--- title: Why Not Upgrading Your Outdated Phone Tech Is Hurting Your Business description: If you haven’t ditched your traditional phone system, your business could suffer setbacks. Check out these 7 communication barriers that could signal a slowdown. image: https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2023-Blog-Header_Why%20Not%20Updating%20Your%20Phone%20Tech.jpg --- [![Gordon Flesch Logo](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/Gordon-Flesch-Site/Logos/GFC-2021-Logo_Blue.svg) ](https://www.gflesch.com/) **Number 1 Canon®** Independent Dealer in the U.S. **Number 1 Lexmark™** Independent Dealer in the U.S. [CLIENT PORTAL](https://einfo.gflesch.com/einfo/Gateway/Login)  |  [LOCATIONS](https://www.gflesch.com/contact-us#locations)  |  [EVENTS](https://www.gflesch.com/events)  |  [CONTACT ](https://www.gflesch.com/contact-us) |  [CAREERS](https://www.gflesch.com/careers) [![FREE ASSESSMENT](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2259185/d975359c-4073-49ee-9a07-aea2dabf5a9f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2259185/d975359c-4073-49ee-9a07-aea2dabf5a9f) Search gflesch.com Open Menu #### [Hardware](https://www.gflesch.com/hardware) #### [Managed Print](https://www.gflesch.com/managed-print-services) [![ImageCARE](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/GFC/Website/Logos/ImageCARE_logo.svg "ImageCARE")](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/what-is-imagecare) #### [Managed Voice Services](https://www.elevityit.com/managed-voice-services) #### [Managed IT](https://www.elevityit.com/) [![Elevity](https://www.gflesch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Elevity/Elevity-Logo_No-Tag.png?width=165&height=61&name=Elevity-Logo_No-Tag.png "Elevity")](https://www.elevityit.com/) #### [Who We Serve](https://www.gflesch.com/who-we-serve) #### [The GFC Difference](https://www.gflesch.com/the-gfc-difference) ![GFC team after bike 4k](https://www.gflesch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gordon-Flesch-Site/Page-Images/Careers/13937955_732396103564956_2200806867025572720_o_600x400Web.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=13937955_732396103564956_2200806867025572720_o_600x400Web.jpg "GFC team after bike 4k") Explore opportunities to join one of the country’s largest independent business technology providers! 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[CURRENT POSITIONS](https://www.gflesch.com/current-positions)     [BENEFITS](https://www.gflesch.com/careers#benefits) #### [Resources](https://www.gflesch.com/resource-library) ![support_icon](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2020_website/icons/support_icon.svg "support_icon") #### Technical Support Quick Help [SERVICE CALL](https://einfo.gflesch.com/einfo/Gateway/Login?ReturnUrl=%2feinfo) ![ImageCARE_logo](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2020_website/logos/ImageCARE_logo.svg "ImageCARE_logo") #### [Managed Print Blog](https://www.gflesch.com/blog) #### [Customer Support](https://www.gflesch.com/customer-support) ![phone_icon](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2020_website/icons/phone_icon.svg "phone_icon") #### [Contact Us](https://www.gflesch.com/contact-us) Toll Free: 800.333.5905 Corporate Headquarters: 2675 Research Park Drive Madison, WI 53711 Search [![GFC_LogoTag_800x170_White](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/Gordon-Flesch-Site/Logos/GFC-2021-Logo_White.svg)](https://www.gflesch.com/) [LOCATIONS](https://www.gflesch.com/contact-us#locations) [CAREERS](https://www.gflesch.com/careers) [Managed Voice Services](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/topic/managed-voice-services) | 4 min Read # Why Not Upgrading Your Outdated Phone Tech Is Hurting Your Business [![Kurt Konicke avatar](https://www.gflesch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kurt-Konicke_2021_LinkedIn.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=Kurt-Konicke_2021_LinkedIn.jpg) ](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/author/kurt-konicke) [Kurt Konicke](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/author/kurt-konicke) 09/26/2023 ![old phone technology](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2023-Blog-Header_Why%20Not%20Updating%20Your%20Phone%20Tech.jpg) [**Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology) [**LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology) [**Email ](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20great%20blog%20post%20from%20Gordon%20Flesch%20Company,%20INC.&body=Check%20out:%20https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology) Phone technology has evolved in recent years. That’s why today’s customers and employees expect more from your business communications. If you haven’t ditched your traditional phone system, your business could suffer setbacks in a variety of ways. Wondering what to be wary of? Check out these seven communication barriers that could signal a slowdown for the growth of your business. 1. [Expensive Management and Maintenance](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology#Expensive1) 2. [Increased Risk of Downtime](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology#Increased2) 3. [Scaling Traditional Communication Resources Is a Hassle](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology#Scaling3) 4. [Less Safety Layers and Protocols Means Greater Security Risk](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology#Less4) 5. [Archaic Phone Navigation Creates Unhappy Customers](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology#Customers5) 6. [Wasting Time Switching Between Unconnected Communication Tools](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology#Wasting6) 7. [Today’s Talent Pool Is Geared for Hybrid and Remote Work](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/outdated-phone-technology#Talent7) However, when you leverage Managed Voice Services (MVS), you’ll have access to a complete [Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS)](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/what-is-unified-communications) system, designed to grow and change along with your business.  --- **RELATED ARTICLE:** [A Step-by-Step Guide for Transitioning to a Managed Voice Cloud Communication System](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/cloud-communication-systems)  --- ## 1. Expensive Management and Maintenance A traditional, land-line business phone system is expensive to manage and maintain. They require the attention of your internal IT staff to make changes to the hardware and functionality options, which adds to the cost of your system. What a hassle! And monthly bills can fluctuate based on call volumes and other things that are out of your control. This barrier could wreak havoc with your monthly budget. **Solution:** MVS is easy to set up as it deploys 100% remotely for any worker in any internet-connected location. Online tools make user and device management simple for remote administrators, too. It’s a great way to streamline and save money.  ## 2. Increased Risk of Downtime What happens when your phone system goes down? Your business loses money. Today, modern broadband and fiber connections far outperform traditional copper phone lines. Even UCaaS systems with on-premises servers could be at risk. A physical server at the office could be damaged or destroyed by a leaky overhead sprinkler system, lightening strike or other unfortunate event. **Solution:** MVS solutions include cloud-based hosting for better call quality. In fact, Gordon Flesch Company offers Elevate MVS through Intermedia, which features a 99.999% uptime guarantee and storage redundancy with dual storage in both the eastern and western U.S.  ## 3. Scaling Traditional Communication Resources Is a Hassle Traditional phone systems are based on a fixed number of lines and ports. That’s why scaling up to accommodate a growing company is often an expensive headache filled with complex workflows. Your system might have to be reconfigured – in fact you may need to purchase new equipment in order to fit your growing needs. **Solution:** It’s easy and cost-effective to add new users to a cloud-based MVS solution. MVS offers customizable flexibility to change as the communication needs of your business evolves.   ## 4. Less Safety Layers and Protocols Means Greater Security Risk Businesses in many industries follow the best practice of recording and encrypting phone calls for better security. Configuring a traditional phone network to do this can be expensive. In addition, spam callers are a nuisance and legacy phone systems have limited abilities to block them. Spam callers could reduce your productivity and tie up your phone lines. **Solution:** Cloud-based MVS solutions offer the ability to record calls automatically or at the touch of a button. Spam caller protection is also available to identify these types of callers and block them. In addition, an expert MVS provider will follow strict protocols to protect your data and conversations, making it easy to comply with industry regulations for security and privacy.  ## 5. Archaic Phone Navigation Creates Unhappy Customers Most companies pride themselves on being customer focused. Oftentimes, this quality boils down to accessibility for a better customer experience. Traditional phone systems are limited in how they can direct customers to the correct person (or group) who can answer their question. Getting lost in archaic phone navigation choices can make a customer frustrated. And landline-based phone systems can be clunky to reconfigure on the fly. **Solution:** MVS is not only quickly (and easily) configurable, it’s designed to flex and scale according to your call volumes. [Make sure your customers know how much you value them](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/contact-center-technologies) by being easy to reach.  ## 6. Wasting Time Switching Between Unconnected Communication Tools It takes time to switch between separate phone, email, video conferencing and file sharing platforms. This reduces employee productivity and could cause longer wait times for your customers to get their questions answered. Traditional phone systems increase frustrations for both employees and customers, alike. **Solution:** MVS solutions are designed to integrate your full suite of business communication tools. Employees taking calls in a [call center](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/ucaas-vs.-ccaas) can videoconference or message a colleague, connect others by phone, send files and more – all within one interconnected communication solution. [Increase productivity](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/unified-messaging), reduce accidentally dropped calls and streamline fact gathering for faster, responses to customer questions with MVS.  ## 7. Today’s Talent Pool Is Geared for Hybrid and Remote Work Traditional business phone systems are geared for traditional workspaces where employees only work in the office and do not have phone access outside of the building. **Solution:** Today’s workforce often includes [hybrid and remote workers](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/best-phone-options-for-remote-employees). Not only does this promote workplace flexibility, but it also offers businesses the opportunity to expand their talent pool to find the right candidate – even if that person doesn’t live in the same geographic area as your business. Onboarding new employees virtually is easy too! MVS solutions allow communication flexibility without being tethered to a desk phone. Choose what makes sense for each employee: desk phone, app on an internet-connected computer, app on a personal smartphone or any combination of these three options. Staying connected has never been easier!  ## Optimize Your Business Communications Don’t miss the [advantages](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/benefits-of-unified-communications) of cloud communications, switch to MVS! Adopting cloud communications is one of the most important decisions you can make to empower your employees and help them work smarter. [Contact the Gordon Flesch Company](https://www.gflesch.com/contact-us) to learn more about Elevate Managed Voice Services and how it brings all your business’s preferred communication channels together into a single unified cloud-based system that is managed and monitored by a trusted service provider.  [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2259185/75f40583-72d1-4497-b029-9b3fabf5b8fa.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2259185/75f40583-72d1-4497-b029-9b3fabf5b8fa) ## You may also like these posts about: **Managed Voice Services** [![Man working remotely while on a phone call using a headset and laptop computer](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2026-Blog-Header_Emerging%20Business%20Phone%20Trends%20to%20Watch%20in%202026.png) ](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/business-phone-trends-2026) [Managed Voice Services](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/topic/managed-voice-services) ### [Emerging Business Phone Trends to Watch in 2026](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/business-phone-trends-2026) 06/23/2026 | 5 min Read [![woman talking on cell phone and working on a laptop](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2023-Blog-Header_Unified%20Communications.jpg) ](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/guide-to-unified-communications) [Managed Voice Services](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/topic/managed-voice-services) ### [The Beginner’s Guide to Unified Communications](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/guide-to-unified-communications) 05/14/2026 | 4 min Read [![Businesswoman talking on a cell phone](https://www.gflesch.com/hubfs/2026-Blog-Header_What%20toConsider%20When%20Choosing%20a%20Managed%20Voice%20Provider.png) ](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/choosing-managed-voice-provider) [Managed Voice Services](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/topic/managed-voice-services) ### [What Should I Consider When Choosing a Managed Voice Provider?](https://www.gflesch.com/blog/choosing-managed-voice-provider) 05/12/2026 | 4 min Read [← What Is Print Management? 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