Motorola Two Way Radios: Sometimes Simplest Solution is Best
In today’s wired world, there are so many advanced ways for co-workers to communicate. From email to smart phones, testing to video chatting applications, a new method to connect seems to appear daily. In this cluttered environment, it can be easy to forget that sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. If you work outside of office industries – like construction, manufacturing, or part of field operations in oil and gas – most of these consumer technologies just don’t cut the mustard in harsh ever-changing enviroments.
For many industries, two way radios make the most sense hands-down to keep employees connected and communication seamless.
Increase Worker Safety
For workers and managers in construction, manufacturing, and emergency services, employee safety is a high priority. Because two way radios provide for instant, real-time communication, they make it much easier for employees to point out potential safety issues to everyone in the area before they become a problem. Second opinions on potentially dangerous manoeuvres can be sought immediately. Clear, easily used lines of communication help everyone stay in the loop to avoid accidents.
Additionally, the rugged nature of two way radios makes them less likely to break in adverse conditions. If an accident does occur, what happens if no one around has a way to call for help? What if cell service is spotty inside the warehouse or at the construction site? If there’s no reliable way to communicate with supervisors, it might come down to how fast a worker can run or how loud he can yell to get help – not factors you want to rely on when it comes to the safety of your workers.
Boost Efficiency
Two way radios are instant, and perhaps more importantly, allow one person to communicate with many people at the same time. With a two way radio, a supervisor can tell everyone on a large job site about a change in plans simultaneously – he doesn’t have to call individual cell phones or spend time going to all the different parts of the site to relay their message.
The radios also have value for industries beyond construction and manufacturing. Consider industries that rely on teamwork and being able to communicate quickly and economically with co-workers that are often on the move. For example, being able to radio team members in other departments can help hotel staff protectively plan for guest arrivals without leaving designated posts like the concierge or check-in desks. Hotels can also benefit from using the radios to reach cleaning, room service or maintenance staff. Because the hotel industry involves several departments that need to work together, but are frequently mobile, a two way radio that supports multiple channels is ideal for hotels, particularly large properties. The same is true for maintenance and security staff on large school campuses. The radios eliminate the need for face-to-face communication that can eat into valuable time that could have been spent servicing guests or performing other crucial tasks.
Reduce Costs
Unlike other options that require internet connectivity or access to a phone, two way radios do not require extra services in order to be used. Unless your operation is particularly widespread and you need to use a wide area radio system, you don’t need to pay to use a network, which can be a huge monthly expense if you supply your workers with company cell phones. Two way radios generally cost just a few cents a day to use.
Not only that, but since two way radios are much more rugged than cell phones, you’ll end up spending less to replace equipment over time. For industries like construction and manufacturing, with a lot of moving parts and increased potential for drops, this is a big bonus.
It’s true that many industries require more complex communications solutions involving smartphones and network connectivity, but we’re of the belief that for many, the simple two way radio is more than sufficient: it’s ideal. In fast-paced, mobile work environments with a lot of variables, communication has to be quick and easy – and it doesn’t cost a lot to reap huge returns in safety and efficiency.
Once you decide to incorporate two radios into your business communications plan, it’s important to select the best models for your business needs. Not sure if you need analog or digital two way radios? Unclear on what features you need your radios to have? Contact us to discuss our wide selection of two ways capable of meeting the needs of any industry or start with the FREE Portable Radio Selection Guide below.
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