DSL Telecom - Blog #dsltelecom

Highlights From Zoholics 2023

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:49:12 +0200

August 2023 was a highly anticipated month. Zoho partners and customers were getting ready to attend Zoholics, Zoho's annual user conference.

Zoholics has become an annual calendar event for Zoho partners and customers. Johannesburg and Cape Town Zoholics continue to grow in success every year, while Durban hosted it's first Zoholics this year.

The conference was jammed packed with new Zoho product features, one-on-one sessions with product experts, established guest speakers and fun activities for attendees to take part in.

DSL Telecom attended all three Zoholics events, and our engagement at the event showcased expertise and established DSL Telecom as a trusted premium partner of Zoho.

DSL Telecom's attendance at Zoholics 2023

Throughout all three Zoholics events hosted in South Africa in 2023, DSL Telecom made a meaningful impression.

DSL Telecom was mentioned by the Zoho team in live presentations gradually growing our reach and influence. In addition, our contribution extended during the live Q&A sessions which our team participated in. We also participated in competitions and received prizes which reflected our team's commitment and interest in Zoholics.

Our team's engagement at Zoholics went further than the conference floor. We connected with Zoho partners, customers and the Zoho team itself. The depth of collaboration reflected DSL Telecom's commitment to building relationships that extended beyond Zoholics.

Prizes won at Zoholics 2023

DSL Telecom claimed several prizes that showcased our team's achievements, contributions and commitment towards Zoholics.

Prize for best social media post about event

DSL Telecom's marketing team created a social media post that captured the essence of Zoholics.

Joy Roets

Reagan Petersen

VAR prize

Our team's performance earned DSL Telecom the highest scores in VAR for the Zoholics events. The VAR activity showcased our expertise in product knowledge for Zoho's suite of applications.

Matt Mederer

Calvin Van Rooyen

Hansie Swanepoel

Survey feedback prize

Our team's insightful feedback awarded DSL Telecom the recognition for enhancing the conference experience for future Zoholics events.

Daniella Luiz

Dre Calitz

Hansie Swanepoel

Networking

Our team participated in as many Zoho presentations and Q&A sessions as possible, to absorb new updates and future plans within Zoho's suite of applications.

Receiving positive reviews from clients and other Zoho partners and customers in attendance, reiterated our steady role in their businesses. Acknowledgement from Zoho presenters on DSL Telecom's respected role as a industry leader in South Africa.

Our team's contribution has been enhanced by the new connections formed at Zoholics. The conference served as a platform to start discussions with fellow attendees who engaged with us. We demonstrated commitment to fulfilling current and potential clients' needs with our knowledge and expertise. Our team's engaging presence fostered meaningful connections with numerous existing clients.

What the DSL Telecom team had to say

"I had an incredibly enriching experience at Zoholics Cape Town 2023, particularly in my interactions with the Zoho specialists. The one-on-one workshops were enlightening, allowing me to delve deep into Zoho Books to get more insight on VAT 201 Automation."- Kayla Davis

"I had the opportunity to attend both the Johannesburg and Cape town Zoholics events. It offers a unique setting to engage with both new Zoho users and existing customers as well as build on the relationship we have with the Zoho team themselves."- Matthew Hunt

"Zoholics Cape Town was a fantastic event. The insights gained from the sessions and the networking opportunities were invaluable. I am looking forward to Zoholics South Africa 2024!"- Daniella Luiz

"Personally, the highlight of Zoholics this year was listening to the incredible success stories shared by our clients. Seeing how the Zoho software has significantly contributed to their business growth is amazing."- Lauren Van Vuuren

Zoholics 2023 has armed us with newfound knowledge, allowing us to embrace our role as a trusted partner of Zoho and continue to grow our influence. Our team is looking forward to Zoholics 2024!

DSL Telecom is awarded Zoho Partner of the Year South Africa

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 08:32:08 +0200

We are thrilled to announce that DSL Telecom has been awarded with Zoho Partner of the Year - South Africa 2022 at the Zoho Partner Inspire Event that was held at Zoho's Offices in Cape Town. This title is only earned by businesses that deliver exceptional quality of service to their clients, are industry leaders and offer a unique approach to their service delivery.

Zoho Inspire is a event designed exclusively for Zoho Partners. It provides them with the necessary insights, training and resources that can help scale their business. This events provides a platform to acknowledge the work, commitment and passion of Zoho’s South African partners, who have helped their customers accelerate their digital transformation.

Thank you to our Zoho clients who give us the opportunity to do the work we love. The feedback and support from our clients has been phenomenal. We are incredibly honored to be awarded with this title and we will continue to rock the technology world with world class customer support and solutions in the coming year.

DSL Telecom's Directors posing with the Zoho Partner of the Year - South Africa 2022 Award. (left) Paul Wilson- Technical Director, (middle) Danielle Schreuder - Marketing Director, (right) Dean Schreuder - Managing Director.

Zoho Partner of the Year South Africa 2022 trophy and Certificate of Recognition.

DSL Telecom's Journey with Zoho

We've come a long way with Zoho - from 2013 till now to be exact. And throughout the years, our bond with Zoho has become unbreakable. Here you'll see some of our experiences with Zoho and their amazing workforce - from conferences and Zoholics to training sessions and meetups.

