How Business Communications Have Changed in Recent Years

December 18, 2024

Some businesses spend entirely too much on their communication tools, while others spend entirely too little. But it’s not easy to nail down communication in any case. Today, we want to help you explore some of the tools out there.

Voice over IP and Conferencing Tools

The hard truth is that traditional phone companies have not kept up with the times… or today’s technology.

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, can help fill the void by using your Internet to power a phone system. The best part is that you take advantage of all of the features (plus more) for a lower cost than your typical phone solutions. With call forwarding, voicemail, call routing, video chat, instant messaging, and conference calling, there’s no shortage of ways VoIP can enrich your business communications.

Not only is VoIP affordable, but it’s also dynamic enough to adapt to your business’ changing needs.

Email Solutions

All businesses use email to a certain extent, but their needs might vary.

While some companies might be able to get away with the features provided by free email services, they often lack the security to be useful for transferring sensitive information. You can take advantage of professional business email services, hosted either by a provider or on your own email server, to resolve this challenge. We recommend you host your own server if you’re concerned about security.

Most modern email solutions come with encryption and other smart features powered by artificial intelligence, upping the value proposition considerably.

Messaging and Collaboration Features

Regardless of the tools you pick, you’ll want your team to be able to work together.

Modern solutions use the cloud to bridge the gap between employees so they can be more productive, whether they’re in the same room or in different locations. Software developers understand the value this presents, so they’re always adding new features that allow businesses to be more productive with their solutions. Some apps have built-in instant messaging, project management, and integration tools that can help you ensure teamwork is as easy as possible.

Remember, though… tools are only useful if your team knows how to use them, so take some time to train your employees on best practices and company policies so they can be productive with your new solutions.

Need a hand with acquiring the right tools for the job? First Column IT can help. Learn more by calling us today at (571) 470-5594.

‍

“Find” the Secrets Behind the Ctrl +F and Ctrl + G Keyboard Shortcuts

The Ctrl + F keyboard shortcut is incredibly useful, especially when you need to find specific text on a page… but did you know it is capable of so much more than that? Today, we want to go over some specific use cases for this keyboard shortcut and how you can use them in Google Docs and Microsoft Word.

June 18, 2025

Transform Your IT from a Money Pit to an Asset

Many businesses are under the impression that their IT, despite being a necessary cost, is just that: a bottomless pit for the company’s hard-earned money. However, this impression could be a sign that the business is not utilizing its technology effectively. Let’s look at three signs that your organization might need to reconsider its relationship with IT spending and how they contribute to your company’s overall impressions of IT (as well as its productivity).

June 16, 2025

Use the MACH Architecture Framework to Plan Your Business’ Future

Businesses tend to strive for agility, meaning that they want to make changes quickly and effectively as their needs change. Technology often holds them back from making these changes. You can bypass this roadblock through the MACH architecture framework, a way to build a flexible, scalable, and future-ready IT infrastructure to suit your business’ needs.

Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog