Telecommunications are an important and integral part of a business continuity planning just as they are essential when the organisation is running smoothly.
Most businesses feel the costs of a major disruption after they find out that their customers have tried to call them and received and out of order tone on the other end of the line.
Some might conclude that their telephone system is unreliable whilst others may think that they have gone out of business. In any event, being cut off for any length of time is never a positive occurrence.
Negating the Effects
There are a range of continuity plans which a business could implement for its telecommunication as part of a wider plan. Some of these are detailed below:
Publishing Alternative Contact Numbers
Business stationery, particularly individual business cards could contain mobile telephone numbers on them which can be used as alternatives should the main system fail.
Provided the use of them by business associates can be controlled under normal circumstances, they might provide a useful backup measure in the event that the main phone system is inoperable.
Using Virtual Office Services
Virtual office services can be useful both under normal operating conditions as well as in emergencies.
With or without a looming emergency, they can be particularly useful to small businesses to handle any overflow of the telephone system where the staff is unable to answer all incoming calls.
Knowing Where to Get Help
Having up-to-date knowledge of phone divert codes, carrier numbers and account and reference numbers can potentially make the loss of telecommunications less problematic and drawn out.
By having relevant help-line numbers to hand, time can be saved in gaining information on the problems and obtaining useful information on the repair timetable.
The business might choose to invest in insurance which guarantees engineer response times in the event of a major problem.
The costs of premiums would be weighed up against the disruption and losses which would reasonable result if this cover was not in place.
Using Different Telecommunication Carriers
Choosing to use more than one carrier might provide some protection against third party disasters. Many telephony issues occur at the local exchange or between that location and the business premises.
By choosing an alternative carrier who uses different exchange facilities, the business can insulate itself from the effects of an unforeseen event at one of these.
