April 2020 Summaries

The global shift towards remote working due to COVID-19 has highlighted the strain on residential internet connections, leading to increased demand for dedicated professional services and IP telephony. Businesses are being forced into budget allocation for equipment and software necessary for remote work, with many expecting a rise in cloud communications usage as companies realize their current setups aren't optimal. The pandemic is also expected to accelerate the adoption of cloud-based platforms, as they offer cost savings and increased capabilities. Additionally, remote working may lead to a more globalized talent pool, while businesses are likely to reassess their communication strategies in light of the stress on existing systems.

In the midst of change brought about by COVID-19, Bandwidth's employees have been living out their company values. The focus has been on one principle in particular - 'Serve', which involves working for and loving the success of others. Despite the shift to remote work, Bandwidth's teams have rallied to ensure that customers are well served, particularly those in essential services like communication platforms. This dedication to their values has helped them stand up to adversity and continue serving their customers effectively. The company encourages others to acknowledge when they see employees living out the company principles and invites feedback if they feel Bandwidth is not living up to its values.

Many people are experiencing issues with conference calls due to conferencing providers focusing on cost-effective solutions rather than high-quality connections. This has led to problems such as dropped calls, jitter, and robotic voices during conference calls. The primary reason for these issues is that some conferencing providers buy low-quality minutes from large scale carrier aggregators, which handle various types of traffic on their network. To improve the quality of conference calls, users should ensure that their conferencing provider uses dedicated voice carriers with uncontended connections to reduce packet loss and jitter.

As the digital transformation of daily life continues, businesses are encouraged to adopt SMS receipts over traditional paper receipts to enhance customer experience, reduce environmental impact, and adapt to social distancing norms necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. SMS receipts offer a more convenient way for customers to store and retrieve purchase proofs, reduce physical contact during transactions, and facilitate easy feedback collection through embedded survey links. Implementing SMS receipts requires businesses to choose an appropriate type of number for sending messages, ensure proper customer opt-in for receiving texts, and equip developers with the necessary APIs, such as those offered by Bandwidth, to integrate this functionality into their systems. This shift not only aligns with modern consumer habits but also supports sustainable practices by decreasing paper waste.

911 laws and regulations are complex, but they ensure reliable access to emergency services through VoIP technology. Interconnected VoIP providers must adhere to FCC E911 rules, which include mandatory provision of accurate emergency locations and notifications about service limitations. Kari's Law, effective February 16, 2020, requires direct dialing to 911 and sending emergency notifications to appropriate support personnel for Multi-line Telephone Systems (MLTS). Section 506 of RAY BAUM’S Act introduces the term "dispatchable location," which includes additional location data beyond just a civic address. These laws aim to improve location accuracy for emergency communications, setting the stage for faster response times and safer environments.

In times of economic downturn, businesses need to strategically cut costs without compromising essential operations. Here are four tips for finding cost savings in communication expenses: 1) Ensure billing accuracy by renegotiating with your provider if you're billed in per-minute increments or if your volumes have increased significantly since signing up; 2) Understand SMS deliverability to ensure messages reach their intended recipients and avoid unnecessary costs; 3) Bundle attractive features like voice, messaging, and emergency calling through a single provider for cost reduction and simplified management; 4) Examine support costs and determine if the level of support matches your business needs. By implementing these strategies, businesses can effectively manage their communication expenses during lean seasons while maintaining functionality and quality.

The surge in remote work, online schooling, and virtual social gatherings has led to an increased demand on video conference services and phone and internet networks. To help alleviate the strain on these networks, experts suggest scheduling meetings at quarter past or quarter to the hour instead of on the hour or half-hour. This simple change can reduce network congestion and improve overall user experience during this period of heightened online activity.