The trick to great customer Service? VoIP is the treat!

As the nights grow longer and the spooky season approaches, the last thing your business needs is to scare off customers with poor service! In today’s fast-paced world, great customer service isn’t just a treat – it’s essential. And the trick to delivering it consistently? A VoIP (Voice over IP) phone system. Just like magic, VoIP can transform your customer…

Managing the pressures of Winter – is your surgery’s phone system up to the job?

Managing the pressures of Winter – is your surgery’s phone system up to the job? As winter approaches, GP surgeries and healthcare practices brace for one of the busiest times of the year. With seasonal illnesses like colds, flu contributing to a sharp increase in patient demand, it’s crucial that healthcare providers are prepared to manage this surge efficiently. While…

Boosting productivity with VoIP this Autumn

With the summer rush behind us, now is the perfect time to evaluate how your business can become more efficient. One powerful way to enhance productivity is by using VoIP technology. The productivity perks of VoIP VoIP is much more than just a modern alternative to traditional phone systems. It’s a comprehensive communication solution that can streamline your operations, cut…

VoIP and some frequently asked questions

Need a quick VoIP overview? Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs)! What is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It allows you to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a traditional phone line. How does VoIP work? VoIP converts your voice into digital data and transmits it over the internet. On the receiving…

Which businesses benefit from a leased line?

In today’s fast-paced digital world, reliable and fast internet connectivity is no longer just a luxury—it’s a necessity. As businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based services, video conferencing, and other bandwidth-intensive applications, the demand for dedicated, high-speed internet connections has grown. One solution that has gained popularity among businesses is the leased line. But what exactly is a leased line, and…

Environmental benefits of VoIP: go green!

Environmental sustainability is more important than ever, it’s a huge talking point and businesses are increasingly seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One often-overlooked method is through using VoIP technology. By replacing traditional phone systems with digital communication, companies can make a significant positive impact on the environment. Here’s how VoIP contributes to a greener planet. Reduction in physical…

5 ways a VoIP system can save your veterinary practice money

Running a veterinary practice means juggling a multitude of tasks, from caring for adorable patients to managing the business side of things. One area where you can significantly cut costs without compromising quality is your phone system. Enter VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, a modern, cost-effective communication solution. Here are five ways a VoIP system can save your veterinary…

VoIP trends to watch in Summer 2024

As we move into the summer, VoIP continues to evolve, bringing new technologies and innovations with it. Whether you’re a business looking to upgrade your phone system or an individual seeking more reliable and some feature-rich calling solutions – staying up to date with the latest VoIP trends is super handy! Let’s look at the top trends this summer: The…

Why leased lines are a game changer for start ups

Starting a new business comes with a variety of challenges, and one of the most important things to get right from the beginning is your internet connectivity! For startups, a reliable and fast internet connection can significantly impact productivity, customer service, and overall business operations. One option that is increasingly becoming popular among startups is leased lines. In this blog,…

8 simple facts about VoIP

We’ll start with that all important intro into what exactly Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is. Basically, it’s a pretty cool technology that allows voice communication and multimedia sessions over the Internet, rather than using traditional phone lines. It converts voice signals into digital data packets and transmits them over the internet. Something we’re all a little more conscious of…

5 ways to ‘Summer-ise’ your phone system!

The seasonal warmth is here! Which means thinking about whether we need to adapt and change the way our phone systems are working for us. So, we’ve come up with 5 things to consider! Update your phone messagesRecord or update your phone system messages to reflect any changes in operating hours or holiday closures during the summer season. Ensure that…

VoIP and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We talk a lot about VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) at Equations! It’s been around for many years, significantly improving business communication. However, with the advancements in technology, VoIP is starting to integrate more Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its systems, revolutionising how businesses communicate.  Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with artificial intelligence (AI) have proven to be a game-changing breakthrough. With…

Staying connected this Summer – how VoIP can help your business run more smoothly.

As summer approaches, many businesses face the challenge of maintaining productivity while employees take well deserved holidays! With the right tools and technology in place, staying connected and ensuring seamless communication is hugely achievable. Regardless of where your team members are located, we’ll explore how your business can run super smoothly with the help of VoIP! Location location locationOne of…

BT confirms delay in The Big Switch-Off to 2027

BT Group has announced an extension for the switch-off date of ISDN and PSTN services to January 31, 2027. This gives organisations, especially those who need a bit more time, a smoother transition to the more advanced IP-based systems. A Century of Connection: A New Era Begins For over 100 years, phone calls in the UK have relied on the…

Ways to cut your business costs this Spring – top tips!

