Getting More Flexibility Out of Your Work Phone

Administrative assistants and clerical workers rely on their phones to help with scheduling and a wide variety of other daily tasks. The office phone is an invaluable tool for many workers, as it allows you to connect quickly and easily with business contacts, coworkers, and customers immediately as the need arises. The modern workplace has seen many developments in telephone technology, and getting the most out of your office phone allows you to be more productive and flexible than ever.

Many administrative assistants have eschewed the landline and now have only wireless services for their office phones. Others have kept a single wired phone in their office, but use virtualization services to transfer calls and voicemails directly to their wireless devices. This allows you to get out of the office and work with your administrative team members wherever they're based. Wireless technology means that you are always available, letting you quickly shift travel plans for executives or reschedule meetings without rushing to the office or waiting for a travel agent to call a fixed-line office phone.

Google Voice is one of the premiere applications for wireless devices. This handy tool enables greater flexibility by allowing you to call anyone, worldwide, using an Internet-enabled device. You can use your smartphone or laptop computer for quick chat, and integrated Google Docs features let you share information and view text or spreadsheets simultaneously with peers from around the world. Google Voice is now part of the Google Hangouts suite, which integrates text communications, video conferencing, and file sharing into a single application.

Your office phone can also help you direct workflow, especially if you work in a distribution center or for a dispatch service. Google recently added the traffic information from Waze to the Google Maps service, allowing you to get real-time traffic updates from many international locations as well as major domestic centers. This enables you to communicate information quickly to employees, helping them avoid accidents; you can also ensure that passengers or cargo arrive on time by sending the appropriate information to your dispatchers or distribution logistics teams. The GPS services available for smartphones also help you get to where you need to go quickly.

Modern evolutions of the office phone have dramatically changed the way many administrative assistants and clerical workers handle their day-to-day tasks. Convenient wireless communication and the ability to collaborate with workers across the globe have led to the potential for globalization for even the smallest businesses. Traffic updates and GPS maps help keep your team members on track and can give you the appropriate tools to ensure that your company's packages and passengers arrive on time. These tools help you access the flexibility and functionality of your office phone and can provide a competitive edge in today's fast-moving business world.

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