ATSI Blog

Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology that allows computers and robots to "think" and make decisions beyond their programming, is much more than just a fad. This technology will displace more than 500,000 jobs in the next two years, according to Forbes magazine, and a recent McKinsey & Company study found that more than half of today's jobs will be redundant by 2055. There are few places where this is more apparent than in the IT industry. AI is clearly changing the landscape of IT departments around the globe. However, while AI may be responsible for shifting workers, it is also opening opportunities for those in the IT industry.

When was the last time you upgraded your phone system? 7 years ago? 10 years ago? Or was it so long ago you’re not quite sure? Your aging phone system may be costing more than you think. Not only do you have higher resource costs, higher maintenance costs, infrastructure costs – you also have outdated features, limited mobility capabilities, and fragmented applications and tools. The total costs of not having a unified communications solution to support your business and your customers is likely dragging your organization down.

You’ve realized that your current phone system is no longer working for your growing business.  So you do what any savvy business person does – you research your options. And you quickly comprehend that what you need is a phone system that will minimize disruptions to your business and integrate with your current custom applications, all at a reasonable cost. Most importantly, you want to be able to control how you use, manage and pay for the phone system over the long term. It might be time to consider a telephone platform that gives you total control in three critical manners.  

As the needs of today’s business become increasingly complex, so do the jobs of network and systems administrators. When designing their organization’s IT architecture, they must consider the need for security, redundancy and uptime, not to mention the impact of business process applications such as ERP and CRMon servers and phone systems.  

For many small and medium-sized businesses, finding a balance between growth and budget is challenging. They need to make the most of everything they have: people, resources and money. Usually, the winning equation includes finding ways to work smarter and faster – without degrading their decision-making abilities or burning out employees.

Although the adoption of cloud phones is on the rise, many businesses still choose to keep their traditional desk phones. At first glance, this may seem surprising, but it makes more sense when you consider the diversity of office environments used in the business world today. For some organizations, a cloud-only approach best suits their needs. Others find a mixed environment is optimal.

Not that long ago, businesses used online video in a limited number of ways. Its high cost and low quality made it a less-than-desirable solution for team meetings, and before high-definition cameras became common on mobile devices, it was simply impractical for a worker to try video-messaging a colleague.

Growth – that most desirable of outcomes – can be a double-edged sword. As a company increases in size and becomes more complex, the systems and processes that once supported its workforce may begin to seem inadequate. Pressure points emerge: To accommodate more clients, you need to invest in more powerful business applications and tools. Yet, to do so increases the costs and complicates your choices. To maintain profitability, you need both cutting-edge programs and high-quality talent – often on a shoestring budget.  

Customer service is now more important than ever for businesses of all industries.  Thanks to social media, one bad experience can turn into a brand management nightmare that erodes customer loyalty and turns business away.  With so many competitive businesses to choose from today, customers now often make their final selection based solely on the customer service reviews.

It’s a Monday afternoon. Calls are rolling in, there are countless voicemails to respond to, and business is humming along. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Courtney the sales manager knocks on your door with a perplexed look on her face.