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July 17, 2014

The Exciting Benefits of VOIP Technology

Phone
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Today many small businesses and organizations are making the switch from their current analog phone service to VoIP business phone systems. There are numerous advantages to using such a service, including standard services such as voicemail (really enhanced via VOIP technology), call waiting, toll free numbers, call forwarding, and remote operation, and there are a host of other features that really makes this technology shine and really increases the productivity of the user.

More than two persons

On a standard phone line, only two persons can speak at a time. With VoIP, you can setup a conference with a whole team communicating in real time.

Abundant, Interesting and Useful Features

Using VoIP also means benefitting from its abundant feature sets which can make your VoIP experience very rich and sophisticated. One can, for example, make calls anywhere in the world to any destination in the world with a VoIP account. Domestic long distance calls are free and International calls are made at greatly reduced rates. Other features include Caller ID, Contact Lists, Voicemail, extra-virtual numbers etc. Here are some enhanced features of this technology:

Find me/follow me call routing

Mobile workers appreciate this feature. Find me/follow me call routing allows you to create a list of numbers where you can be found before the call gets pushed to voicemail. So, for example, you might have your office phone ring twice, but on the third ring, your cell phone starts to ring, and then on the fifth, your home phone. If the list is exhausted, the caller gets sent to voicemail.

Voicemail to email carbon and transcription

Voicemail to email carbon means that an email is sent to you with a wav file attachment containing the voicemail message. Voicemail to email transcription transcribes your voicemail messages to text and sends them to your email address. Read them in your email at your leisure. This also allows you to file, organize, delete, and search all your voicemails in a way that would otherwise be impossible.

Music and/or video on hold

If your company often has to put callers on hold, this feature is a necessity. You can customize your music or on-hold message.

Call screening

Call screening is a handy feature of this technology. It allows you to look at a number on the caller ID and choose how to treat it. For example, if your spouse is calling, you can choose to pick it up whereas if it’s an annoying sales person you wish to avoid you can disregard the call.

Auto attendant

An auto attendant is one of the hidden gems of premium VoIP services. This feature allows callers to interact with a menu to choose an appropriate extension or phone, even after-hours. It’s like having an electronic receptionist!

Do not disturb
This feature does exactly what its name implies: leaves you undisturbed. You can turn it on to temporarily stop incoming calls to your phone. This becomes especially useful during conferences, lunches, and meetings. Best of all, you can program it so that it does not just ignore callers, but directs them toward voicemail or another destination of your choice.

All of these services, and more, are available with the VOIP technology phone service offered by Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch. We even include live answer before transfer, call logs if you want them and more! Contact us at 941-373-1400 to learn more about how this exciting technology can enhance your business and operations.

July 11, 2014

Conference Rooms Fully Equipped for Success

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The fastest growing trend in workplaces today is the rush to go mobile. Even the Federal Government is incentivizing its workforce to work in places other than a traditional bricks and mortar office. But even though more and more workers are doing their job in places other than a traditional office the necessity to get together and share information or collaborate on a project will not diminish. While the need for office space may go away the need for a productive place to gather together will not.

So does that mean that a table in the corner of a local Starbucks™ is sufficient? In a word, no.

In order for a conference room to be fully equipped for success, and by extension for your meeting to be a success, it must provide the following (in addition to plenty of comfortable seating of course):

Wireless Internet access. In today’s workplace environment it’s an essential. As one recent meeting attendee put it, “…it’s as necessary as air”.

LCD Screens or projectors. What good are ideas if no one can see them? Whiteboards are OK but very limited. Computer based idea sharing is the norm and the ability for everyone to clearly see what is on the presenter’s computer is key.

Audio and/or videoconferencing. You need to have a way to incorporate far-flung associates into the meeting. Either of these services allows you to easily accomplish that.

Lobby greeter. If you meeting at a location that is not part of your normal office inventory, (i.e., a rented conference room space) then it’s very important to have someone to greet all attendees, to provide directions to the conference room(s) and rest rooms, provide advice and assistance on amenities and anything else that might come up. Besides, it’s professional and it’s expected.

Full business services. We’re talking print, copy, fax. Available and easy to use and ideally serviced by the lobby greeter. I don’t think these are services Baristas are trained to provide.

Catering service. Even Napoleon was aware of the necessity of feeding the troops. So the well-equipped conference room either has a kitchen associated with it or has a handy catering service menu or two. Give your order to the lobby greeter and let him or her take it from there. I’m sure they even know where the nearest Starbucks™ is.

Extras. Maybe not absolutely necessary, but these sure make the overall meeting experience that much better and provide extra peace of mind and allow everyone to focus on the task at hand:
• Break out areas for quick, private conversation.
• Nearby restaurants. Not everyone likes the lingering odor of lunch in the room they are meeting in.
• Plenty of parking, ideally free. And in case the meeting goes long, well-lit.
• Easy access. It’s not productive to have someone arrive late because they were lost.
• After hours capability.
• Easy scheduling, preferably online, 24/7.

Fortunately for you all of this, and more, is available in any one of the three conference rooms located at Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch. The next time you need to meet in Sarasota, Bradenton or Lakewood Ranch, meet at Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch.

June 25, 2014

You Can Never Have Too Many Amenities

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One of the many advantages that come with an executive office suite are all of the amenities that are included in your lease that make your business life easier and more productive. Many, if not all, of these services are included at no extra charge.
They include:

On-site Office Manager. The Office Manager is on-site Monday-Friday to manage the facility and insure that the services you count on are always available to you. They are also there to help you set up the plan that’s right for you or to answer any questions you may have.

