devices. However, these require high-speed Internet for maximum utilisation and effectiveness. 5G is supporting these emerging technological trends and is expected to grow exponentially in 2022.

According to research , IoT connectivity is expected to reach 14.6 billion connections by the end of 2022 (with 1.9 billion of these connections based on cellular IoT). This is expected to rise to 30.2 billion IoT connections by 2027 (with upto 5.5 billion of these connections based on cellular IoT). 5G is driving technology uptake and supporting other emerging and futuristic technologies like virtual and augmented reality.

Data Analytics

Data is rapidly becoming the most critical asset for every business either big or small, to make intelligible business decisions. Businesses are regularly using tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Insights to provide them with key customer data regarding income, age, gender, interest, and other relevant information. Marketers are able to create filters to extract only data which is relevant for their business.

Small businesses are having to learn how to collect data from their customers, and how to break this down into valuable insights to make smart decisions regarding their business operations.

Conversational Marketing

More and more small businesses are considering Conversational marketing for their business needs. For many this is being considered as essential to develop leads and to help convert their website visitors. One of the most human of characteristics is the need to discuss requirements with another person, not with a robot. One of the reasons for this is an expectation of a rapid and relevant response.

According to Hubspot research , 90% of customers want an immediate response. This is something businesses can achieve with the help of chatbots. Small businesses are beginning to leverage AI chatbots to help answer customer queries in a more natural conversational manner.

Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is certainly not be a new phenomenon for many businesses. It’s widespread use for business is expected to continue to grow in the future. Small businesses are now beginning to invest more of their marketing efforts and capital into Digital Marketing.

With the availability of several social media platforms, with millions of active users with a variety of different interests; Small businesses are able to experiment with these digital channels to find their ideal customers. Leveraging a broad range of social mediums is helping small businesses reach massive audiences in ways unachievable (cost-effectively) with traditional marketing.

Small businesses are now also collaborating with influencers, especially with Audio-visual Digital Media Channels such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook & Instagram Reels. This is helping them to increase their outreach and reach the audience of their influencers and social media celebrities.

Metaverse

The Metaverse is another emerging trend that is expected to revolutionise significant aspects of our lives. This blends futuristic technologies like Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality. It’s expected that the Metaverse will provide new innovative and mind-blowing opportunities for businesses to advertise their products.

Some brands and businesses are already utilising the Metaverse for advertising. For instance, NASCAR debuted their customised virtual race cars in Jailbreak, a highly popular cops and robbers-style virtual experience that is free to play on the Roblox platform.

Remote Communication Tools

In the past couple of years, organisations have had to alter their way of communication due to the pandemic. As the result of having to limit face-to-face interactions, many businesses were forced to seek alternative modes of operation such as working from home and communicating through collaboration software like Zoom.

Although the pandemic restrictions are now over, the use of these technologies has certainly not abated as small businesses have realised the cost savings and employee satisfaction benefits. Nevertheless, there is still a recognition of the need for face to face interaction. Hence the hybrid workforce combining the use of these digital tools with traditional meetings and communications is now emerging as the new normal for many small businesses.

Communications tools like Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams are providing new opportunities for employees and entrepreneurs alike. Managers are able to more effectively communicate with and manage geographically disparate remote teams and almost anyone is able to cost-effectively and rapidly launch a small business and communicate with the wider world from the comfort of their own homes.

Advanced Cybersecurity

As more and more organisations transition towards digital media, it’s becoming crucial to make sure that their important data is protected. However, many businesses don't take cyber threats seriously. But according to some estimates, almost 61% of small-scale businesses have faced a cyber-attack at least once.

As small businesses begin to recognise the threat to their important business and customer data, there is an expectation that they will take increased steps to address these constantly evolving threats and pay more attention to their cybersecurity needs. According to one estimate, the cybersecurity market will grow from $8.5 billion in 2021 to $14.8 billion by 2025 .

Evolution in E-Commerce

DeFi trends are driving e-commerce trends in which businesses use Web3 to raise their profile to a new level. DeFi refers to decentralized finance. It is associated with blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) - a whole new way to do business on blockchains.

DeFi removes the control banks and institutions have on money, financial products, and financial services, eliminating the fees they charge for using their services. Users hold funds in secure digital wallets and these can be transferred in seconds without requiring approval.

Business can be faster, cheaper, safer, and more transparent with technologies like P2P ledgers. The blockchain offers intelligent contracts that verify, guarantee, and enforce transactions. There are also digital coins or cryptocurrencies to attract a different type of consumer. The next-generation trending way to market products is through NFTs or uniquely created digital assets.

Thinking ahead

Technology plays a vital role in the growth and efficiency of small businesses, even if they don't keep up with enterprise-level companies. By adopting new technologies, small businesses will be able to potentially increase their income and efficiency and lower their expenses, to help them to grow faster.

At Omni Communications , we are experienced at helping small business to transition their communications services towards the latest digital technologies. Whether you are a single-user business or a multi-site enterprise, we can provide you with a complete suite of communication services to assist you to increase your efficiency and revenues for your business.

For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

BT will Switch Off its Telephone Network in 2025 and why it's important for Small Businesses in the UK

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 22:10:22 GMT

An efficient telecommunications network is the foundation upon which an information society is built - Talal Abu Ghazaleh

BT will Switch Off its Telephone Network in 2025 and why it's important for Small Businesses in the UK

It’s shocking but true that there are still many small businesses out there who are unaware that by 2025, BT will be switching off their traditional analogue (PSTN and ISDN) telephone network.

According to reports, only one in five businesses know the PSTN switch off, while 59.7% are unsure. So we’ve decided to share how the BT switch-off could impact your business, and what you need to do in these changing times. But first, let's look at what BT Switch off really is and why it's a big deal.

What does it Mean by BT Switch Off 2025?

BT Openreach predicts that the analogue telephone network (PSTN and ISDN) will be completely shut down in 2025. In the UK, every phone line will become digital due to this action, and calls will be routed using Internet-based VoIP or IP technology, a complete shift in communication technology toward digital (ISDN is a form of digital communication too, but runs over the same traditional copper lines as PSTN services which are being phased out).

The process has already begun, as Openreach will have ceased selling copper lines in more than 460 locations by the end of August 2022, and they will completely stop offering new PSTN and ISDN services in the UK as of September 2023.

Why is BT Shutting Off the Analog Network?

Copper wire networks were established in the 1800s and still use technology from that period. Keeping these antiquated systems up and running has become more difficult and expensive, with increasing costs passed on to the user.

Currently, there are many possibilities for data transmission that are faster, more reliable, and more affordable due to the rapid development of technology. Several countries have already transitioned to all-digital networks, but the UK is lagging.

Who will be Affected by BT Switch Off?

The looming transfer, however, is not just for companies. The BT switch-off is also going to impact home users. This could potentially be problematic if your company has a hybrid work environment or participates in a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program.

Analogue lines are often used to connect and alarms, EPOS machines, door entry systems, CCTV, faxes, telephones, and other communication devices. So it's crucial that anyone reliant on existing analogue infrastructure upgrades their networks.

