Cellular phone calls are a universally accepted form of communication. Phone calls, along with emails and text messages, are how a majority of the modern corporate world communicates. Even industries that have a field or frontline workforce like construction, mining, emergency services, security services, etc., have moved past the age-old two-way radio communication and have started to make use of slick smartphones to connect over phone calls. They say some things never go out of style, they simply evolve. We now have walkie-talkie apps, an evolved form of push-to-talk (PTT) technology.

But they say some things never go out of style, they simply evolve. The push-to-talk (PTT) technology that once laid the foundation for two-way radio communication has now evolved into walkie-talkie apps. Like any other mobile app, walkie-talkie apps integrate seamlessly with smartphones and offer instant push-button connectivity to users.

Walkie-talkie apps make the ideal communication tool for the field and frontline employees who work in dynamic environments and need reliable and speedy communication. But to efficiently use a walkie-talkie app, employees must first be aware of the best practices.

This article highlights the dos and don’ts of using a walkie-talkie app. 

For starters, let’s delve deeper into the importance of walkie-talkie apps for modern businesses.

Why Modern Businesses Need Walkie-talkie Apps?

Walkie-talkie apps enable users to use the half-duplex mode of communication using cellular networks like 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi. It is called push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) communication. PoC is ideal for field and frontline communication because phone calls, emails, and text messages have limitations of speed and simplicity.

The reason mine workers, firefighters, police officers, and even the military preferred two-way radios over phone calls was the easy press-button connectivity. Unlike phone calls that require tedious dialing procedures, push-to-talk technology allows you to connect simply by pressing a button. PTT technology plays a crucial role in emergency communication and enhances the safety of employees.

Modern push-to-talk apps are highly compatible with smartphones and offer features beyond voice communications such as multimedia messaging, location tracking and corporate directory integration. Businesses can save costs on expensive dedicated devices or tons of licenses and permissions and employees get to use a reliable communication tool with a minimal learning curve. In addition to communication, modern businesses also benefit from using tools like an explainer video maker, which can simplify complex processes by turning them into easy-to-understand video explanations. This is particularly useful for employee onboarding, training frontline employees or ensuring that important instructions are communicated clearly across distributed teams.

Walkie-talkie Apps Best Practices: Do’s & Don’ts

Walkie-talkie apps help users turn their smartphones into walkie-talkies, which means your smartphone mimics the exact function of a walkie-talkie. We live in a mobile-first world where even children know how to use a smartphone and make phone calls or video calls. But few know how to use a walkie-talkie, the etiquette, and the best practices.

Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts when using a walkie-talkie app:

The Dos:

1. Use clear & concise messages: Walkie-talkie apps function using the half-duplex mode of communication wherein only one user can speak at a time. It is important to keep the conversation clear and brief.
2. Use group communication: Although PTT calls are instant, calling multiple individuals to convey the same message may waste time. It is advisable to create dedicated channels on your push-to-talk platform for efficient group communication.
3. Broadcast channels: Most modern PTT apps offer broadcast messaging to improve organization-wide communication. Field and frontline employees are almost always engaged in manual tasks. Broadcast messages are announced loudly as and when they’re received. Communicating updates as broadcasts ensures that every member of the team is informed.
4. Learn to use the SOS alert: Push-to-talk apps are designed to improve employee safety and crisis communication. Most PTT apps have a built-in SOS feature to send quick emergency alerts to various teams. Make sure you know the emergency drill and have your SOS button handy.
5. Leverage PTT history: PTT apps offer employees much more than just voice communication. You can revisit PTT call histories and replay previous messages. Make sure you never miss out on any important updates by visiting the PTT call history regularly.
6. Monitor employees virtually: Managing a distributed workforce can be challenging if supervisors and control centers do not have visibility of their employees. PTT apps allow supervisors and admins to view their employees’ locations, track performance, and gain deep insights into their activities. Make sure that you leverage the analytics and insights from your push-to-talk console. This minimizes the need to frequently call your on-site teams.
7. Simplify contact management: Always sync your corporate directory with your walkie-talkie app. This helps your employees spend less time searching for contacts and get in touch with anyone in the organization instantly.