Upscale Décor. The modern decor is upscale and professional which greatly aids in the perception your visitors and guests have of you and your business.

Convenient Location. You don’t want your clients, prospects and visitors to have to spend an inordinate amount of time searching for your place of business. Quick, convenient access with plenty of available (hopefully free) and well-lit is a must.

A plus is if the center is located in close proximity to hotels, restaurants and shops.

Security. The user-friendly security system allows for 24/7 access to your office plus a safe working environment.

State-of-the-art Conference Facilities. Available by reservation and equipped with appointment and offers all of the assets you need to conduct a successful meeting. Such assets include Wi-Fi access, 3-way conference speaker phones, white boards, liquid refreshments and presentation equipment.

Concierge Services. The concierge attendant is available to assist you with meeting and catering planning, dinner reservations and any other professional needs that may arise.

State-of-the-art Answering System. The phone system provides a personalized telephone answering service plus 24-hour voice mail and message retrieval. Added value is obtained if the voice mail message is carbon copied as a wav file and emailed to you.

High Speed Internet. High-speed access provides always-on Internet.

Copy/ Facsimile. For your convenience, a copier and facsimile machine are available for your use. This saves you from having to commit to a long-term rental and/or service agreement.

Mail Service. Along with a prestigious business address, you should receive a private mailbox for your incoming mail.

Utilities, Janitorial, Maintenance Services. Your lease should include all of these which ensure a professional, functional working environment.

A La Carte Services. You should be able to access a wide variety of professional business services to support you in running your business. This saves you from having to employ an executive assistant or or administrative staff. Typical services include:
• Research/respond to RFP’s
• Production jobs
• Evening meeting services
• Information Management
• Website services
• Creative services
• Invoicing
• Professional administrative services
• Witness services
• Scanning service
• Printing services (color, black and white)
• Facsimile service
• Express shipping, postage and private courier services

You will find all of these amenities, and more, at Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch. To learn more call us at 941.373.1400.

June 4, 2014

Traditional vs Shared Offices and Executive Suites

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With 10+ years of experience within the Executive Suites (Shared Office Space) industry, I have seen many vital aspects of both Traditional Office Space and Shared Office Space change. The economy has helped shaped both of these industries terms pretty drastically and for technology has a more prominent role in their service offering than ever before.

The Economy is healing but at a slowed pace. Traditional Office Space is going through some pretty sever changes and is struggling to stay relevant. Building owners are trying to keep their units rented by discounting their Per Square Feet rates, playing with term lengths and find it a challenge to keep their CAM costs under control. When it comes to bigger corporations and organizations (Fortune 500 for example or the US Government, etc.), their goal is to lower their real estate foot print and increase employee productivity. This is where Shared Office Space comes into play. Executive Suites such as Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch find an increase in corporate tenants and large organizations. These types of clients no longer find value in renting out thousands of square feet to house a few new employees; now it’s all about one person offices or shared offices and maximizing their productivity. This same principal also applies to small business owners who once found prestige in renting out a free standing building or a spot in a strip mall but now it’s about cutting their expenses and going to a less traditional space.

With an Executive Suite business model, you get a shared receptionist to answer your calls (no more expensive payroll), you only use the space you actually need. Furthermore you are surrounded by other like-minded individuals from small business owners to account executives of larger corporations. Think of the great possibilities of in-house networking!
Technology has changed an awful lot as well. When I started my career in this industry, cell phones were current technology and the Internet was just starting to make its mark on industry and society. Cell phones were used to make “quick and brief” calls or during hours where it was free to dial out (“call me only after 7pm or on weekends”). Now cell phones are pervasive and have morphed into smart phones with all that their expanded technology entails.

Internet speed has increased exponentially and has created an improved method of communication known as VOIP technology. Cell phones and VOIP are not only a major method of communication but they are also a way to advertise our businesses, receive our voice mail and text messages and help us with directions to our next appointment. Furthermore, the innovation of smart tablets and much smaller portable computers have shifted the dynamics of how we report to the “office”. Today’s business professional needs a lot less space in our modern world to work. That is why places like Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch with smaller offices and collaborative work spaces are the new norm. Save on overhead, find a professional place other than a Starbucks to conduct your business (and still get great coffee) and close some deals…isn’t that what all small business owners strive for?

May 14, 2014

What Are Executive Office Suites?

View From an Executive Office
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Executive suites (also known as office business centers, serviced offices, and temporary or short-term office space) provide office space typically in a Class A office building with flexible terms and more services than that provided via conventional office space. The business owner rents a private (usually furnished) office and shares common areas such as lobby, conference and meeting rooms, and break areas. You also share a receptionist, copiers, and other office equipment such as video conferencing gear. The centers, offices and conference rooms are already finished with professional, high-end decor, furniture, and amenities. Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch provides all of this and more including daily housekeeping and building maintenance.

Executive suites give small businesses access to corporate-style amenities, atmosphere and technology without a large up-front investment. The services you will find at Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch include personalized telephone answering services, high speed Verizon FiOS Internet access, mail services, and administrative or clerical support.

There are an estimated 4,000 office business centers operating in the United States. As the many advantages that these centers have to offer are becoming better known, both small and large businesses are increasingly using them to meet their office needs.

Executive Suits at Lakewood Ranch is privately owned and also owns and manages the building that its suites are located in. On-site management insures that your business needs are attended to immediately.

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