The cost-of-living crisis doesn’t seem to be improving anytime soon so if you haven’t already considered ways to cut costs for your business, you may find the points below pretty handy! These are small ways to adapt and adjust with the potential to make some good savings along the way.   Be environmentally friendly Many businesses have been opting for…

Professional services and the right phone system – is yours working as it should?

Over the years we’ve worked with pretty much every type of professional services provider you can think of! – insurance brokers, lawyers, accountants and independent financial suppliers to name just a few! We not only understand their needs when it comes to their phone system and communicating with their clients, but also their regulatory obligations in areas such as call…

Let us review your telephone system – for FREE!

How does reducing costs with no hassle sound? Pretty good, right? We offer a free review of your telephone system, as realistically with technology we all know times move pretty swiftly and change is inevitable! We’re all in the habit of upgrading our personal mobiles on a regular basis but how often do you reflect on changing your telephone system,…

Which businesses benefit from having a leased line?

I bet you didn’t know that there are many types of businesses benefitting from having a leased line, particularly those that require high-speed, reliable and dedicated internet connectivity for their operations. But hang fire, you might say! What is a leased line again? A leased line is essentially a broadband connection that flows straight from your Internet Service Provider (the…

What is the difference between VoIP and a Leased Line?

Let’s explore the two! Both super beneficial for businesses but in different ways.  So first off – let’s remind you what a leased line is! A leased line is a broadband connection that flows straight from your Internet Service Provider directly to your business. It’s a private connection just for your business – you don’t have to share with others, like…

Why is VoIP the best option for remote workers?

We talk a lot about VoIP here at Equations! It’s super useful for many businesses and individuals – but why is it a great option for remote workers? We’ll tell you why! It’s flexible – if you’re working remotely, you can stay connected from anywhere with internet access, whether you’re working from home, a coffee shop, or while traveling. This…

Easter holidays and managing calls

The Easter holidays will soon be here, which means holiday time for staff – particularly if they have children and have a limited time to get away during the school holidays. No matter what industry you are in, holiday periods bring a whole host of things to consider when it comes to your phone system. It’s important to make sure…

5 simple reasons to change your phone system to VoIP

If this is the first time you’ve heard of VoIP, we’ll let you into a secret – once you’ve switched, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t done so months ago! Need a little background info? VoIP, otherwise known as Voice Over Internet Protocol, is a pretty cool type of phone technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls using…

Is it time to upgrade to a leased line?

When it comes to deciding whether or not to upgrade to a leased line for your business, there are a few factors to bear in mind first… What is a leased line? A leased line, also known as a dedicated line or private circuit, is essentially a private communication channel that connects two or more locations, without having to share…

3 trends businesses should prepare for in 2024

Want to keep your business on top form for 2024? Here are 3 trends we think you should know about… A switch to digital – The clock is ticking! By the end of 2025, everyone – households, businesses, and everything in between – in the UK will be phased out of our traditional phone system. Instead of relying on the country’s outdated…

New year, new phone system?

When was the last time you reviewed your phone system? Think about that period of time since the last review. How long ago was it? What’s changed in your business since? Are you looking for ways to move things forward but in a more cost-effective way?

Handling your Christmas out of hours

Christmas is almost upon us! And this often means business downtime. Therefore, it’s important that customers are still looked after during this period. There are a few things you may need to think about! While you’re business closes its doors over the festive period, it’s not abnormal to have a few stragglers – who have missed those ‘Christmas opening times’ social…

The rapid growth of VoIP in the UK

The Equations team have been chiming on about VoIP for some time now. But with good reason! It’s a promising tool being used by many organisations to make phone calls, connect their team, and do so in the most efficient way possible. Don’t just our word for it though. VoIP is being used now more than ever across the UK,…

5 Benefits of VoIP for those who work from home

More and more of us are saying goodbye to conventional company workspaces, and hello to a comfortable home office. If this is the reality for you and your team, then we’ve got a question for you: are you using VoIP? If no, then stay tuned as we’re about to tell you why it’s a gamechanger for home workers. What is…

Which businesses should switch to a leased line?

Are you thinking about switching your business over to a leased line? Perhaps you’re sitting on the fence, unsure if a leased line is really the right choice. Not to worry – we’re going to be taking a look at the strengths of a leased line and what types of organisations can benefit from them the most. Let’s dive in! So,…

How Can SoGEA Save My Business Money?

We’re all keen to save some cash. While many businesses are dealing with sky-high utility bills, the cost of living is creeping up, and keeping your business agile is key, anything that can cut your overheads down is worth looking into. So, with that in mind, have you heard of SoGEA? In a nutshell If you want to know the…

What will a leased line actually offer my business?