The Don’ts:

1. Hear and speak at the same time: The art of half-duplex communication is that one user gets to speak at a time. It may take a short while to get used to the functioning of a walkie-talkie app. But you must take care not to hear and speak simultaneously on a PTT call.
2. Use long messages: PTT calls are short and clear. Sending long messages with too many instructions in a single go can create confusion and cause the recipient to lose other incoming calls.
3. Don’t interrupt others: Always wait until the recipient finishes transmitting their messages, especially in a group PTT call. Pause before you speak to ensure you do not interrupt others.

Closing Lines

The push-to-talk technology is known for its convenience and ease of use. It may take a short while to adjust yourself to the lingo and etiquette of using a walkie-talkie app, but it is the best way to keep your field and frontline employees connected. If you are in search of a powerful walkie-talkie app to streamline your remote communication, you can try NuovoTeam PTT. NuovoTeam offers an extensive feature set and an easy interface with secure and reliable communication.

Everyone has a smartphone these days with many mobile apps that help them accomplish various tasks. Even enterprises are rapidly adopting apps and tools to manage diverse aspects of their business. But simply having a smartphone with apps is not enough. It is important to have the right apps that simplify your complex tasks. One such powerful app is the walkie-talkie app which has enabled businesses to leave behind the age-old traditional walkie-talkie radio devices and experience the ultra-fast connectivity that suits the modern-day work environment. NuovoTeam is one of the best walkie-talkie apps that businesses must explore, especially if you have a field workforce.

What Is NuovoTeam?

NuovoTeam is a walkie-talkie app for Android and iOS smartphones that enables users to turn their smartphones into walkie-talkies. Unlike traditional walkie-talkie radios, NuovoTeam offers anytime, anywhere connectivity over cellular networks like 3G, 4G, 5G, and WiFi. No need to dial numbers or type lengthy emails, NuovoTeam can be installed and set up easily on Android and iOS smartphones and offers instant push-button connectivity just like a walkie-talkie.

Here are the major industries that can benefit from the NuovoTeam PTT app:

• Construction
• Mining
• Logistics & Transportation
• Delivery & Taxi services
• Security services
• Retail
• Hospitality

10 Reasons Why NuovoTeam Is Ideal for Modern-Day Field Communications

NuovoTeam stands out as a fast, convenient and reliable communication tool when compared to other modes of communication, including phone calls, emails, text messages, or radio communication. 

Feeling puzzled? Here are 10 strong reasons why the NuovoTeam PTT app is a must for your field communications.

1. Subscription-Based Tool

NuovoTeam is a subscription-based tool that can be easily integrated into Android and iOS smartphones. Unlike traditional walkie-talkie devices that require businesses to invest heavily in purchasing dedicated devices and expensive radio licenses, NuovoTeam offers the same walkie-talkie-like connectivity on the user’s smartphone. You can leverage a 14-day free trial to experience the platform hands-on and get acquainted with the interface and features. It cannot get more convenient and cost-effective than this!

2. Saves Time

Phone calls and emails are popular and widely used in today’s corporate world. But why is it that industrial sectors like mining, hospitality, emergency services, etc., still rely on age-old walkie-talkies? It’s because walkie-talkies offer instant push-button connectivity that is ultra-fast and devoid of complex procedures. NuovoTeam helps you to save precious minutes spent dialing a phone number and waiting for the receiver to answer it or typing a lengthy formal email. All you have to do is select the user or group that you want to connect with, press the PTT button and talk.

3. Encrypted Communication

When considering a communication tool for businesses, it’s no surprise that data security has to be factored in. Data is at present the most valuable asset a company can have. And hackers are evolving rapidly and discovering newer and better ways to hack into systems and lay their hands on sensitive corporate information. When using traditional walkie-talkie radios, corporate data security goes off the radar. Radio networks can be easily intercepted and communications are not necessarily private.

NuovoTeam offers 128-bit encryption for all communication that happens via the platform. Be it your instant messages or PTT calls you can rest assured that malicious actors cannot easily hack their way into your corporate communications.