Whether or not you transition to a cloud-based VoIP service, deploy SIP trunks with your existing (or new) equipment is something your telecoms service provider will be able to advise you about. We’re not going to explore these pros and cons of either in this article.

What does this mean for you, then? Continue reading to find out why now is the moment to build a digital network, how it can influence your company, and how to avoid getting left behind when the ISDN and PSTN are shut down.

What Your Business Needs to Do to Get Ready for BT Switch off 2025?

In 2025, the PSTN will be shut down. We will all use digital phone services from that point forward, whether at home or work. There are already many companies that have successfully transitioned to using digital technology. Their cloud-based phone system isn't just prepared for the future , it can typically offer many additional benefits. Here are a few steps to take part in the mass transition:

1. Get High-level Internet Connectivity

Nowadays, businesses of all kinds demand reliable, high-quality Internet connectivity, regardless of location. By nature, cloud-based apps require reliable, high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity. Collaboration and digital voice services are similar.

They can use the same fast Internet connection to participate in jitter-free video conferencing, make clear voice calls, and collaborate in real-time. Connectivity is not only required for today's needs but also anticipated future demands. Deploying high-speed Internet services is essential to your business thriving in the future.

2. Inspect Who Else is Using Your Voice Line

The second important consideration is identifying other users of your phone lines before you begin. Calls aren't the only applications for which phone lines are used in businesses. Many door entry systems, alarms, lift emergency lines, payment terminals, and cash machines all use your existing PSTN phone lines. These are known as "special services."

You must identify everything using your PSTN and ISDN lines because switching to digital will affect how these special services operate.

Then, generally speaking, you have three choices:

Put the equipment on IP mode (if available).
Discuss with your specialty service provider about switching to an IP equivalent.
Use an ATA device to convert the special service's analogue signal to digital (IP), allowing your special service to continue functioning with the new digital phone service.

3. Educate Your Team Members

Educating your employees how to use an all-digital phone service will enable them to benefit the most from it. Your chances of maximizing the benefits are higher if they are more aware and involved. Your workforce will be more willing to assist you in achieving those advantages if you can get them fired up about getting their hands on the new equipment.

4. Embrace the New Technology

Switching to an all-digital phone service involves more than just carrying out your current activities. Your new job will allow you to try new working methods and alter your communication style.

In general, cloud-based communications services offer a lot more functionality than you might be accustomed to. They can quickly incorporate mobile devices and apps to start. In addition, you’ll have easier access to their full reporting, which will assist you in learning more about the actions of your customers and employees. They'll also give you the freedom to work differently. It's a chance to reassess your company and possibly implement remote work.

Before switching over to your new system you’ll need to consider your current phone lines and if you need to duplicate each one on the new system. Also, you’ll need to decide what to do with your current phone numbers. If your clients are familiar with them, keeping them by porting them to the new service is relatively straightforward.

Let Us Help You Transition Your Business!

Transferring your current communication system to an all-digital cloud-ready service need not be a cumbersome task. There may be a lot of factors to consider, but your service provider should be able to help navigate you through the transition.

At Omni Communications , we are experienced at helping small business to transition their communications services towards the latest digital technologies. Whether you are a single-user business or a multi-site enterprise, we can provide you with a complete suite of communication services to increase the return on investment for your business.

For more information on how we help with Digital Marketing Strategy, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

Why is Digital Marketing Important for Small Businesses?

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 22:07:04 GMT

“Mediocre marketers think in terms of campaigns. Great marketers think in terms of growth frameworks. “ – Neil Patel

Why is Digital Marketing Important for Small Businesses?

The U.N. News recently verified what many of us were already contemplating. The global economic outlook is worsening, and the likelihood of a global recession is significant! In this kind of an economic environment it’s more than likely that businesses will need to become more frugal.

Some smaller businesses may be tempted to reduce their marketing budgets in an effort to curb their expenditure. Whereas there may be some cost savings to be considered, Digital Marketing is now becoming a mandatory element of a successful business strategy for small businesses.

Without leveraging digital mediums, brands cannot thrive in today's online world. As more and more customers become available online rather than in the physical world, businesses need to do the same. Without a strong online presence, customers won't be able to find you; or you may be less likely to stand out for what makes you unique, affecting your likelihood of making sales.

Digital Marketing allows businesses to reach and engage with a massive audience. Gone are the days when companies used to advertise on TV commercials or billboards. Now digital mediums have taken over from the traditional forms of Marketing. Digital Marketing has become crucial to running a successful business.

Let’s explore why small businesses need Digital Marketing.

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing refers to all the online strategies and marketing efforts on the Internet. Brands utilize social media, email, websites, and other digital mediums to connect with their customers. Moreover, multimedia messages and text messages are also types of digital marketing.

Digital marketers need to develop strategies to attract and retain the right customers. By utilising all the digital mediums relevant to the business to identify their specific audience, target market, and customer pain points, they can ensures that their marketing efforts align with their business objectives.

Types of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing can take various shapes. As there are numerous digital mediums available, brands focus on marketing channels where they can find a relevant audience. Many business owners are probably aware of these examples of Digital Marketing, so here is a brief summary only :

SEO: Search engine optimisation, or simply SEO, is a strategy that focuses on increasing website ranking. The higher your website ranks on the search engines, the more likely it becomes for it to attract visitors, engagement and potential customers.

Content Marketing: In today's world, content is the king. Content marketing is a marketing strategy where businesses create valuable content to attract customers. Instead of pitching products, content marketing focuses on generating value for customers.

Social Media: This marketing strategy utilises social media to promote business. Brands use social media platforms to build awareness, attract and communicate with their target audience. When used as part of a cohesive digital marketing strategy this enhances customer retention and increases the potential for new business.

Blogging: Blogging allows digital marketers to generate fresh content on a website and provide a catalyst for social media marketing and email marketing, by driving search traffic to your website. Blogs allow you to share your expertise, opinions and advice, building credibility and a recognisable digital personality for your business. Once indexed by search engines, blogs continue to generate views over the long term. Done well, they can become the gift that keeps on giving.

Video Marketing: With YouTube and TikTok marketing becoming more prevalent, this is rapidly becoming a widely adopted marketing technique available online. Video marketing offers one of the best choices for brand development due to its significance. It offers brands to share stories and reviews of their products and visually connect with them at a subliminal level.

Email Marketing: Email may be one of the oldest marketing strategies ever. However, some people do consider it ineffective. But its importance has not all diminished. It involves marketing campaigns that are specific to your target audience.

PPC or Pay per click: PPC is a marketing type that drives traffic to your website. In Pay per click campaigns, advertisers will have to pay the publisher each time someone clicks on the ad.

Sales Funnels: Often used in conjunction with Social Media, Email and PPC marketing campaigns, sales funnels guide the audience through decision making and learning processes leading to eventual sales. Business challenges are diverse, so developing the right sales funnel for your business is crucial. There are many different types of sales funnel, but in general they have an enticing offer, a landing page and a follow-up. The ultimate goal is lead generation whether it’s a webinar sign-up, free trial, feedback survey, call booking, or a review.

Why do businesses need to embrace Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is gaining importance with every passing day. It is rapidly replacing the traditional way of marketing. Here are some reasons why businesses need to transition toward digital marketing:

Lead Generation

One of the most significant drawbacks of traditional marketing is measuring your brand's performance. The conventional ways of advertising cannot count how effective they were in generating a lead, or if your advertising lead to sales.