Zoho Cape Town meetup - 2018

Cape Town Zoho CRM Meetup - 2019

Zoholics User Conference - 2019

Cape Town CRM & SalesIQ Meetup - 2019

Cape Town Zoholics - 2021

Cape Town Zoholics - 2022

Cape Town Zoho CRM Meetup - 2019

Zoholics User Conference - 2019

Cape Town CRM & SalesIQ Meetup - 2019

Cape Town Zoholics - 2021

Cape Town Zoholics - 2022

5 Signs It's Time To Sign Up For Zoho Bigin - A Revolutionary CRM Software For Small And Micro Businesses

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 08:32:08 +0200

Managing leads and customers is a given regardless of how small your business is or what industry you're in. But, if you're still using spreadsheets, files crammed with paper records, or multiple folders with saved emails to keep track of your customers' details and order deals, you're wasting valuable time and energy and missing an opportunity to increase your profitability. Luckily for you, we aren't here to only tell you what you are doing wrong, we are here to help. With Zoho's Bigin app, you'll be able to transform your business for the better. In this blog post, we'll be discussing 5 signs that indicate it's time to make the switch to Zoho Bigin and take your business to the next level. From struggling to manage customer information to feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks, we'll cover it all. So, let's dive in!

Zoho Bigin is a pipeline-centric CRM made and priced for small and micro businesses. Its goal is to improve the efficiency of your sales process. Without having to rely on other sources, Zoho Bigin provides all the features you require to run your business. The relationships you have with your customers are improved and your sales process is streamlined, allowing you to close deals effectively and swiftly. With Zoho Bigin, you can customise and manage multiple pipelines, as well as create automated processes for managing daily tasks and planning ahead for the week.

Here are 5 signs that it's time to sign up for a CRM application like Zoho Bigin:

1. You mainly make use of spreadsheets to store data

Spreadsheets are great for simple bookkeeping, storing data, and performing statistical operations. However, you can't run your entire business on spreadsheets. With spreadsheets adding to poor data organisation, and increasingly failing to detect duplicate entries, can cause your team's productivity to take a hit as they struggle to keep up with the admin coming their way.

Zoho Bigin allows you to move beyond spreadsheets with its multi-pipeline feature where you can design different stages for each pipeline and track its progress down to the smallest detail. It allows you to track leads, deals, and opportunities as they move through the pipeline, and provides an overview of the current status of each stage. The pipeline can be customised to match your specific sales process, and deals can be easily moved between stages with a drag and drop interface. It also has a feature for forecasting future sales and generating reports.

2. There is missing information in your customer data

With multiple employees working on various clients' accounts, some information is bound to get lost or be left out. A lack of good data can hinder the growth and development of your business and prevent you from expanding your offering or entering new markets. Accidents are bound to happen in a workplace especially if multiple people are working on the same accounts, at the same time. For example, someone deletes a customer profile because they accidentally clicked on the wrong button, or another person updated the wrong customer's phone number without realising it.

As everything on Zoho Bigin is synced with one another, the chance of something being left out is minimal. You'll be able to work with multiple employees on one account and all edits and updates done by one person will be automatically updated on everyone else's device. Another convenient feature Zoho Bigin has is profile roles. This is set up when you create your profile in Zoho Bigin. This feature creates a hierarchy of the people within your business. It prevents people of a lower ranking to gain access to information such as client accounts, financial statements and other confidential data that you might not want your employees to have easy access to. Zoho Bigin also allows you to have access to your Audit logs which shows you what data was changed by who and at what specific time it was changed.

3. Your data formats are inconsistent

You may have employees working with different data fields that are clashing across departments. This inconsistent approach leads to inadequate and inaccurate customer data. Implementing a CRM system requires consolidating all customer data and transferring internal information to a central location. This can be a challenging task, but it also presents the chance to review current processes, identify areas for improvement and develop a cohesive strategy that aligns with the chosen CRM platform. This not only helps to optimize the CRM, but also improves the overall customer experience.

To make everything easier for the user, Zoho Bigin lets you import your data from various spreadsheets or documents and automatically place it in one format when storing it in the app. After that, you can undo unnecessary imports or just simply delete the records that are no longer needed. It also forces employees to insert data into the same formats as everyone else. This will ensure your data to be more consistent throughout your small business and will help employees be more prepared when dealing with customers.

4. Your customer service needs to be improved

When your customers have to repeat and confirm their details over and over again just to resolve a minor issue, it can be incredibly frustrating - for your staff and customers. In addition, the lack of workplace organisation affects customer satisfaction and promotes a negative image of your business.

Zoho Bigin streamlines customer service by keeping track of recent interactions with each customer, making them easily accessible to all team members, even those working remotely. This eliminates the need for repetitive information sharing and allows for faster, more efficient customer support. Additionally, Zoho Bigin keeps track of which team members are working on specific customer accounts and ensures that data is correctly entered, making it easy to quickly address any issues or improve customer relations. Overall, Zoho Bigin helps to effectively manage your team by eliminating the need to search for misplaced information.