We’ve been talking a lot about leased lines lately because they are a frontline option for any business or organisation wanting to have the very best connectivity. Recently, we’ve been explaining why they’re a better option for the internet than standard broadband. We’ve been comparing them to FTTP to help you work out which is a more suitable option for your business.…

My business can’t get FTTP – what should I do?

When it comes to different broadband connections for your business, FTTP is repeatedly cropping up as one of the best options out there. Lightning fast. Modern. Reliable. What’s not to like? A quick summary If you aren’t up to speed with what FTTP is, we’ve got an entire blog here to bring you up to speed. Or if you’d prefer a whistlestop…

FTTP or leased line – which is best for my business?

We aren’t saying anything new by telling you that fibreoptic broadband is the way forward. Today, it’s widely understood that businesses wanting a reliable connection with high speeds should be turning to fibre. In fact, with the ‘Big Switch Off’ fast approaching (by 2025 all traditional PSTN and ISDN will be phased out) it’s a no-brainer that businesses need to…

Why should my business upgrade to FTTP?

How is your business’s internet looking? A little rusty, perhaps? If you’re tempted to start shopping around for a better option, then you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to be diving deep into a type of fibreoptic broadband called FTTP. This is a relatively new system with a lot of potential to level up your business. What exactly…

What is SoGEA and why should my business care about it?

In a perfect world, running a business would be smooth sailing all day every day. But staying efficient and keeping overheads at a manageable level can be an uphill battle – especially in today’s economic climate. However, there is one way that you can massively improve your business’s communications and it will also save you money. Say hello to SoGEA. What…

Why is my business’s landline not working?

It can be a real nightmare when your business’s phone stops working ­– particularly in today’s world where you likely rely on it to connect with customers, colleagues and other stakeholders. We’ve all been here: rummaging around in wires connected to who-knows-what, dialling and testing, plugging and unplugging, all for nothing to make any difference. Begrudgingly, you head to social…

Why is VoIP cheaper for my business?

It comes as no surprise that businesses, in all shapes and forms, want to keep their costs as manageable as possible. There are a lot of overheads to consider – from payroll, to buying stock, to renting office space – but something that’s easy to overlook is your telephone line. Yes, you might use it every day. Yes, you might have…

How to reduce business costs in 2023

With the worry of a recession looming and inflation stubbornly refusing to shrink, 2023 is predicted to be a tough year for everyone, businesses included. Despite the rather bleak outlook, there are ways to prepare and adapt to ensure your business can ride out the storm and remain profitable.  Consider remote working If your business allows, consider having your workforce…

Which businesses could benefit from a VOIP system?

Well, the short answer is…every business! As it’s scalable and versatile, as well as significantly more cost effective than traditional phone lines, a VoIP phone system is a brilliant option for a variety of businesses, no matter their industry or size. We’ve put together a few examples of how these benefits can be applied to help different businesses. Remote or…

How to improve communication when working from home

Since the pandemic, working from home or hybrid working has become more popular than ever and offers a range of benefits to both employers and employees. However, one downside of remote work is that it can be more difficult to communicate within your team. If you find yourself struggling with this, you’re in luck as we’ve pulled together our top…

It’s 2023 – The Big ISDN Switch Off Begins

It feels like half a lifetime ago that we started talking about the great ISDN switch off and yet here we are at the first great milestone!  2023 is the year that BT stop installing any brand new traditional copper phone lines, in preparation for the dissolution of the entire network in 2025. If it feels like the end of an…

Hybrid Working is Now More Common than Not – Are You Ready?

With over 70% of employees openly preferring the world of hybrid work and many employers seeing cost savings and wellbeing benefits too, more and more businesses are switching to a flexible or remote working model.  And it’s working!  Staff are happier and stick around longer, employers are finding more efficiencies and a more productive workforce: win-win.  The question is: are you doing it…

New Years’ Resolutions for your Business

With the festive season upon us and the new year fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to take stock, review your business and start to make decisions for the upcoming year, particularly with an economic downturn on the horizon. If there is one resolution that should be at the top of your list, it’s switching to a VoIP phone system.…

How Upgrading Your Phone System Really Could Save Your Business Money this Winter

Let’s face it, telephone communications systems aren’t that sexy.  To us, of course they are but even we can appreciate that the majority of business owners might not feel that excited about them!  In fact, they’re more often than not seen as a necessary evil, something without the obvious appeal of the latest software or shiny new mobile phones and top notch tech.  It’s safe…

Keeping You Meetings Virtual in 2022? We’ve Got You Covered!