Digital advertising campaigns provide you with comprehensive data regarding your potential customer. They provide you with the information on how many people engaged with your ad. Digital marketers use forms in digital marketing campaigns to capture email addresses and contact information. These contact details can be used to send follow-up emails, increasing the chance of generating a lead.

Brand-Awareness

Promoting brands using traditional advertising strategies require your ideal customers to recognise your efforts. With the increased likelihood of your ideal customers noticing your brand through daily Internet usage, it’s more important than ever to leverage digital marketing to develop your brand awareness effectively. When customers find your brand on various digital mediums, it becomes easier for them to remember your business, as they subliminally connect with your brand.

Reaching a Targeted Audience

Traditional marketing channels like newspapers, billboards, and TV do target an audience. But it’s very difficult for them to target a specific audience.

Digital marketing, however, allows you to target customers with specific demographics. Using analytics tools, you can identify the age, gender, interest, location, and other information of your ideal customers. That way, you can create campaigns according to the interest of your specific customer; This ultimately enhances the chance of your potential customer purchasing from your brand.

Affordability

Digital marketing costs are low compared to some traditional methods of mass marketing. This has made it affordable for small and medium-scale businesses to enhance their marketing efforts. And now with the advent of reels and short videos on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok costing a tiny fraction of what a business owner would spend on a TV commercial, it’s become possible for small businesses to reach a potentially global audience.

Agility

Digital marketing provides businesses with the opportunity to reach their target audience quickly. A simple tweet or Facebook post can reach the masses in a short time. Compared to letters and flyers, emails and newsletters can reach the target audience in no time. In addition, these efforts don't require printing time, which enhances the marketing process.

Want help in planning the Digital Marketing Strategy for your small business?

Digital marketing has become a necessity to thrive in today's online world. If you’re going it alone you may already know that creating an effective digital marketing campaign is not an easy task. A business owner must consider numerous factors to create an effective campaign. Not every business owner has the time to go through every tiny detail or to learn all the strategies, platforms and pitfalls. One option is to employ in-house digital marketers, and for some businesses this may be a good strategy in the long-term. Aside from the additional costs of onboarding, training and retaining specialist talent businesses also need to ensure the return on their investment is there in terms of increased leads, sales and overall revenues to justify this strategy.

Alternatively, working with a Digital Marketing Agency can be a cost-effective, time-saving and relatively hands-off experience.

At Omni Communications , we have a team of experts that can plan and create an effective digital marketing strategy for you, beginning with a Free Audit of your website, SEO and social media activities, providing you with a detailed report of our findings.

Based upon our analysis we then recommend a blended approach with the aim of increasing organic growth. Customers can adopt some or all of our recommendations according to their choice. For some businesses we are effectively their Virtual Marketing Manager.

For more information on how we help with Digital Marketing Strategy, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

How 360-Degree Feedback provides organisation-wide benefits

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 18:57:28 GMT

"If you know yourself, then you'll not be harmed by what is said about you" - Arabian proverb

360-degree feedback is crucial in identifying your organisation's current performance and maximizing organisational productivity. It helps identify blind spots, and assists in providing a roadmap for improvement based upon current organisational shortcomings. The primary goal of 360-degree feedback is to enhance employee productivity and optimise overall performance.

Let's take a closer look at what 360-Degree Feedback can do for your organization:

What is 360-degree feedback?

360-degree feedback refers to the process of taking feedback from multiple sources. It is one of the most effective processes for measuring employee performance. 360-degree feedback processes involve managers, peers, consultants, vendors, and even customers; the basic goal of this feedback is to analyse employee performance from all sources. It helps collect different perspectives for the same person.

Sometimes, employees also have to fill out a performance form. Here they would typically fill in the details by evaluating their own performance. Managers can then compare the employees' perceptions with the perspective of other individuals within the organisation (and externally).

The components of 360-degree feedback

There are three main components of 360-degree feedback:

Assessment - this is essentially the the survey instrument; a test, or a simple questionnaire.

Feedback - at this stage, managers go through the feedback from all individuals involved in the process; such as reviewing the results of the questionnaire.

Training Programme - the purpose of any feedback is to identify and provide remediation for aspects in need of improvement. The last stage of delivering 360-degree feedback typically involves organisational leaders developing long-term training programmes which are initiated by managers to improve the performance of the employees revealed by the feedback process.

The importance of 360-degree feedback

Nobody particularly likes to listen to what they're doing wrong, so it's not surprising that many leaders run their organisations without effective feedback. As a result, they cannot monitor and improve their employees' performance. Feedback plays a vital role in enhancing organisational operations. An employee is an organisation's future; the organisation can only prosper if its employees are giving their maximum effort in their roles and activities. Without feedback, managers can't learn if employees are working efficiently or not.

360-degree feedback provides leaders with the information they won't get otherwise. It helps improve overall organisational performance and helps them identify if employees need any assistance. Not every bad performance is the result of employee incompetence.

Employees may face some emotional or family problems, which may affect their work. Identifying and monitoring their performance helps leaders to make appropriate decisions. An employee may need training or a sabbatical. Identifying the root cause of employee underperformance provides significant benefits for the organisation in the long run.

The benefits of 360-degree feedback

Here are the key benefits of 360-degree feedback:

Creates Better Work-relationships

360-degree feedback helps improve working relationships amongst employees. Reciprocity is an essential relationship characteristic - an exchange that benefits both parties. In most organisations, It's common for performance feedback to be one-sided or absent altogether.

In essence, 360-degree feedback reveals how you interact with others and highlights areas of improvement to enhance relationships. How well do you communicate with others? Can you accept constructive criticism? Is your treatment of people fair, dignified, and respectful? For instance, you would want a better relationship with your peer group if you lead them?

Enhances Self-Awareness

According to Naive Realism , we all believe we see the world directly as it is. The same is true for what we think everyone else sees. We gain insight into what others think about our behaviour through the 360-degree feedback process. Multi-rater feedback matches participants' expectations, which is good in the report.

There are times when conduct that the participant considers a strength is perceived slightly lower by one group of raters. 360-degree feedback helps employees to reflect on their performance to see if it aligns with the organisational goals.

Regardless of whether the participant agrees with the score, knowing how they are perceived is useful. A 360-degree feedback report recognises an individual's contribution by analysing it through multiple lenses.

Stimulates Personal Growth

One of the primary outcomes of 360-degree feedback is personal development. According to their feedback, participants should create a development plan. It is common for leaders to possess a natural desire and ambition to improve organisational performance, which is why they are in a leadership position. Although, most leaders know their strengths, weaknesses, and appropriate leadership behaviour.

Feedback must be honest and specific if we are to test our perceptions, recognize hidden strengths, and expose blind spots. Leadership is a never-ending process. There is always something to improve. Feedback from 360 degrees allows leaders to fine-tune their behaviour and re-align their priorities. In other words, it is a process of incremental and deliberate growth.