5. You struggle to see how your business is actually performing

CRM data is critical in showing which sales activities generate the most inquiries or result in the most conversions. This information is crucial for determining where to allocate resources and focus efforts in the future Without an effective lead tracking system, businesses may not have a clear understanding of which sales activities are working and which aren't. This can lead to wasted resources, missed opportunities, and poor performance. An adequate CRM software allows businesses to track leads and conversions in real-time and monitor sales team performance, providing insights that allow them to make data-driven decisions.

With Zoho Bigin you can easily track your progress and the performance of your sales people using the wide variety of customisable dashboards. You are also allowed to create your own dashboard and share them with others. Zoho Bigin's dashboard feature allows you to monitor various sales statistics such as deals closed, tasks in progress, revenue generated, as well as internal breakdowns like deal owners and stage population.

Ready, Set, Bigin!

Zoho Bigin can be a new beginning for anyone self-employed, has a small business, or is a freelancer for example hairdressers, plumbers, florists, etc. It doesn't matter how you started, with cramped-up files, spreadsheets, or a cluttered CRM mess. It's always possible to start over. Your employees will learn how to easily navigate themselves within the Zoho Bigin App in a matter of hours.

With a subscription fee as little as R105 /user/month billed annually, you are allowed to create 50,000 records, 3 pipelines, 10 workflows and have access to 10 custom fields or modules designed by our Zoho Implementation team here at DSL Telecom.

Click here to sign up for a free 14-day trial of Zoho Bigin.

Alternatively, click on the button to request a Zoho Bigin demo session with one of our Zoho experts.

Book Your Demo Today

Zoholics South Africa 2022 Event Recap

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 11:47:50 +0200

More than 250 people travelled from across the country to attend the two-day Zoho events in South Africa.

Zoho's annual user conference landed in South Africa on the 28th of November in Johannesburg and the 1st of December in Cape Town. Zoholics is a space where Zoho partners and customers can come together for training on all Zoho products, as well as engage in 1 on 1 sessions with product experts for a deeper understanding of the Zoho suite of apps. The goal behind the conference is to give users the resources and insights needed to take their business or team to the next level.

What went down at Zoholics South Africa

The event spanned over 2 days in Cape Town and 2 days in Johannesburg and was attended by over 250 Zoho customers and partners. By providing two tracks of content throughout the day, attendees could choose which seminars they would like to attend, and there was no shortfall when it came to the amount of valuable information presented by each speaker.

Day One featured a common track with sneak peeks, product announcements, customer case studies, with introductions into hidden features that enhance the user experience and workflow.

Day Two featured a deep-dive into specific Zoho products. With the content track split in two, track 1 focused on Marketing and HR platforms within the Zoho Suite where track 2 focused on the Business Operations and Sales elements.

Presenters

With excitement on everyone's face and an electric atmosphere the events kicked off with the Keynote speech presented by Ali Shabdar, the Regional Director for Zoho Middle East and Africa. There were so many great presenters but two that stood out were Zeeshan Panjwani, who spoke about "Hacking your job" and showcased ways in which hidden features within Zoho software such as the Zoho Annotator ability to take screenshots and record video can come in handy on a daily basis. Remya Nair, speaking on Zoho Creator and the ways in which you can automate your business process was an eye-opening seminar on the many features designed to simplify your life.

Key Takeaways From The Event

Over the course of the event, the ever present theme was automation and how new updates and features will drive the workflow process to a more automated system. Two main takeaways due to this were updates and features in the following areas:

1. Zoho Marketing Automation 2.0

A large update to Zoho Marketing Automation will see all marketing tools gathered under one umbrella for multi channel marketing campaigns. In simple terms this means that if you are looking for a way to manage all your marketing channels and their content you can do so with ease thanks to the new update coming in Q1 of 2023. If you are only focused on social posts or email campaigns you can continue to use them separately.

2. CRM Enhanced Features

The Zoho CRM conversation focused around the enhanced features such as Command Center, Colour Coding and the customers overall interface experience. CRM's command center was built to scale productivity and limit the need for manual engagement. By defining certain actions you can setup automated actions to follow when the criteria are met. Colour Coding was also mentioned in terms of generating a better user experience with the interface. Zoho users are able to colour code their panels and taskbar to suit their requirements.

DSL Telecom's Zoho Customer Presentations

DSL Telecom's Zoho Software clients RenEnergy and DPO Paygate presented testimonials on how Zoho attributed to the success of their daily operations. RenEnergy uses over 20 Zoho Software Applications but the core products they use are Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and Zoho Inventory.

" DSL Telecom has been able to support us immensely, just because of their industry knowledge, subject matter and expertise. "

- Raphael Devantier, the Chief Operating Officer at RenEnergy

We appreciate the acknowledgement as a Zoho Premium Partner to deliver on their Zoho software needs. It's awesome to hear how our clients benefit from the hard work and high level of service we aim to deliver each and everyday

Some snapshots from the Zoholics 2022 event

What's next for Zoho

Towards the end of the event, Zoho pulled back the curtain on their roadmap showcasing all the exciting applications and events that are coming up within the next year. One of these exciting announcements is a Zoholics Event in Durban that will be happening in August of 2023, this comes after plans were mentioned of Zoho opening offices right here in Johannesburg South Africa within the first quarter of 2023.