We’ve proved recently that we’re all absolutely capable of working collaboratively but virtually but are we really getting the very best remote experience we could? Playing a little video conferencing bingo – how many of the following have plagued your online meetings lately:  Technical problems with audio  Hard to sign in  Poor picture quality  Limited functionality There’s another way!  Our trusty…

GPs and Practice Managers – Hit the Winter Season Running by Upgrading Your Surgery Communications Now

As we come out of the heat of Summer and the weather starts shifting, the nights draw in and the schools start back, demand for GP services continues to creep on up.  Whether it’s annual flu jabs or Covid boosters to co-ordinate or an increase in general enquiries as patients succumb to the changing seasons and the illnesses it brings (likely…

The Pros and Cons of Home Working in 2022

‘Flexible!’ ‘Remote!’ ‘Hybrid!’ A quick scour of LinkedIn’s job pages shows just how much the British workforce has changed over the last few years.  No longer just in exceptional circumstances, working out of the office – at least some of the time – is a must have for the majority of employees.  And with some 78% of them reporting a better work…

Vets: Are You Set Up To Deal with A Summer Surge in Demand?

As of June 2022, 59% of all British households have a pet of some kind!  That’s a whopping 34 million domestic animals across 17 million households which creates a whole lot of natural demand on the UK’s veterinary surgeries.  And then you add Summer into the mix.     Just as GPs surgeries see surges in demand during the balmy Summer months as humans…

More and more patients want their care over the phone – can your surgery handle it?

It’s no secret that the UKs healthcare system is under immense pressure in 2022 – the pandemic hit an already stretched service and the last few years have taken their toll on staff across the NHS.  With doctors and nurses leaving faster than the health service can replace them, significant funding issues and a growing population, patients are drawing the short…

4 Ways to Cut Your Business Costs this Summer

2022 is looking like an increasingly tough year for businesses.  With inflation predicted to top 11%, energy bills soaring and people spending less and less to weather the cost of living storm, it’s easy to feel quite despondent about the outlook. BUT there are always small ways to adapt, adjust and  maybe save a few pounds along the way and this year…

New to VoIP? Here’s everything you need to know!

Whether you’ve been prompted by the 2025 conventional analogue and ISDN lines switching off date creeping ever closer or have been pushed into considering new ways of working as a result of the last couple of years, now might be a great time to switch your traditional phone system over to something new, agile, flexible.  But where to begin?  Installing a…

Smishing: The rise of FluBot. What is it and what can you do to protect yourself?

FluBot first burst onto the malware scene in Summer 2021, flooding our SMS with fake ‘failed parcel’ delivery messages in an unscrupulous bid to install data stealing Trojans onto Android phones.  The fake message contains a link, which when clicked on downloads malware onto your device.  Once installed, the FluBot Trojan can access your credit and debit card details to clear you…

Conquering the hybrid workspace with Universe Blue Connect Bridge

Hybrid working is going nowhere, it’s here to stay. For businesses looking to save money and for staff wanting a more balanced life, it’s the perfect solution.  So how do you build a communications system to match?   On-site phone systems were built for another time: an age when business was conducted exclusively from an office and predominantly by phone.  Whilst many businesses…

On-Premise or Cloud Based Business Communications – Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds with NEC’s Univerge Connect

The last couple of years have asked a lot of business communications.  Systems have had to quickly get smoother, slicker, more streamlined and with infinite remote capabilities to deal with both dispersed staff and remote customers. Comms systems have been shifting into the cloud for around 7 years.  The shift gathered speed of course during the pandemic. More staff working from home…

Health Checking Your Surgery’s Communications Systems

It’s something of an understatement to say that the last few years have been hard going for GP surgeries! If we’ve learnt anything from the challenges surgeries have faced throughout the pandemic, it’s that having a robust, agile, up to date communications system is essential not just for day to day operations but in the face of crises too.  In fact,…

Reducing Telephone Fraud During an Economic Downturn

According to Action Fraud, the annual cost of telephone fraud in the UK is around £17 BILLION, it’s almost unfathomable.  Scammers are of course getting more and more sophisticated and ruthless but as we see unprecedented cost of living rises coupled with astronomical growth in energy bills in the UK, scammers are also getting more opportunistic and desperate.  So how do you…

ISDN switch off paving the way for revolutionary new tech!

In a pivotal moment for the telecommunications industry, BTs planned switch off of the old ISDN network in 2025 is fast approaching. In fact, the move away from this outdated tech is already well underway with many areas now not selling new copper lines at all and the existing lines quickly becoming defunct.  This shift is creating incredible opportunities for the…

How can you reduce your business energy bills?