4. Ideal for Crisis Communication

For employees who are a part of the field workforce, time is of greater importance. Getting help a few minutes faster when an emergency strikes can save lives. Working in harsh outdoor environments that are prone to accidents and hazards of various kinds makes it crucial for field employees to have a tool to leverage instant help. NuovoTeam is the best walkie-talkie app for emergencies. It comes with an SOS channel to convey faster and better during crises. You can make SOS calls which automatically initiate a 10-second PTT call followed by sharing the employee’s current location.

5. Safer for Employees

We all are aware that distracted driving is the major cause of road accidents. A report suggests that in 2019 alone, 3,142 people were killed and an estimated additional 424,000 people injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Talking on the phone or texting while you drive is illegal in several parts of the world. 

NuovoTeam enhances safety while driving with the help of barge calls. You can create broadcast groups and broadcast a message across diverse teams which would be received as and when the message is sent. With this, your drivers or workers in various labor-intensive facilities can stay updated about the latest happenings in a hands-free manner. Moreover, PTT calls are designed to be speedy and concise. Your employees can prevent lengthy dialing procedures and long conversations while focusing more on the job at hand.

Photo by drazenzigic from freepik

6. Ability to Replay Messages

Field jobs are not easy. Depending on your field of work, you are almost always surrounded by heavy machinery, engaged in physical work sporting bulky protective gear. It’s not always possible for field employees to make themselves instantly available for a phone call. Employees may not even hear their phone ring if they work in noisy environments, leading to another missed call. This is what eventually results in information silos and disengaged teams.

NuovoTeam lets you access a PTT call history and replay the older PTT messages as many times as you like. Employees no longer need to leave the work at hand to urgently attend a PTT call, they can stay updated and access the PTT message archive anytime they like.

7. Simplified Group Communication

There are several tools and ways in which you can have a remote group discussion, but how many of them are hassle-free? Think of the number of steps you must take to add multiple people to a regular phone call. NuovoTeam takes away the fuss involved in group communication. You can create numerous public or private channels based on employees belonging to various locations, departments or projects. Send a 1-1 PTT, or a group PTT just as easily with NuovoTeam.

8. Easy Integrations

You can integrate powerful Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions like Scalefusion with your NuovoTeam dashboard to simplify the deployment of NuovoTeam to all your employees’ devices. Additionally, NuovoTeam offers an extensive set of APIs to help you integrate NuovoTeam’s functionalities with your web app or backend systems.

9. Desktop PTT

Field workers have to communicate frequently, not just with their on-site crew members but also with their supervisors and other team members located at various places. NuovoTeam enables the office staff to quickly get in touch with their field employees using Desktop PTT. Imagine working in an office setup and switching between your PC and smartphone every time you need to make a PTT call. NuovoTeam’s Desktop PTT enables employees to make PTT calls straight from their desktops or any machine with a Chrome browser.

10. More Than Just a Walkie-Talkie App

Lastly, although PTT is the highlight of this tool, NuovoTeam has a lot more to offer to ensure that its users stay well-connected and collaborated. You can send text messages, images, videos, documents and even your locations. Send images, videos, business documents and invoices or simply make a video call to enable faster decisions. 

NuovoTeam also lets employees clock in and clock out from the app which enables their managers to analyze their working hours and performance metrics. Supervisors can leverage a comprehensive summary of their employees’ average working hours, locations and much more from the NuovoTeam dashboard.

Closing Lines

NuovoTeam is an app designed for all. Employees belonging to diverse fields and business sectors can make the most of NuovoTeam’s powerful feature set to streamline their remote collaboration and improve operational efficiency. Don’t take our word for it, try NuovoTeam yourself.

There are certain industries that operate with a mobile workforce such as logistics and transportation, construction, mining, etc. These businesses are always seeking efficient ways to improve long-distance communication and collaboration for their field employees.

Traditional two-way radios were largely used in field services until recently. However, radio-based two-way communication has massive limitations and does not resonate with modern field communication needs. This is why a majority of businesses are considering alternatives to walkie-talkie radios such as push-to-talk over cellular (PoC). Traditional two-way radios like walkie-talkies are rapidly being replaced by modern-day PoC radios which offer the same half-duplex connectivity with greater stability and reliability.