All in all, Zoholics South Africa was a big success and we can't wait for Zoholics 2023 next year. If you are interested in Zoho software to level up your business, contact us here: https://www.dsltelecom.co.za/contactus

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Everything you need to know about 5G

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 13:58:54 +0200

Recently, 5G has started taking the world by storm. But just how does it differ from 4G? The superfast fifth-generation mobile network, most commonly referred to as 5G, is a mobile internet connection that promises next-level coverage, usage and reliability. To put it in perspective, downloading a movie on 4G takes 50 minutes — while, on 5G, it takes only 9 minutes. Here we'll take a look at 5G internet in more detail and learn how it can improve our lives. Essentially, if there's anything you've wanted to know about 5G wireless technology, we've got you covered.

So What Exactly Is 5G?

5th generation wireless (5G) is the latest advancement in cellular technology. It was engineered to vastly increase the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks. With 5G LTE, data transmitted over wireless connections can travel at multigigabit speeds as high as 20 Gbps. Multi-gigabit (multi-gig) Internet is a network connection with speeds greater than 1 Gbps. Multi-gig Internet connections used to be very rare but are becoming more widely available in many areas.

That means quicker downloads, much lower lag and a significant impact on how we live, work and play. 5G speed and other connectivity benefits are expected to make businesses more efficient and give consumers access to more information faster than ever before. Connected cars, smart stadiums and advanced gaming - they all will rely on 5G networks.

How Does 5G Work?

Wireless communications systems use radio frequencies (also known as spectrum) to carry information through the air. 5G LTE operates in the same way, but uses higher radio frequencies that are less cluttered. This allows for it to carry more information at a much faster rate.

Like other cellular networks, 5G networks use a system of cell sites that divide their territory into sectors and send encoded data through radio waves. Each cell site must be connected to a network backbone, whether through a wired or wireless backhaul connection. 5G wireless technology changes the way data is encoded, and offers many more options to carriers in terms of airwaves to use.

The Main Differences Between Previous Generations & 5G

As the next generation of wireless technology, 5G internet differs significantly from previous generations. While earlier networks were designed to connect people to people and the internet, 5G technology is expanding the range of entities that communicate even more widely. It connects things with people, the internet and other things.

First generation - 1G: 1980s: 1G delivered analogue voice and could only be used for voice calls.

Second generation - 2G: Early 1990s: 2G introduced digital voice but we still use many fundamental services today such as SMS, MMS, international roaming, call hold, billing, conference calls and long distance calls.
Third generation - 3G: Early 2000s: 3G brought mobile data and is used in many more applications like the sharing of digital photos, movies and high-quality voice and video calls.
Fourth generation: 4G: 2010s: 4G lead the way in the era of mobile broadband, supporting speeds up to 100Mbps and high-quality streaming capabilities.

1G, 2G, 3G and 4G all led to 5G, which is designed to provide more connectivity than was ever available before.

With its high speeds, superior reliability and negligible latency, 5G will expand the mobile ecosystem into new realms.

What Are The Key Benefits Of 5G?

Higher Speed

One of the major pros of 5G technology is its ability to work faster on cellular and other devices. Unlike its predecessors - 2G, 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE, where downloading movies, videos and music and streaming services would have taken hours, with 5G technology these tasks become much easier with downloading taking only a few seconds. Moreover, one sector where the 5G technology will add value is the global booming gaming industry, according to experts. For the gamer, this means super-fast downloads and uploads, glitch-free multiplayer video games, live streaming and real-time gaming.

Lower Latency

Compared to earlier technologies, 5G technology has an incredibly low latency which makes it easier to support other new-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and virtual reality, which is another major advantage of 5G technology. Furthermore browsing is made easier and this improves the user experience.

Improved Bandwidth

With increased bandwidth, 5G technology provides seamless transfer of data, which boosts the connectivity amongst devices and the overall user experience. Moreover, the technology provides users with a seamless transition of services between cellular devices and wireless wi-fi, thus improving performance.

Less Tower Congestion & Increased Capacity

Often 4G cellular networks get congested which results in various problems while we try and access important data.

5G networks on the other hand will allow users to avoid such problems due to improved speed and more bandwidth. 5G uncapped has the ability to deliver up to 100 times more capacity than 4G which means users will be able to access the internet with greater efficiency.

How Fast Is 5G?

With 5G technology, data transmitted over wireless broadband connections can travel at multigigabit speeds with potential peak speeds as high as 20Gbps. 5G is designed to reach speeds of up to 10 times faster than 4G and works best at average speeds of 150-200Mbps. By comparison, 4G works at average speeds of 23-35Mbps.

For example, a full HD film could be downloaded in less than 3 minutes on a 5G network, as opposed to around 15 on a 4G network. Now that's fast!

How Do Consumers Benefit From 5G?

The average consumer uses close to 11 GB of data per month on their smartphone. This is driven by explosive growth in video traffic as mobile is increasingly becoming the source of media and entertainment, as well as the massive growth in always-connected cloud computing and experiences.

4G completely changed how we consume information. In the past decade we have witnessed rapid changes in the mobile app industry around services such as video streaming, ride sharing, food delivery and more.

