Small business, big hurdles: Exploring the communication challenges of SMBs

This is a guest post by JustCall

Running a small business online means juggling phone calls, emails, and social media messages daily. Customers inquire about products, and it's challenging to keep up. Such small businesses account for a major percentage of all businesses in the US and employ almost half of the private workforce. Despite their crucial role, countless small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners feel overlooked and underserved by communication platforms designed for large enterprises. Let’s dive deeper into the struggles and their potential solutions.

What communication issues do SMBs face?  

SMBs encounter various challenges in their communication strategies that hinder productivity and growth. Here are some common issues.

Fragmented communication channels  

With emails pouring in, website chat buzzing, and social media messages pinging in, vital messages can slip by unnoticed. This leads to delayed responses and a disjointed customer experience.

High communication costs  

Imagine a local bakery with fans from all over the world. Every month, their phone bills for talking to these international customers are really high, making it hard for them to keep their business healthy. This becomes an even bigger problem for any business trying to tap into a growing list of international customers.

Limited scalability

As SMBs grow, their communication needs to evolve. Traditional phone systems often lack the flexibility and scalability to accommodate expanding operations. They can be very limiting for new businesses or startups.

What can you do about it as an SMB?  

As an SMB, navigating communication challenges can be daunting. However, there are proactive steps you can take to address these issues and improve your communication strategies. Here are some effective solutions.

Embrace unified communication platforms  

Think of a unified communication platform like a supercharged inbox where you can access emails, messages, and calls all neatly organized in one place. This helps you work faster and smoother because you don't always have to switch between different apps.

Utilize Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology  

Consider making phone calls over the internet instead of using a regular phone line. It's like using Skype or WhatsApp to make calls. With VoIP, you can save money on phone bills because it uses the internet to make calls. Not only that, you can enjoy high-quality calls at a lower cost.

Invest in cloud-based solutions  

It's like storing your files in a digital storage drive instead of on your computer's hard drive. With cloud-based solutions, you can easily adjust your communication system as your business grows without needing to buy more equipment.

The easier, smarter way  

You can try using an AI-powered customer communication platform to connect with customers, automate workflows, and coach your teams, all within a unified hub. This is precisely what JustCall offers—a trusted solution for sales and customer support teams. With advanced features like conversation intelligence and call scoring, and its capability to integrate with Bigin, The JustCall topping is a force to be reckoned with. 

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