Improves Organizational Communication

360-degree feedback is an effective way to let employees complement each other's work. By allowing communication to flourish, problems can be addressed and resolved. Communication plays a crucial in the success of an organisation. When employees and other stakeholders have open communication, it helps align all of them towards achieving organisational goals. Organisations that communicate effectively are more likely to retain their best employees.

Optimizes Performance

Optimizing employee performance is perhaps one of the top benefits of 360-degree feedback. A 360-degree feedback tool can be one of your most valuable tools. Participants' commitment to change is only practical if the participants are held accountable for it. It makes little sense to undertake a 360-degree feedback process without a clear understanding of how to use the results of the feedback survey.

Participants should receive continuous from managers about their employee development every quarter. A follow-up 360-degree feedback survey after 12 months provides a post-assessment to measure progress and encourage participants to stick with their development plans.

Want Us to help you on your 360-degree feedback journey?

There are numerous benefits of 360-degree feedback. You can accelerate your or your employees' personal development and gain valuable insight by receiving honest feedback and constructive criticism from a 360 assessment. All of these help you enhance your organisation's productivity.

Omni Communications can help with your 360-degree feedback strategy including design and delivery of quizzes, surveys and feedback tools. For more information, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999 or email sales@omnicom.uk

How to improve Customer Experience

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 07:48:30 GMT

“Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves.” ― Steve Jobs.

How do you improve Customer Experience?

Let's look at the problem

Poor customer experience is easier to spot in face to face situations, but it also exists in online interactions too. Most of us will have experienced rude or ignorant staff at some point, or being kept waiting unnecessarily.

The digital disconnect can increase the capacity for poor customer service in an online environment. This could relate to long delays in responding to web chats and emails, being put on hold or transferred from 'pillar to post' (in the customer's perception at least) by contact centre agents.

Providing excellent customer experience should be the goal of every business. Customer experience refers to how people feel about your brand. And as customers are a crucial component of any business. You need to make sure they feel good about your company.

By providing an excellent customer experience, you retain existing customers and attract potential ones. Therefore, it is mandatory to embed the necessary factors in your business strategy to provide a positive customer experience. Here we'll explore ways on how you can maximize customer experience.

What is Customer Experience?

Customer experience refers to the interactions and experience a customer has with your business. From initial contact to becoming a loyal customer, each aspect of the customer journey comes under customer experience.

Customer experience plays a crucial role in ensuring a customer becomes loyal to your business. According to a global customer experience study by Oracle , 74% of senior executives believe that customer experience is a decisive factor for a person to become a company's loyal advocate. Hence, this is why companies are investing a fortune in ensuring customers get a positive experience.

To simply put it, happy customers lead to loyal customers. Therefore, ensuring you don't ignore their feedback would enhance the customer experience. Companies that make their customer journey easier are the ones that stand out from their competitors; after all, customers are the lifeline of every business.

Customer Experience vs. Customer Service

Many people believe customer service and customer experience are the same things. But this isn't true. Although customer service is a part of the customer experience, it doesn't encompass all aspects of the customer journey.

As far as customer service is concerned, it refers to solving customer queries related to products or services. In contrast, customer experience includes all of the interactions between your brand and the customer.

Importance of Customer Experience

Customers are a crucial part of any business. Without them, a company cannot exist. Customer experience is the art of exceeding customer expectations. When businesses understand their customer's pain points and needs, only this way can they meet customer expectations. By providing easy, enjoyable touchpoints for customers, businesses can attract new customers and retain previous ones. Therefore, making a smooth and easy customer buying journey enhances the overall customer experience.

On the other hand, if business owners cannot match customer expectations, they may lose customers. Not only may they lose customers, but it would also affect the overall company's reputation. Therefore it's crucial to ensure the customer experience is always up to the mark, per customers' requirements.

Ways to Improve Customer Experience

No matter your business type, there is always a way to improve customer experience to surpass competitors. Here are 5 ways to improve customer experience:

1. Understand your Customers' Pain Points

When creating content and messaging for your brand, it's easy for brands to focus on their products, but put yourself in your consumers' shoes and think about your brand from their perspectives.

A good place to start is by identifying if your website is aligned with your customer's pain points.

Then, it's a good idea to plan how you can engage with your customers both digitally and in person to address the customer's queries.

It's also good practice to analyse your competitors to look for potential improvements for your business strategy. The key to mapping out customer journeys that drive business results is to address your customers' needs.

2. Identify and Map the Customer Journey

There are many reasons why customers visit your website and download your assets, and there are many ways they can reach out to you.

Interacting with you will be motivated by various reasons: browsing products, understanding what you do, providing feedback, making purchases, redeeming offers, learning, cancelling purchases, and modifying purchases, among others.

After you've mapped out the customer journey for each type of customer, you can then conduct visitor testing on your digital channels and solicit human feedback. Asking your customers and prospects directly makes it easier for you to find out what is working well and what isn't too.

3. Personalise Customer Experience

"Personalise" can mean many things depending on the scale and scope of your business. Providing a personalised customer experience helps to form a bond between your brand and your customers. An example is Gift Vouchers, and Discount Vouchers which personalise the customer's experience and foster loyalty to your brand.

Apart from vouchers, sending personalised emails, making follow-ups, and adjusting the website according to customer preferences provides a customised customer experience. The key here is to make customers feel valued, which is crucial in delivering a quality customer experience.

4. Create a unified experience for all omnichannel

If we look at an everyday consumer example in today's world, almost everyone streams TV over the Internet (OTT). Research shows that many streaming service users watch content across three or more devices and typically use three OTT services, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.

From a viewer's perspective, regardless of where they are or what device they are using, the experience should remain the same. To put it another way, irrespective of the device used to stream content, they want to be able to pick up right where they left off.

Whether we are interacting in-store, online, through a mobile application, or via telephone, we have expectations that follow us wherever and however we engage with a business. Everybody prefers a different omnichannel but expects the same experience. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective strategies to provide a quality customer experience among all channels.

5. Embrace Feedback

One of the most crucial ways to improve customer experience is to take feedback. Asking customers for feedback regarding your business would help you gather valuable insights. It's good practice to encourage your customers to leave a review on your website or social media page. A steady flow of positive reviews boosts engagement and attracts potential new clients. This shouldn't be considered as a quarterly or annual marketing task either; the most effective marketing programmes do this monthly.

By getting your teams involved and explaining why it is crucial to ask happy customers for customer reviews, they realize that their ongoing efforts deliver positive customer experiences.

Want Us to Design Strategy for Enhancing your Customer Experience?

To conclude, customer experience plays a vital role in a business's success, making it necessary for business owners to put great thought and time into it. At Omni Communications , we understand the importance of providing value to customers to ensure a positive customer experience.

For more information on how we can help you to develop a business strategy to maximise customer experience, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on 0161 507 7999 or email sales@omnicom.uk

How to create an effective Social Media Strategy

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:37:33 GMT

Without strategy, Social Media can often yield random results

How to Create an Effective Social Media Strategy

Social Media has now become a virtual marketing platform for every business. With some paid advertising media becoming more costly or unable to leverage analytics on certain devices, it's becoming necessary for brands to leverage blended marketing campaigns where they leverage social media to achieve their business objectives. Brands' need an effective social media marketing plan to attract new customers and retain existing customers.