What is PoC Radio?

PoC Radio or Push-to-Talk over Cellular radio is a sturdy push-to-talk device that establishes a half-duplex connection between 2 users over cellular networks such as  3G, 4G and WiFi. Unlike traditional two-way radios, PoC radios offer a more stable connection with which users do not need to worry about being intercepted or experiencing frequent call drops.

6 Reasons Why PoC Radios Are Better Than Two-Way Radios for Field Communication

Employees working in field services need a communication platform that is simple and fast. Modern-day communication methods like phone calls, text messages and emails fail to deliver the speed and efficiency that push-to-talk communication offers.

PoC radios and two-way radios like walkie-talkies are two sides of the same coin. Yet, PoC radios are considered more suitable for modern-day field communication needs. The prime difference is that traditional two-way radios use radio networks to establish a connection between two users. In contrast, the PoC radios leverage the 4G/LTE networks to make the connection.

Also Read: How Does the NuovoTeam Push-to-Talk App Solve Field Service Communication Challenges?

Here are some reasons why PoC radios prevail over traditional two-way radios:

1. No Coverage Limitations

Unlike traditional walkie-talkie radios that present line of sight limitations when it comes to coverage, modern PoC radios use cellular networks to offer global connectivity. Your employees can connect with their team members just a few meters away or with other teams located miles away with instant push-to-talk connectivity.

2. High-Quality Audio

Traditional walkie-talkie radios present unstable connectivity with frequent call drops and excessive static noise. When working in remote locations with noisy work environments, communication needs to be crystal clear. PoC radios offer high-quality audio over cellular networks and prevent miscommunications.

3. No Licenses & Permissions Required

Implementing traditional two-way radios like walkie-talkies require businesses to buy expensive licenses and permissions based on the area of operation. With PoC radios, however, the setup is easy and companies do not need to purchase licenses and can skip investing in cabling, boosters and repeaters.

4. Range of Features

Unlike traditional walkie-talkie radios which offer just push-button connectivity over radio networks, modern-day PoC radios present a comprehensive range of features to enhance communication for the field and mobile workforce. You can send text messages, images, videos and share locations.

5. Secure Communication

When it comes to communicating sensitive information, radio networks are unreliable. They can be shared and easily intercepted, making them prone to security breaches. Comparatively, PoC radios use encrypted cellular networks, enabling secure conversations between users.

6. Rugged in Make

Most modern-day PoC radios are built to withstand harsh outdoor environments considering the high-risk nature of the industries they are used in. PoC radios have a sturdy body that is fall and water-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures and vibrations.

Turn Your Rugged Devices Into PoC Radios With NuovoTeam

NuovoTeam is a push-to-talk app that empowers businesses to turn their smartphones and rugged devices into PoC radios. With NuovoTeam, you can skip purchasing dedicated PoC radios and turn your existing smartphones into PoC radios with just a few clicks.

NuovoTeam offers a powerful push-to-talk app for your end-users with which they can leverage instant push-button connectivity over 3G, 4G or WiFi networks, send text messages, images, videos, share locations, record clock-ins and clock-outs, sync corporate directories for easy contact management and much more.

Managers can leverage a high-performance command center which allows them to keep a track of their distributed employees’ locations, work hours, and attendance — and even make direct PTT calls straight from the dashboard using their PCs or desktops — just like they would through a modern intranet software system.

NuovoTeam integrates easily with all Android and iOS smartphones, as well as rugged smartphones, including the following:

• CAT  S22 Flip/S62
• Samsung Xcover5
• Cyrus CS22 XA
• Kyocera E7110
• Crosscall CORE-X5
• Pointmobile PM85

Closing Lines

Be a forerunner in a competitive market. Let ambiguity never stand in the way of your business growth. Turn your smartphones into PoC radios to empower your mobile workforce with ultra-fast and reliable connectivity from anywhere in the world. Boost your customer satisfaction and brand reputation with NuovoTeam.

What comes to your mind when you imagine employees working at construction sites, warehouses, mining sites, or frontline workers such as policemen, firefighters and security guards? People dressed in protective gear holding walkie-talkie radios. That’s right, walkie-talkie radios have been the best Push-to-Talk devices that are still being used by most of the field and frontline services.