Inflation in the UK is soaring. Rising at the fastest rate since the 2008 financial crash, businesses in every sector are feeling the pinch with the price of everything from raw materials to transportation to staffing going up.  Throw a hefty hike in energy prices into the mix – increases of almost 30% for gas and 20% for electricity during…

Our Guide to Business Energy Contracts and Changing Your Supplier

With some fundamental differences to domestic energy contracts and without the consumer protections offered to private customers, navigating the world of business energy contracts can be confusing at best, downright baffling at worst. With over three decades of business experience, let us try to demystify the world of commercial energy supply contracts for you. It’s all in the small print…

Weaning Your Staff Off Furlough

Peaking at 5.1 million in January 2021, there are still millions of staff across the UK that find themselves on the Government’s Furlough scheme. Currently being phased out, the system is set to come to an end in September 2021, at which point millions of workers will have to pick up where they left off. Office spaces are likely to…

7 Benefits of Hybrid Working

Whether you call it flexible, remote, or hybrid working, there’s no denying that before 2020, it just wasn’t a realistic option for so many office staff across the UK.  Not due to an absence of technology – the infrastructure for home working isn’t new – rather a workplace culture that didn’t believe teams were able to communicate effectively over distance,…

Are You Paying the Right Price for Your Business Calls?

Trying to compare the cost of your home telephone system or mobile phone deal is a minefield all on its own.  Throw in the complexities of a business communications system and the extended playing field of providers at commercial level and it can be almost impossible to ascertain whether you’re paying too much for your business calls. In most cases,…

Reviewing Your Office Telephone System

Pretty much all businesses take their telephone communications systems for granted.  Sometimes seen as a necessary evil, the office phone system doesn’t have the same sex appeal as the constantly evolving tech bubble of mobile phones, other devices and shiny new computers. Consequently, upgrading a phone system at regular intervals or even properly evaluating the current set up tends to…

Can NECs Univerge Blue Technology Bring Your Surgery’s Communications into the 21st Century?

Surgeries up and down the UK have experienced an extraordinary (some might say unprecedented) surge in call volume over the last 12 months.  From concerned patients checking symptoms to worried family members wondering how to deal with COVID concerns to vaccination questions and that’s on top of the usual high level of calls and queries all surgeries receive in a…

How NECs Revolutionary Univerge Blue System Can Help Your School Communications to Level Up

With students easing back into the school environment, parents adjusting from home schooling back into the world of work and teachers juggling classroom teaching with ongoing staff absence, it is more important than ever that your school’s communication system is able to deal with whatever is thrown at it this year.  You are likely to experience a higher than normal…

Working from Home Just Got Even Easier with NECs Univerge Blue Connect

Even before the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, there was a worldwide shift starting towards working remotely or from home. Although COVID-19 has certainly accelerated the movement, with all of us having to shift our attitudes and working practices rapidly, it’s actually working out incredibly well for many employers and employees.  Over 76% of people working from home surveyed recently…

Maintaining Excellent Patient Care and Future Proofing Your Surgery

If we’ve learnt anything from the challenges faces by surgeries throughout the Coronavirus pandemic it’s that having a robust, versatile, modern communications system is more than just a luxury.  It’s an absolute necessity in maintaining the very best patient care as well as taking care of heavily burdened staff during a national emergency.  We found that those surgeries who had…

Managing People Coming Back to Work

The past 12 months have been hectic; there’s been highs, many lows and a lot of change. Things have often been done or carried out as an emergency response to events happening around us. However, with the vaccine rollout in full swing and the roadmap out of lockdown hitting its targets thus far, now may be the time to access…

Embrace True Hybrid Working with Call2Teams

If you go back just a few short years, many businesses would have been resistant to the idea of employees working predominantly from home. Fears that employees would feel disconnected from the company’s values, separated from colleagues and be less productive were understandable in a world where the majority of us commuted to work and carried it out in the…

Transitioning Your School Staff Back to Full Time Working

Over the last 12 months, schools have really had to roll with the punches when it comes to adapting their working practices. This has meant embracing huge changes in the way they communicate with colleagues, parents and pupils, often using new technology to continue to teach and meet parental demands. Many schools may have already introduced a VoIP system to…

About Us

We’re specialists in helping organisations like yours find and implement phone systems that not only handle your calls, but add value to your organisation. Our personal approach means you'll get great service from start to finish.

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Installing a new phone system or changing supplier can be a big decision; you want to make sure you’re teaming up with the right people. We've been specialising in phone systems and technology for more than twenty five years.

About Us

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