A Social media marketing plan summarises the actions that brands plan to achieve on social media. But developing a compelling social media plan is a painful process. In an increasingly competitive market, a well-thought-out strategy is necessary to succeed on the Internet.

What are the common problems organisations face with Social Media?

Having worked with a number of small businesses, we've come to identify a few common issues with their existing Social Media Marketing activities. You may be able to relate with some of these:

Posts have had too much of a strong emphasis on sales. Research shows that educating the audience with regards to your brand, it's values, and benefits is more effective than a push to acquire business all the time. A good rule of thumb is to employ the 80/20 rule. 80% education focus : 20% sales focus

Lack of understanding of audience interests and platform trends. Posts are more likely to be effective when delivered on the platforms where your audience are, relate to subjects they have an interest in and when they use terminology that they are familiar with.

Ad-hoc posting without emphasis on results and performance. Posting ad-hoc based upon instinct instead of strategy offers limited insight on analytics and performance in order to improve results.

Lack of engagement with followers. Sometimes this is because the posts have been written in a manner which does little to encourage engagement, whereas in other cases organisations fail to respond to comments and engage directly with their audience.

By creating effective social media strategies, brands can overcome the issues highlighted above, reach a bigger audience and boost profits. However, developing a great social media plan is difficult. So we've outlined the steps for you; keep reading to create a winning social media strategy.

What is a Social Media Strategy?

A social media strategy describes how you create, post, and engage with your audience. Your social media marketing plan includes guidelines for social content, posting schedule, creative plans, and engagement strategies.

An effective social media strategy outlines what you plan to accomplish through social media. It helps you determine the direction you should take and lets you know when you're succeeding or failing.

Why Create a Social Media Strategy?

Social media marketers have to face three primary challenges:

Reaching their audience
Determining investment return
Attaining corporate goals

You may solve these problems and many others by creating a social media strategy. You can adjust your benchmarks over time and track their performance, and create new ones as needed with a social media plan.

The importance of Social Media Strategy

Social Media has a huge number of users worldwide. According to Kepios , there were an estimated 4.65 billion social media users in April 2022, effectively 58.7% of the global population. And Facebook with it's 2.89 billion social media users, makes it the number one social media platform. These enormous numbers are enough to convince brands about the potential of social media channels.

Social Media provides businesses with numerous opportunities, but it's crucial to utilise it wisely. Brands can leverage several techniques to stand out from their competitors.

Let's look at ways to create an effective social media strategy.

How to Create a Social Media Strategy

Creating an effective social media plan is not the easiest of tasks. It requires marketers to outline several aspects to ensure it achieves organisational objectives. Here are some ways to create a winning social media strategy:

1. Conduct a Social Media Audit

One of the initial steps to developing social media strategy is conducting an Audit. Although if you are starting, this step won't be possible. Instead, you would have to start from scratch with the signup to your chosen social media platforms. After a month or more, you should be in a position to get valuable insights about your customers.

However, if you are already using social media for your brand, you will already have some previous data. Every Social media platform has an analytics tool that provides valuable information. Brands can audit their current social media metrics to define benchmarks and improve accordingly in the future.

2. Identify Your Target Audience

The second most crucial thing is to identify your ideal customer. For this, you will have to develop buyer personas. Buyer Personas typically include customers' demographics, age, gender, income, hobbies, interests, etc. Identifying buyer personas helps you to effectively align your social media strategy.

Audiences can be broken down into three or four buyer personas. It's also important to make sure that your buyer personas represent the majority of your audience.

3. Analyse Your Competitors

Competitor analysis is also required when designing an effective social media plan. You can research your competitors using social media, understand their offer and more importantly get an indication of where they have shortcomings. This also enables you to develop solutions which address the some of these deficiencies.

Analyse their social media campaigns by looking at their statistics. Analysis of competitor metrics and statistics also enables you to set benchmarks and goals for your social media strategy, with the aim of differentiating your offer to provide an effective alternative which stands out in the market.

4. Set Smart Goals

Now that you know your ideal customer and have built your buyer personas, it's time to set smart goals to help you realise your business objectives. Setting goals helps to define a structure for your campaigns, monitor campaign performance, and craft an effective social media plan.

A social media goal should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. It's also important not to be fooled by vanity metrics, such as numbers of followers. Instead, measure only those metrics which matter for your business. Quality metrics, such as number of engagements and actions tend to be a more accurate indicator of performance.

5. Select Appropriate Social Media Channels

There are several social media channels, each one with different features. Therefore, consider the benefits of each platform before choosing which suits your business. In essence, you want to select social networks most frequented by your target audience.

Finally, plan a social media marketing plan for every social network you plan to include in your social media strategy.

6. Monitor Your Performance

Social media channels offer a wealth of information to track. Therefore, it's crucial to monitor the relevant information. Start by examining how much traffic your social media accounts drive to your website. Keep an eye on your posts to see which ones people respond to; it would help identify their interests. Establish goals for key metrics and measure your progress to get an idea of your post-performance.

7. Experiment and Improve Accordingly

It's important to remember that Social Media Marketing does not work overnight. Building a following, establishing a brand, and seeing results takes time. Experimenting helps you find the right channel for your audience. After all, you want a social media strategy that drives your desired results; while also adhering to your brand's image. As you gather information, you can improve your recipe card, content, and personas - helping you refine your strategy and produce better results.

Let Us Create Your Social Media Strategy!

Whether or not you're new to social media or have an established presence, developing an effective social media plan is not an easy task. There are a variety of factors to consider. Identifying buyer personas, analysis of your competitors, and choosing the appropriate social media channels for your target audience requires thought and planning.

Many organisations, and small business owners in particular find it challenging to find the time and resources to define an effective Social Media Strategy. This can lead to ad-hoc posting without an understanding of performance and ineffective overall results. At Omni Communications , o ur team of experts can take into account all the necessary considerations to help you develop a winning social media strategy and ensure your social media plan achieves your desired results.

For more information on how we help with Social Media Strategy, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on

0161 507 7999
or email sales@omnicom.uk

How 5G Mobile Broadband Provides a Connectivity Lifeline to Rural and Remote Businesses

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 15:11:14 GMT

5G Rural and Remote Connectivity

5G mobile broadband provides significant business opportunities. But the great thing about 5G is that its benefits aren’t limited to urban areas. Instead, they reach destinations which are often least expected. Rural areas can now also reap the benefits of 5G broadband connectivity.

When we think about ultra-fast internet connectivity, rural or backward areas are not the places that come to mind. But recently, one such example is one of the most rural areas of Purbecks, England, which has enabled Internet connectivity for the public via 5G.

The potential of 5G connectivity is beyond imagination. Here we will look at how Ultra-Fast Internet Connectivity can revolutionize businesses in rural areas.

What is 5G Broadband?

5G broadband is a type of mobile broadband. Instead of a smartphone, it uses 5G technology embedded in a Wi-Fi hub. Just like a fixed broadband router, it connects to devices via Wi-Fi. The benefits of 5G broadband go beyond faster downloads and better streaming. Furthermore, it allows multiple people to use the Internet simultaneously without straining the connection.