5G will expand the mobile ecosystem to new industries. This will contribute to cutting-edge user experiences such as boundless extreme reality (XR), seamless IoT capabilities, new enterprise applications, local interactive content and instant cloud access, to name a few.

5G will also support new services for South African consumers, like online augmented and virtual reality gaming and UHD streaming.

How Do Businesses Benefit From 5G?

With high data speeds and superior network reliability, 5G is already having a tremendous impact on businesses across the world and in South Africa too. The benefits of 5G LTE will enhance the efficiency of businesses while also giving users faster access to more information.

Depending on the industry, some businesses can make full use of 5G capabilities, especially those needing the high speed, low latency, and network capacity that 5G wireless technology is designed to provide.

The next-generation network is tipped to open up new opportunities for smart cities, businesses, healthcare, manufacturing and autonomous vehicles.

For example, in the manufacturing industry, 5G offers manufacturers the chance to build smart operations and take advantage of technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality for troubleshooting and the internet of things. Manufacturing makes up close to 12% of South Africa’s GDP, and there’s a solid case to make regarding the value of 5G in transforming South African business models.

To Conclude

There's no doubt that with 5G, the future of connectivity is here. 5G is a game changer and will continue to shake up the world of technology for many years to come. To find out more about the latest 5G internet deals, speak to one of our 5G experts today.

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PBX Systems explained in simpler terms

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 12:55:40 +0200

PBX systems are ever changing and adjusting to fit into the modernised world we currently live in. Covid played a massive role in the PBX revolution that occurred the past few years. We went from using landlines and desk phones to only relying on our cellphones/laptops. Business communications are a fundamental part of a business and without the correct equipment, a business will suffer greatly. That is why many businesses make sure that they invest in the correct PBX system that works well with their business.

If you aren't sure what PBX stands for and what exactly it is, you are not alone. In this blog, we'll discuss all the ins and outs of PBX systems and how they have help enhance today's mobile workforce.

PBX systems in the earlier days

To put it in simple words, PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange. A PBX system is a private telephone network that is mainly used within a business setting and it allows users to talk to each other, internally or externally. This means that the employees can communicate with each other by calling each other via their extension number or they can call external parties such as clients, prospective clients and other stakeholders involved in the business.

Traditionally, PBX systems operated through physical handsets that are connected by multiple cables. This means that if a business has hundreds of employees, they would need hundreds of separate lines to connect everyone with each other. Those hundreds of lines are connected to a literal "box-on-the-wall" that can be located on the business's premises. The business is then being billed by their local phone company for the use of all these lines, just to have their employees talk to each other. Paying for hundreds of individual phone lines is obviously not cost effective and it can spiral into an absolute nightmare, for both the customer and the business, when not maintained properly.

How PBX systems improved ever since

Now adays PBX systems are referred to as Cloud PBX systems. Don't be scared of by word "cloud". The principle stays the same but the network through which it runs changes. Instead of working through hundreds of cables, this system works through the internet. While traditional PBX systems use the "box-on-the-wall" method, Cloud PBX systems use the cloud. (The cloud is mega servers located in other countries but you can think of it as the data is being stored in the air) By using the cloud, it dramatically reduces the business's running costs.

The diagram above roughly shows how Cloud PBX systems works. It uses your broadband connection to connect your devices to the cloud and in this 'cloud' there is a system that acts the same as the "box-on-the-wall".

Cloud Phone systems (voice calling) is an essential component of unified communications (along side messaging and web conferencing). These 3 components aren't the only components that make up unified communications but they are the most important. A Cloud PBX system essentially turns any device with internet access into a potential telephone. And with unified communications, you'll be able to use one device to to do multiple tasks at once including: voice/ video calling, emails, file sharing, messaging and more.

So in short, Unified communications includes the following:

Unified communications in a workplace

Unified Communications makes overall communication within a workplace easier and more reliable and it helps to drive greater collaboration between team members. Virtual collaboration is essential to the digital workforce and Unified Communications can help any business to level up in many ways.

Unified Communications does have quite a few advantages you can benefit from.

For the most part, it encourages you to participate in real-time communication with customers, employees and co-workers through your preferred channels. It allows you to make or receive unlimited calls with other app users and you don’t have to install an additional app to be able to use it (these calls can be either video or voice calls). This feature will ensure that your team can stay in touch at all times, no matter where they are. Along with this, Unified Communications also allow for screen sharing while on a call or when presenting at a visual/ audio conference. It is easier to show your team members what you mean instead of a long verbal description.

To summarise the differences between On-site traditional PBX and modern Cloud PBX.

Now that we've looked at how Unified Communications are integrated in PBX systems, we should recap the different PBX systems.

On-Site traditional PBX systems	Cloud PBX systems
Uses copper cables to connect.	Uses the internet to make and receive calls.
Restricted to one location.	Flexible in terms of location.
High setup and maintenance cost.	More cost-effective.
On-Premises hardware installation.	No on-site hardware.
Only allows for voice calling.	Allows for voice and video calling .

On- site PBX
On-Premises hardware installation. Uses copper cables to connect. High setup and maintenance cost. Restricted to one location.

