The Business Review - March 2021

communication with other team members. Additionally, business owners need to provide them central access to data, with responsible levels of cybersecurity on the network. A remote team means more exposure to the network, but it also brings more flexibility than ever before. A full transition to this means that the business

won’t be interrupted further by additional

restrictions/lockdowns. 2. Hybrid Workplace – The majority of businesses

Businesses owners need to consider how to adhere and accommodate various safety measures to ensure compliance and worker safety.

and to ensure that office calls are properly routed to cell phones when team members are out-of-the-office. Secondly, no matter which workplace environment an SMB finds themself operating from, the team needs to be able to collaborate effectively. Businesses are well aware that solutions like Microsoft Teams exist, but they need to maximize these tools by customizing them to achieve business outcomes. Lastly, every single workplace environment needs to be kept secure. For in-person strategies, this means secure access points, with tech like body temperature scanners to ensure illnesses cannot spread. For remote workplaces, this means that the cybersecurity precautions have to be considered because generally speaking, home networks pose much higher risks than office environments. “We are currently meeting with customers and depending on what they want to achieve in 2021, we are devising custom technology plans to help them accomplish their strategic goals,” added Whiteley. “This is what leaders do, they step up and lead in times of uncertainty. We are using our expertise to provide structure and clarity so that businesses can continue to thrive. Technology just happens to be our particular expertise but this effort is about honoring our responsibility to the business community at large.” n

believe that this will be the most likely scenario in 2021. Over the past year, companies have cycled through lockdowns, partial openings and full reopenings depending on health risk factors. If a business owner wants to plan for this they will need to consider ways to secure entrances/ exits/access points with things like body temperature scanners or touchless door access controls. They also benefit significantly from tools like cloud voice with call forwarding, to make transitions seamless when staff migrate from the office to remote work environments. In order for hybrid to work, remote technology needs to be secure and seamless, while workers/customers need to feel safe in-person. 3. In-Person (w/Social Distancing) Workplace – For a minority of businesses, all activities are dependent on the physical location remaining open. For these businesses, owners need to consider how to adhere and accommodate various safety measures to ensure compliance and worker safety. Regardless of which workplace environment is most likely, there are three critical aspects that must be addressed within any workplace interaction strategy to ensure success. The first is that employees need access to cloud voice to keep team members in constant communication

ABOUT TouchPoint Networks Gary Gonzalez and his business partners Chuck Whiteley and Tamara Gonzalez, are owners of TouchPoint Networks, a member of the Technology Assurance Group (TAG). TouchPoint has built a team of professional voice and data specialists dedicated to the highest levels of customer support. TouchPoint’s pattern of steady growth reflects their commitment to keeping pace with the constantly evolving telecommunications technology arena, and the dramatic expansion of the Pacific Northwest’s business market. With offices located along the I-5 Corridor in Portland, Eugene, and Medford, TouchPoint Networks is uniquely positioned to respond quickly and effectively to a wide range of customer equipment and service requirements. For more info on TouchPoint Networks, please visit asktouchpoint.com.

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March 2021 | The Business Review

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