Due to its lightning-fast speeds, it can be an effective wireless alternative to fixed broadband since it doesn't require a wired connection to the home. Consequently, fibre-optic or copper ADSL broadband connections are not necessary. In addition to its ultrafast broadband speeds, 5G Internet services do not require a 5G mobile phone contract.

How does 5G Broadband Work?

A 5G SIM card connects a 5G broadband device to the Internet in much the same way as a 5G smartphone. As an alternative to a mobile phone, the 5G SIM would be available in a 5G router, broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal to all your devices.

With 5G Internet, the airwaves are much higher than with 4G Internet. Consequently, it can transmit more data in a shorter time and provide a much faster internet connection.

5G is five times faster than 4G and 3G, thanks to the fifth generation of mobile networks. 5G has revolutionised how smartphones and broadband work, in a similar way that 3G enabled the smartphone era, and 4G enabled faster browsing and richer media.

How does 5G Connectivity Impact Industrial Sectors?

5G internet connectivity provides innovation to several businesses. The following are industries that can benefit from the integration of 5G broadband in their operations:

Manufacturing sector: Smart sensors with the help of 5G can monitor manufacturing processes. They can monitor the entire assembly line process and notify of any errors. In addition to improving quality and productivity, 5G networks reduce costs by utilising machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Health sector: In an emergency, every second counts. By combining high-resolution video and patient telemetry, doctors can diagnose patients before and during transport, saving precious time and sometimes lives. All of this would is possible with 5G connectivity. Furthermore, 5G can expand telehealth services, especially to rural areas.
Transportation sector: Improvements in public transit are possible thanks to 5G connectivity. The transmission of transactional data for payment and ticketing, as well as detailed real-time information on vehicle capacity, scheduling, and routing, can be improved. A 5G network can also carry large volumes of performance and operational data, streaming digital signage, and passenger Wi-Fi.
Remote work: It has become more challenging to keep networks secure whether companies adopt a hybrid or a fully remote working model. Drop-in 5G routers can offer managed, commercial-level connectivity and security to workers who operate from home using 5G for the home office. Companies and employees can benefit from 5G capabilities in various remote work scenarios.

How does 5G Revolutionize Rural Areas?

Innovation in Farming - Farmers are be able to increas e their productivity by using 5G equipment. Drones with 5G allow farmers to capture images across many hectares of farmland. Using these images, farmers can analyse the quality and quantity of grass, an essential resource for managing livestock or analyse soil to determine where fertilizer is needed. In addition to making farming easier, farms will also be more environmentally friendly. The Government has been actively testing 5G on farms in Shropshire and Somerset.

Radical Change in Animal Welfare - With 5G co nnectivity, sensors can collect and provide essential data regarding animal health. Salmon farms are currently testing the sensors to ensure that fish stocks are not living in a harmful environment. Researchers have used sensors to monitor the daily health of cows and their eating habits and mobility. A prototype sensor has even been developed in North Wales to prevent sheep from being stolen.

Better Educational Facilities - Rural schools now have ac cess to new teaching devices through 5G. In areas with 5G coverage, it will be relatively easier to deliver lessons in times of crisis (similar to the pandemic). 5G offers a reliable d igital connection, facilitating the development of teaching establishments capable of delivering alternatives to university degrees. Moreover, with the use of 5G technology, institutes can organize face to face skills and courses online.

Better Health Services - Apart from educational institutes, 5G connection is also revolutionising health services in rural areas. Doctors in areas with 5G coverage are able to check and diagnose patients via smart devices. Moreover, in future, patients would be able to access quality medical services in the comfort of their homes.

New Opportunities for Remote Working - 5G mobile broadban d has the capacity to generate new work opportunities in rural areas. The trend of remote working has gained popularity due to Covid-19. Companies initiated working from home when the pandemic made it impossible to visit offices. The availability of ultra-fast 5G Internet connectivity for citizens in remote and rural areas makes remote work possible, where this was not possible previously due to the requirement for substantial and fast Internet connectivity necessary for some roles.

How can Omni Communications Help Your Business in the 5G Revolution?

5G mobile broadband has a lot of potential to revolutionize business and community services in rural areas, and improving the living standards of residents in these regions. For businesses operating in these areas the adoption of new technology and enabling change can often seem like a challenging and costly task. At Omni Communications , we can assist in your transition from legacy services to a Smart future. Our team of experts and our network of partners can ensure you fully avail the potential of 5G broadband services.

For more information on how we help with 5G connectivity in rural and remote locations, contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on

0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

How Unified Communications Delivers ROI

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 10:26:00 GMT

Even with the emergence of home working at scale and the Openreach ISDN switch off (penned for 2025), there are still many companies across the UK with legacy, on-premises telephony. So, why are there still plenty of companies out there that haven’t yet embraced hosted telephony and unified communications?

For some, there’s the illusion of technical complexity, and for others, there’s an assumption that more features and capability equals more cost. Let’s tackle that latter issue as we discuss why moving to a cloud-hosted, unified communications solution not only saves money but can actually deliver a return on investment back into the business.

Let’s tackle that latter issue as we discuss why moving to a cloud-hosted, unified communications solution not only saves money but can actually deliver a return on investment back into the business.

What is UCaaS?

UCaaS – or ‘Unified Communications as a Service’ is a cloud-based telecoms and collaboration solution combining voice, video, instant messaging, call recording, online meetings, screen sharing, and more, through a single platform, accessible from mobile and desktop apps.

In this report, we outline commercial and operational improvements that can be obtained through using such a solution.

Improved Customer Experience

Put simply, improving customer experience is perhaps the quickest way that UCaaS can deliver ROI to a business.

According to research by PWC:

“86% of buyers are willing to pay more for great customer experience.”

With more businesses than ever competing based on their ability to deliver positive CX, investing in the right communications infrastructure is essential.

Through implementation of a fully featured UCaaS solution, organisations can provide:

Intelligent call routing and multi-level IVR, ensuring customers reach the right agents.
Call queues and hunt groups to maximise agent efficiency.

Integration into business CRMs to ensure agents have access to detailed customer information when they pick up the phone.

75%

of UCaaS users experience improved productivity levels

Ease of Communications

With UCaaS, you can enjoy a wealth of technical capabilities through a single application.

“73% of employees spend an average of one hour per day switching apps”

A fully-featured UCaaS solution combines voice, video calling and conferencing, instant messaging, document sharing, presence settings, and more, accessible by mobile or desktop devices.

Being able to communicate and collaborate seamlessly via one system attracts a hugely positive ROI. Staff get work done quicker and easier and can achieve this from anywhere, which is more important now than ever before.

It means people can work more effectively, take quicker decisions, and as a result, they’ll feel more productive and happier.

Reduced Costs

Moving to a hosted model enables you to implement a communications suite without attracting unwanted CapEx in the form of on-premises equipment that would need to be purchased or leased.

When you host your PBX in the cloud the only hardware you need to consider is desk phones for users that want them, and headsets for those who would rather use a soft client on their laptop.

One of the onerous costs of on-premises telephony is maintenance. With your phone system being central to interacting with customers and suppliers, you can’t do without it.

On-premises telephony usually requires a maintenance contract which are often both costly, contractually lengthy, and a hidden cost which should be considered on top of your tariff.

Added Resilience

Think about the impact of having a resilient phone system, versus not. If your phone system isn’t resilient and you suffer an outage...

How will that impact your ability to do business with customers, and what could the cost be? It’s often unseen costs that are the most expensive.

According to a recent Frost & Sullivan study:

“80% view increased uptime as a major benefit of the cloud. 80% also saw freeing up IT as a significant advantage”

Improved Agility

Your organisation’s ability to rapidly adapt to changes in market conditions has likely never been tested further than recently. According to a recent Cleveland Research survey:

“Workplace trends like remote and distance working are heightening the need for the cloud.”

Because UCaaS is delivered via the cloud, it is fast to deploy, can be cloud, it is fast to deploy, can be delivered to a distributed workforce, accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, and you can add and remove connections instantly, meaning your business’ communication system can adapt to any change.

Compliance

For companies operating in financially regulated industries that need to adhere to compliance practices such as PCI and MiFID II, the cost of achieving compliance can be high.

Firstly the cost to deploy and maintain on-premises recording technology is exceptionally high, especially when accounting for storage costs.

Secondly, on-premises solutions are not as flexible and technically powerful as their hosted counterparts in terms of the speed and accuracy with which information can be retrieved, analysed, and reported on.

The quicker you can get the information you need, the cheaper it is to do so, both in terms of staff time (your compliance officer) and potential regulatory fines by not reporting breaches in a timely fashion.

About our UCaaS Platform

Our marketing-leading UCaaS platform, delivers a powerful suite of cloud-hosted telephony features that enable employees to work from anywhere, on any device – from office and remote workers, through to contact centre and

regulated environments.

With a host of ways to connect, through desktop clients, mobile apps, and traditional desk phones, our services are designed for office, home, and hybrid working environments. Other benefits include:

Voice, video, instant messaging, online meetings, screen sharing, and much more
Integrated call recording
Desktop and mobile Communicator applications
Out of the box CRM integrations for streamlined workflow

For more information, please contact us via the Contact Form below, call us on

0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

Understanding the Benefits of Hybrid Working

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:16:00 GMT

Introduction
UK businesses adjusted quickly to keep their operations running during the first national lockdown. Businesses achieved continuity at times through simply adapting their existing technology solutions and making use of free digital services wherever possible.

But as we progress now into more permanent ways of working in a post-Covid landscape, businesses must adjust their technology stack to not only survive the new conditions, but to thrive.

What is ‘Hybrid working’?
‘Hybrid working’ describes a working environment in which an organisation’s employees split their work between office-based locations and home or other remote locations. Several publicly visible, global businesses have announced their intention to continue this indefinitely, allowing employees to work how and where they choose, including BP, Twitter, Capital One and Microsoft.

While there are many benefits, many businesses are now discovering that the transition to hybrid work isn’t without challenges. Continuing to utilise the existing technology stack that they already had in place may not be sufficient to provide a seamless experience when some employees are in the office, and some are remote.

Commercial benefits
Hybrid working presents organisations with new challenges, but it also offers them opportunities that may not have been considered viable in more traditional office-based work environments, also encouraging the adoption of cloud services as part of accelerated digital transformation projects.

Looking at it from the point of view of a business, hybrid working creates an environment in which organisations can potentially get the most out of their workforce. Every employee is working in their preferred way, in their chosen environment. What we’re seeing is businesses looking at the technology solutions they need to enable this.

From a commercial standpoint, the introduction of the cloud-based technology solutions required for effective hybrid working can actually save cost and increase efficiency if correctly implemented. Reducing on-site hardware for IT and telecommunications and switching to monthly subscription-based services will allow a transition from CapEx to OpEx, meaning no upfront expenditure and improved cashflow, while compliance, resilience and scalability are improved.
As well as the improved agility, it is possible that hybrid working can reduce costs in other ways, perhaps through a lower demand for office space, or through simplifying IT requirements for a business. While it may seem complex to have remote workers utilising cloud-based tools, often your provider should be able to provide all the necessary training for your employees, meanwhile the responsibility for hosting, servicing, and upgrading your services will also fall to the vendor.

Employee benefits
Employees of many businesses have now either worked in part or entirely from home for 12-18 months. It would be easy to assume the return to office will be painless and simple, but in some cases, workers have become used to their new routines, and the benefits brought about by working in such a way.

Saved costs, and the time gained by removing the need to commute, leading in many cases to a better work–life balance through allowing more time for family, friends, and exercise are the most tangible benefit of remote working. However, additionally, many workers cite a greater ability to focus with fewer distractions, IT upskilling and higher levels of motivation as further benefits.

A good hybrid working policy will make it seamless for employees who will likely benefit from these benefits, and for whom a role is suitable for remote work at times. However it is also essential to consider those who are keen to return to the office. Ultimately this will lead to higher levels of employee job satisfaction and reduced absence rates.

Lastly, a hybrid working policy should allow businesses attract new talent, driven to find an employer with flexible working options, or who may otherwise have been geographically unsuitable, or perhaps would not have been able to commit to a full-time commute to an office location.

Challenges to consider
While there are many benefits associated with a hybrid working policy, there are several decisions businesses need to make before implementing. These are everything from how to overcome legal and HR challenges, through to technology related considerations.

From a legal standpoint, if a business is considering formally introducing a policy, there may be contractual updates required for updated policies including, for example, managing travelling and other expenses, IT usage, homeworking, and data protection.

In more human terms there must be thought given to how new policies affect the wellbeing of the most important resource within a business – employees. It is essential that organisations build a culture that is suitable for hybrid working. Managers should develop skills to ensure effective communication, performance management, team and relationship building and collaboration in hybrid teams, while training on any new systems is essential.

With that in mind, how does your technology stack encourage relationship building and collaboration? Does your business use instant messaging or collaboration tools such as Teams to promote ‘ad-hoc’ discussion, and if so, are they setup for online meetings by default and do they also allow employees to make external phone calls from the same system? Considering a unified communications strategy could be central to ensuring many other challenges are easily overcome.

One final challenge for operating hybrid working practices is security. Once outside of a well-protected office network, and instead reliant on their own connectivity, employee devices could be vulnerable to security breaches. This can be easily overcome by implementing suitable IT and mobile policies, and with the implementation of threat defence software, but is important to consider.

Conclusion
Hybrid working can bring commercial and employee benefits when implemented well. Reduced office space and demands on IT and other services can save businesses costs, while cloud migration increases efficiency and agility. Meanwhile reduced time commuting, better work-life balance and increased flexibility can improve well-being for staff.

However, in a hybrid work environment, businesses continuing to rely on their existing technology stacks and business policies may struggle to adapt. Employees need to be able to work seamlessly between workplace and home, and there needs to be ease of connectivity between people in the office and those working remotely. Older solutions may not translate seamlessly into hybrid work environments, while business culture may need to adjust to maximise the new opportunity.

To learn more about how Omni Communications can support a transition to hybrid working, please use the Contact Form below, call us on

0161 507 7999 or email sales@o mnicom.uk

Broadband Switching Becomes Easier

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:05:00 GMT

We all know that switching suppliers is often the route to getting the best possible broadband deal.