Cloud PBX
No on-site hardware. Uses the internet to make and receive calls. More cost-effective. Flexible in terms of location.

It is time to upgrade your PBX System

The way we work has changed so much in the past few years. The question is: Shouldn’t your PBX system keep up with you? The DSL Telecom's Cloud Phone System will reduce costs and help you and your teams connect with any device, from anywhere, even on the go with all the latest Unified Communications features.

DSL Telecom

Cloud PBX System

Schedule Your Free Demo

DSL Telecom Cloud Phone System

Schedule Your Free Demo

What is a softphone? An inside look at softphones and why you need them in your business

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:30:00 +0200

More and more businesses have or are transitioning to hybrid working. This means it is essential for businesses to adapt to newer communications solutions. Businesses in South Africa are now installing softphones for their convenient features and ease of use to improve communication with remote employees and clients.

So, what is a softphone? A softphone is essentially a software-based interface that acts as a telephone. It allows you to make, receive, and manage calls on any hardware device that utilises this type of software.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about softphones for business - what is a softphone? Is it different from any other business phone? What can you do with it, and how will it benefit your business?

What is a softphone?

You’ve probably used a softphone-type interface without realising it. Zoom or Zoho Meeting are popular softphone examples that many businesses have recently used, when going remote in 2020.

A business softphone is actually not a desk phone or any other physical device, it is a software application that is installed on a connected device. It can be installed on desktops and mobile devices, so in short softphones allow you to make telephone calls without an actual telephone.

Softphone app users will be able to access all the same features as a hard phone, including making calls, receiving calls, setting up call forwarding, voicemail and more. It features all the buttons you might expect a business phone to have.

How does a softphone work?

It's really quite simple, a softphone app typically runs on hardware such as a PC, smartphone, tablet, or computer. To place VoIP calls, establishing a connection via the internet to a physical device is necessary. So, all you need is a device with speakers and a microphone, along with an internet connection.

The softphone app opens in the same way as a regular smartphone’s touchpad. Once you open the program to load the softphone, you can use the touchscreen or a mouse to dial a number and make calls. A softphone app includes a dial pad and features such as hold, mute, and call transfer.

The softphone app converts your voice into a digital signal and carries it to the receiver’s end on a call using integrated technology. You can speak through the softphone app just like a regular telephone if it’s on your smartphone. Alternatively, you can conduct calls from a computer through a headset.

Even though your softphone service is a web-based application, it can be affiliated with a real telephone number, complete with a local area code if desired. This means your softphone is completely accessible to landline-based phones too. If you're switching from a landline service to a cloud-based option, you can keep your current number through a process called porting, whereby numbers are transferred between carriers with minimal downtime.

A reputable provider, like DSL Telecom will ensure that setting up your softphone is quite simple. Ideally, your softphone app will be installed and operational in just a few minutes.

Call features that will make your life easier

Now that you know what a softphone does let’s explore the innovative features that you get with a business softphone.

- Presence - Employee presence enables you to see the availability of your employees: Available, Away, Do not disturb, Lunch break or Business trip. This real time visibility enables employees to avoid missing calls or call transfers which makes production run a lot smoother.

- CRM integration - The CRM integration between Yeastar and Zoho is an easy click to call and call logging action. You can integrate with Zoho One, Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail and Zoho Recruit. You can click on any number to make an out bound call straight from Zoho. You can also display inbound callers information as a pop-up on the CRM. This integration allows for a smoother flow rather than switching between different applications.

- Voicemail - The voicemail feature allows you to record, upload or write the script for a customised message to greet calls when you're away, busy or on another call.

- Call recording - This feature is an easy way to confirm details, monitor quality and guide training sessions, instead of trying to write all the relevant information down or remember it without making any notes, it's a feature that you simply click whilst on a call.

- Google Chrome extension - Linkus softphone users who install the Yeastar Linkus for Google Chrome Extension on Chrome browsers can automatically click to dial any valid phone number that appears on their web browser.

- Transfer to any extension - Extensions allow users to make and receive calls within the company. You can add extensions to every employee in your company. This feature makes it easier to quickly make a call, transfer a call, add a user to a conference call or do an attended transfer rather than searching for their name or dialing a ring group.

- Speed Dial- Sometimes you may just need to call someone quickly without having to look up his/her phone number. You can do so by simply defining a shortcut number. You can use the Speed Dial feature to place a call by pressing a reduced number of keys. This feature helps to optimise your time quickly and efficiently.

- IVR - IVR uses voice prompts to provide callers with instructions and directions for accessing information via phone. When users call into the PBX IVR, the users would operate by following the IVR prompt instructions. The PBX system has one default IVR prompt, but you can switch out the IVR prompts to various different audio files, example closing times during the festive season or which extensions to dial for the department that you want to get into contact with.

- Ring group -Ring groups are phone extensions grouped together in order to perform functions such as ringing multiple numbers simultaneously or in a specific order. The benefit of setting ring groups is having the ability to group extensions based on company departments and setting ring strategies accordingly.

Pros of using a softphone

Significant cost savings

Save up to 50% over traditional phone systems and cut costs with low per second billing VoIP rates. Softphones relieve you from the financial burden of having to purchase or lease many physical phones and the lack of equipment eliminates most future maintenance costs.

