The business phone system as we know it is dead
Probably the most clickable headline we’ve used in a long time. But don’t worry — we haven’t turned into a tabloid. We actually have a point. Because really, isn’t the business phone system, as we know it, dead? Let us explain why.
The short version:
It no longer offers the flexibility or range of features we expect today.
The longer version:
Let’s rewind to early 2020. Everything was fine — people shook hands, packed into the subway, and had their trusty business phone systems.
Then something happened.
A pandemic swept across the world, and overnight, everything changed.
Even though the pandemic brought much to a halt, we rose from the ashes like a phoenix. We digitized our workplaces at record speed and soon realized that this new way of working was here to stay.
It’s not the first time tragedy leads to progress. Back in the 1800s, when Sweden was struck by cholera, the outcome was better water and sewage systems, improved housing, and higher hygiene standards.
So yes — the pandemic killed the business phone system. Its demise wasn’t exactly shocking. Traditional business phone systems had been on life support for years, and this time, the plug was finally pulled.
As we all started working from home, the way we communicated changed completely. You couldn’t just lean over to ask your desk neighbor a question or pop into the finance team’s office to grab a copy of an invoice.
And that’s when it all began.
Phase 1: The Call Chaos
We called each other constantly. It became unsustainable.
An uncontrollable wave of calls rolled in, one after another. Productivity dropped — we simply weren’t used to remote work yet. It became harder to reach people, and that’s when we got… creative.
Phase 2: The Patchwork
We started patching things together.
Our mobile business phone system, at best, had a basic chat function and not much else. Suddenly we needed chat rooms, project channels, and digital meeting spaces — and we needed them fast.
WhatsApp, Messenger, free Slack plans, Zoom, easy — you name it, we had it. Never before had so many tools been implemented in such a short time.
Phase 3: The Video Frenzy
Check-ins, check-outs, digital afterworks, and heaven knows what else.
Video, video, and more video. We had meetings all day, every day.
It was obvious: we weren’t fully ready for the digital workplace yet — or maybe some employers simply didn’t trust remote work enough and felt the need to see everyone all the time.
Phase 4: Reflection
This is when we started to find our footing again.
Companies began analyzing and preparing for strategic decisions about which tools to keep. Because it turned out — surprise — that the work actually got done, and quite well, even without being physically together.
Projects can be managed remotely — if done right.
Phase 5: The Realization
Then came the realization:
This was the new normal, and there was no going back.
Free versions of apps had been tested, paid plans were purchased, and shiny new tools with chat and video were now a must. The old systems — including the traditional business phone system — simply couldn’t keep up.
That’s pretty much what happened to all of us.
The takeaway:
The function of a business phone system will live on — a company number and line status are still crucial. But as a standalone service, disconnected from the digital tools that shape our daily work, it no longer has a place.
In a world dominated by video calls, chat messages, and digital collaboration, everything needs to be connected.
We’re not just talking about telephony anymore — we’re talking about communication.
We need tools that let us instantly see whether a colleague is busy — regardless of whether they’re in a call, video meeting, or conference. That’s simply not possible when telephony exists in its own bubble.
The takeaway of the takeaway:
The business phone system is dead.
And the era of communication platforms is here — a system that shows presence no matter the call type, and that’s more than just a business phone system.
C’est la vie.