But if you’ve been putting off switching because it just seems like too much bother, we’ve got some good news for you – it’s about to get a whole lot easier!

Industry watchdog Ofcom have unveiled new rules that will make it possible to change broadband providers in as little as one day.

Under the terms of their new “One Touch Switch” process you’ll need to contact only your new supplier when you want to make the move.

You won’t have to speak to your existing provider at all – which means you won’t have to face the hard sell or any of the other tactics they use to stop you from leaving.

Ofcom research has shown that some 41% of users are put off switching by the perceived hassle involved. Around a quarter reported obstacles in moving when their old provider tried to convince them to stay.

The new process means that switching can happen much more quickly. If you’re out of contract and moving between Openreach providers, it could take as little as a day.

If you’re moving to or from cable or full fibre, you’re likely to need an engineer to come and hook you up to the network. That will take longer, obviously, although your new supplier will take care of all the details for you.

Under the rules, providers will have to compensate you if something goes wrong during the switch and you’re left without internet access for more than a day. Ofcom have also banned notice-period charges beyond the switch date – although you will still have to pay termination fees if you aren’t out of contract.

Given the size of the changes required, ISPs have been given 18 months to implement them. They must all have the process in place by April 2023, but should start work on implementing it straight away.

If you have questions about broadband switching, Omni Communications are here to help. Contact us via the Contact Form below, call us on

0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

First Telephone Exchange in Europe

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 21:54:00 GMT

On This Day in Telephone History August 21ST 1879 Europe’s First Telephone Exchange, The Telephone Company Ltd, Opened in London. Located at 36 Coleman Street. The Telephone Company Ltd had a capacity for 150 lines and opened with about 8 subscribers. Later in the year, the company also opened telephone exchanges in Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Birmingham […] The post First Telephone Exchange in Europe first appeared on Omni Communications.

How 5g will revolutionise your business?

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 20:13:00 GMT

Despite the negative press around its rollout, 5g is here to stay, and it has major advantages over 4g for business mobile phone users.

Here we outline 5 of the benefits of 5g technology for businesses:

1. Speed – each wireless network generation has reflected a significant increase in speed, and the benefits of 5G push far beyond 4G especially for downloads and uploads, with increases of up to 100x current performance. So if you are downloading a heavy-image report, video or multimedia streaming, there will be a significant improvement in performance.

2. Reduced latency – latency will be 10x less than 5g with remote actions being performed in real time. Have you ever sent a text message and waited 30 seconds for it to be received the other end, or used two factor authentication and wondered where your code was? No more, because communication should be instantaneous as long as your phone is 5g enabled.

3. Better productivity with instant and reliable communications. This will revolutionise remote working with the ability to communicate effectively without calls dropping from your VoIP enabled computer, mobile device, tablet, watch and more.

4. Better capability – 5g will enable hundreds of thousands of devices to be seamlessly communicating with new applications and artificial intelligence connecting the remotest of geographies meaning that the communication matrix is truly 21st century! You will find that you will be able to do more on your mobile as opposed to saving more arduous tasks for your desktop.

5. Real time data will be more accessible;

If you'd like to explore how 5G Broadband services can benefit your business, Omni Communications are here to help. Contact us using the Contact Form below, call us on

0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

20+ Years’ Experience

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 20:12:00 GMT

Our company has a rich experience in telecoms services. We know what our clients need and we are always ready to meet any demand.

The founding members of our team have have experience in providing Telecoms and ISP services with Managed Private Networks, Broadband and WiFi systems utilising the latest technological advances in connectivity.

We have seen a lot of changes in the past twenty plus years. Gone are the days of dial up tones and slow Internet connection. Now we use smart phones, stream video and have numerous ways to connect to both the Internet and the telephone network. VOIP is clearer than ever before with crystal clear call quality to anywhere in the world and the ability to connect campuses miles apart, even those in the remotest of locations.

We are experts in delivering high performance and affordable Voice over IP and Unified Communications services and have the resources to ensure your business meets it's connectivity objectives for your staff and customers. We can also help with your marketing services from websites and mobile apps to effective SEO, Social Media and Paid Advertising Services. Omni Communications truly offer end-to-end business communications services for SME's, Public Sector and Non-profit organisations.

Contact Omni Communications for a no obligation initial consultation to discuss your current situation, objectives and potential solutions and services to address your business needs.

Please use the Contact Form below, call

0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

Is 5G Damaging to Health?

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 11:39:00 GMT

We are all aware of 5G. How can we not be after it was needlessly blamed for the outbreak of Covid by conspiracy theorists far and wide. But is it entirely safe or should we be worried about its introduction?

Omni Communications separate the fact from the myths.

5G works by producing a type of energy called electromagnetic radiation which creates EMF (an electromagnetic field). However, EMF is not new; you get electromagnetic fields from microwaves, scanning equipment and many types of electrical system. 5G does, however, use higher frequencies than previous wireless networks, making it faster and more efficient.

An upgrade is WiFi technology is not new, in fact 5G is just the latest rollout, so the term “5G” stands for “fifth generation.”

5G provides faster mobile communications. This is expected to support the increasing number of electronic devices and services, including virtual reality, driverless cars, remote surveillance systems, telesurgery and more.

So, is 5G damaging to health?

According to the World Health Organisation, research on the use of 5G is limited. There is however an abundance of research on the health effects of electromagnetic fields across the spectrum with varying results.

Some data suggests that EMF can heat tissues, effective cognitive function, cause cancer and affect brain cells, but this research is far from conclusive.

One thing that is certain is that 5G was not responsible for Covid-19 and certainly cannot cause viruses – there is no known study that proves any link between 5G and viral load.

So, 5G is the newest wireless network providing faster mobile communication by producing higher electromagnetic frequencies which may or may not affect health – there is no conclusive scientific study that proves either way.

It has become more and more apparent in recent years that the demand for faster communications and greater capability from our mobile phones and devices is there, and 5G will bring many benefits, especially in the areas of education, health and social care.

Do you have any questions about 5G technology? Contact Omni Communications using the Contact Form below, call

0161 507 7999

or email sales@omnicom.uk

The New Eco Economy

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 21:15:00 GMT

The lockdown has brought about many challenges for UK businesses but also extraordinary benefits for our environment with a realisation that there are greener ways of working.

Companies the world over are starting to question the need for all workers to communte to a central office, their journeys adding unnecessarily to pollution and environmental stress that should and could be avoided.

As eco-systems have started to recover, threatened species have begun to thrive and CO2 emissions have been down by up to 80%, one would hope that the world has taken note and will not be in a hurry to return to our usual working patterns post-pandemic.

Omni Communications has long been an advocate of eco-friendly working practices and Smart Communications are at the forefront of this thinking. Even the remotest of locations can be connected to campuses many miles away and with VOIP technology clearer than ever, the world of business is about to change forever.

If you are looking to connect your remote workers, reach out to your clients and network online by embracing VOIP technology, contact Omni Communications using the form below, call us on 0161 507 7999 or email sales@omnicom.uk

We can also help to source cost effective and sustainable eco-friendly energy contracts to help you meet your green targets along with wifi and broadband solutions that make the most of remote geographical locations and city location alike.

Complete the form below for your free call back.