Efficiency of resources

Softphones save you from the hassle of needing to install and configure your old traditional phones. Leveraging your already owned computer hardware to migrate to a new phone system means no need to buy new phone, new wiring or new hardware to maintain. It also frees up space on your desk and eliminates wires, plugs and power cords.

Phone lines are no longer required

Softphones use internet bandwidth, therefore there is no need to install a dedicated phone line as you once did with a traditional phone. You can also add as many workstations as you want without worrying about the cost of phone lines.

Portability & Mobility

As long as users are connected to the internet on their computer or mobile device, they can install the softphone app and use every feature. Business communication does not need to stop just because you have left the office. You can work anywhere at anytime.

Ease of use and quick setup

Softphones save you from the hassle of needing to install and configure your old traditional phones. You also don't need to worry about the wiring you once did with traditional landline phone systems as in most cases all you need is a dedicated microphone and speaker. All employees need to do is bring their own device and simply install the app on their chosen smart phone and then they can work from anywhere they need to at any given time.

Cons of using a softphone

Although there are many benefits of a softphone over hard phone technology there can also be a few potential drawbacks to consider when considering hard phones vs softphones.

The biggest issue with a softphone is that your ability to make and receive calls is completely dependent on your internet connection. That means that power outages, storms, or simply your current bandwidth will impact audio quality and overall availability.

In conclusion

In conclusion when you choose softphones for your business, you’re making a wise choice to upgrade your communications. Softphones have everything you need of a traditional desk phone but with integrated functions that level up everyday interactions in a virtual world.

A softphone app is a cost-effective, portable program that can cement communication gaps and support productivity anytime, anywhere.

Do you want a free softphone demo?

See how the DSL Telecom Cloud PBX and softphones can benefit your business, with a free 15-min online or in-person demonstration session

Get My Demo

Satellite internet explained and why it's important for remote areas in South Africa

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 08:12:21 +0200

What is satellite internet?

Satellite internet is wireless internet beamed down from satellites orbiting the earth. It’s a lot different from land-based internet services like Fibre, LTE, Microwave and ADSL. Since it’s the only internet service that’s available nationwide, satellite internet is often the only way to get online for many rural homes and businesses in South Africa. Satellite is also one of the most reliable connectivity services and as such is used as a primary or redundant service in serviced and un-serviced areas.

How does satellite internet work?

Satellite internet works by using radio waves to communicate with satellites orbiting the earth. Data is sent and retrieved through a communication network that starts with your device and travels through your modem and satellite dish, out to a satellite in space, then back to earth to ground stations known as network operations centres (NOC). And then, data travels back through this network—out to space and then back to your satellite dish on earth—to deliver data on your device.

Satellite internet uses a five-part relay system:

Internet-ready device
Modem
Satellite dish
Satellite in space
Network Operating Centre

Let's take a closer look at these 5 parts:

Satellite in space

Roughly 36 000 kilometres above the earth's surface, satellites used in traditional satellite internet service hover over the equator. They rotate with the planet, so the signal relay stays consistent. This is called a geostationary or geosynchronous orbit. This allows for two-way data communication between your dish and the Network operations centre.

Which satellite service provider is the best in South Africa?

We at DSL Telecom can highly recommend YahClick from Vox which is a cutting-edge, Ka-band satellite service provisioned through high-throughput satellite that delivers rapid broadband connectivity to remote homes and businesses with limited or no internet access. Ideal for farms and organisations such as schools, mines and financial institutions in rural communities. For people living in rural areas, satellite internet is a good option because most of the time, it's their only option.

YahClick's satellite service is wide-reaching and available throughout South Africa, except for small areas in the Northern Cape and North West Province. Plus, the package pricing is fair, starting at R999 per month for an internet-only service and R1220.36 per month for an internet and voice service.

For temporary installations, like festivals and conferences, there is also the option to rent a transportable self-searching satellite unit (YahClick Go).

To learn more about uncapped satellite internet packages, click here 👇

Learn More

To see if you are covered for any other internet solutions, click here

How to track your Vox product or service order

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 16:29:22 +0200

Here you can find out how to track your Vox product or service order by following these 5 easy steps on the Vox Customer Portal:

Step 1: Navigate to the Vox Customer Portal - customer.vox.co.za

Here's how to access the Vox Customer Portal

Step 2:Access your account by Signing In with your mobile number that you initially signed up with.

Step 3: A 6 digit OTP will be sent to the mobile number that you signed in with. This is to verify and authenticate your login to protect your personal account details. Enter the 6 digit code to access your account details.

Step 4: Select ''My Orders'' and click on the order that you would like to track status of. The status will either display as ''In Progress'' or ''Complete''.Once logged in to the portal, navigate to Orders & Docs where you will see all your outstanding and completed orders.

Step 5: Select ''My Orders'' and click on the order that you would like to track status of. The status will either display as ''In Progress'' or ''Complete''.

Track My Vox Order

For more information about DSL Telecom, visit www.dsltelecom.co.za

DSL Telecom Believes Everyone Deserves Fast, Reliable Fibre Internet

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:49:30 +0200

Here at DSL Telecom we believe in connecting our customers with the best suited internet connection that will satisfy their daily internet connectivity needs. Whether you're streaming movies on Netflix, jamming out to the latest songs on Spotify, working from home, playing your favourite online game on your Xbox or streaming YouTube videos, your internet speed definitely matters and having a reliable internet connection is key to strong and consistent internet speeds. DSL Telecom is the largest Vox business partner in SA and the largest post-paid Telkom dealer in the country, which means we can provide you with faster, better internet at a fair price.

Why installing a super-fast fibre network in your residential area is vital:

Fibre installation lead times have gone from fast to superfast and is becoming the new normal for residential areas and is essential for smarter living. The COVID-19 pandemic opened South Africa's eyes in terms of expanding the connectivity landscape, emphasizing the fact that the speed and capacity of broadband are essential to supporting the home workforce as well as satisfying the growing demand for safer and smarter homes.

Many residential areas are moving away from copper due to an increase of theft and performance limitations, it's an old technology that communities are moving away from and therefore increasing the need for a reliable communication infrastructure such as fibre internet, which is not only reliable but can also be deployed faster.

Fibre coverage is quickly growing on South Africa's map as it is more reliable, more cost effective and can be deployed rapidly in live for fibre areas. There are many reason why homeowners in South Africa are quickly realising the importance of a fast and reliable internet connection and this helps in terms of increasing fibre coverage across South Africa's map, the bigger the demand, the bigger the coverage.

Here's why we believe you should choose fibre with DSL Telecom

Fibre internet gives you fast speeds: This is important for productivity at home, especially if your work depends on publishing and exchanging large data files or videos online.

Fully reliable: Uptime and data transmission with fibre optic cables is the most consistent, stable and reliable connectivity option. Cabled fibre promises much higher bandwidth, minimal electromagnetic interferences and fewer potential connection interruptions.

Smooth & consistent signal: Fibre internet signal strength stays consistent over distance while xDSL or copper signals can degrade. Large businesses, organisations or building complexes are great candidates for strong and consistent internet signal strength because of this.

Zero throttling of internet speeds: Fibre internet speed doesn't throttle because it's less susceptible to overload. At peak times, your ISP may lower you speed from 100Mbps to 20 or lower to ration their service.

The smart home of tomorrow, today.

Most people, if asked to list their internet connected devices, would likely mention their smartphones, laptops and tablets. In the technology world that we live in today, there are more and varied devices that need a strand of our bandwidth. This easily includes thermostats, light bulbs, TV's, doorbells and CCTV systems. Our homes are no longer just brick and electrical, our homes are becoming increasingly smart and connected.

As we add an increasing number of devices in our home, they start chipping away at our available bandwidth and those devices add up quickly, especially in bigger households.

The more connected devices we bring into our homes the higher our internet standards become, there is no point in having all these smart devices if you can barely use it due to little or no bandwidth.

So when your looking for the ultimate solution in connectivity, when compromise isn't an option and when you need the connected home of tomorrow today, then your home needs a fibre line connection.

So you're convinced that your home needs fibre, this is how to easily connect to

fibre internet:

But first, you'll need to check your Fibre coverage

You will need to check if your area is fibre ready and if your address is covered for fibre. You can check if you are covered for Vox fibre here: www.coveragecheck.co.za

Once you have checked your Telkom fibre coverage and you would like to speak to a sales specialist to sign up you can click here: www.uncappedfibre.co.za

Determine how much fibre internet speed you need?

How many Mbps do you really need from your fibre line for your household to game, stream and download seamlessly.

Choosing the best fibre package that fits your budget

DSL Telecom offers many packages for you to choose from and we have a fully trained team of sales professionals that can assist you in getting the best suited package for your internet connectivity needs, that is also best suited to your budget. Click here to view the different FNO and ISP fibre internet deals that you may be covered for:

Vox fibre Vox Frogfoot fibre deals Vox Vuma fibre deals Vox Openserve fibre deals Vox Octotel fibre deals	Telkom fibre: Telkom Openserve fibre deals Telkom Vuma fibre deals Telkom Frogfoot fibre deals Telkom Link Afrika fibre deals

Vox fibre
Vox Frogfoot fibre deals
Vox Vumatel fibre deals
Vox Octotel fibre deals

Vox Openserve fibre deals

Telkom fibre:
Telkom Openserve fibre deals
Telkom Vumatel fibre deals
Telkom Frogfoot fibre deals
Telkom Link Afrika fibre deals

What's next? Get connected to fibre

We will schedule your fibre internet installation will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for you. The fibre internet installation will involve running the fibre cable from the fibre box on your boundary wall into your home, once this has been completed your fibre network operator will come to your property to install an ONT (optical network terminal). The fibre internet Installation can take anywhere between 2 – 4 hours. Once your fibre line has been installed, your fibre router will be scheduled for delivery and your fibre line will be tested to ensure you are getting exactly the fibre line speeds that you expected. That's it, its a quick and seamless process and if you sign up with us today you can be up and running in no time, to a fast reliable and stable internet connection that you deserve.

Don't wait for tomorrow, click here to check your fibre coverage today: www.coveragecheck.co.za