As radio communication turns obsolete gradually, businesses are seeking efficient alternatives to enable their remote field workers to stay connected with their distributed teams, line managers and operators. The evolution of modern-day Push-to-Talk devices has brought about a sigh of relief for businesses that are planning to switch their communications from radio to cellular. Why? Because now they can leverage walkie-talkie-like functionality on cellular networks.

What Are Push-to-Talk Devices?

Push-to-Talk devices are dedicated devices that offer a simple push-button interface to their users and enable instant press-button connectivity. Walkie-talkie radios, too, are an example of Push-to-Talk devices. With changing times, manufacturers have terminated the making of radio-based Push-to-Talk devices and moved to Push-to-Talk over cellular devices.

These modern-day PTT devices are compatible with cellular networks such as 3G, 4G and WiFi and allow users to leverage a clearer audio quality and encrypted communication, much like how knowledge base software provides secure and structured information access across teams. in comparison to radio communications that present loud static noise, easily interceptable unclear communications and range limitations.

Also read: 5 Reasons Why Retailers Love the NuovoTeam Push-to-Talk App

Where Do Smartphones Fall Short?

A common question that crosses the mind when you think about dedicated Push-to-Talk cellular devices is that why not just use smartphones to stay connected over phone calls? Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. Almost every person owns a smartphone today. Cellular phone calls, text messages, multi-media sharing, video calling or even accessing emails via the smartphone are common.

But, although smartphones have brought the world closer with their powerful communication capabilities, they are not the ideal choice for several industrial sectors. Industries often require specialized communication tools, like supplier portals, to manage their supply chain interactions efficiently. Industries that operate with a field workforce or a mobile workforce that is constantly on the move and works in harsh outdoor environments need a mode of communication that is simple and instant. In such cases, adopting the best cloud communication platforms—such as Microsoft Teams, RingCentral, or Zoom—can provide secure, scalable, and real-time communication tailored to industrial needs.

Phone calls, emails and text messaging are time-consuming and complex modes of communication for employees working at manufacturing units, production lines, construction sites, managing floor operations, etc. They need communication to be instant and devoid of complex dialing and typing protocols. This is where PTT devices step in. The simple interface and quick connectivity help the field workforce connect with anyone instantly with just the press of a button. This capability plays a vital role in handling urgent situations, communication crises and emergencies and ensuring safety while working.

Also read: Benefits Of Push to Talk Services For Businesses?

5 Best Push-to-Talk Devices for Your Business in 2022

Push-to-Talk devices allow your employees to leverage instant push-button connectivity over cellular networks and stay connected with anyone, anywhere—serving as a more efficient alternative to traditional methods like text messaging software in fast-paced work environments. Here’s a list of the best Push-to-Talk devices for your business.

1. Kyocera

Kyocera presents a wide range of ultra-rugged smartphones and flip phones that offer high-speed and low latency Push-to-Talk connectivity. Kyocera phones offer a programmable PTT button and have a noise cancellation system that lets you communicate clearly even in noisy outdoor environments.

Here’s why Kyocera’s rugged smartphones and flip phones are ideal for you:

• Designed to withstand shock, dust, vibrations and extreme temperatures.
• Waterproof and drop proof.
• Programmable PTT and SOS keys
• Push-to-Talk (PTT) support over WiFi and LTE, as well as speakerphone calls
• Battery saver modes for long-lasting usage

2. Samsung Galaxy Xcover Pro

Samsung’s rugged smartphone Galaxy XCover Pro launched in 2020 offers instant Push-to-Talk connectivity to its users. This makes an ideal communication platform for driving instant Push-to-Talk connectivity for the field and mobile workforce. 

Here’s why Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is the best choice for your field service employees:

• Supports Push-to-Talk over cellular networks
• Built to withstand extreme temperatures from −40 to 176 F
• Meets the IP68 standard for dust and water resistance
• Can endure 26 drops from 5 feet up
• Can be used while wearing gloves

3. Cyrus

Cyrus has a range of Android smartphones, mobile phones and tablets that are built to withstand harsh weather conditions and provide a strong battery life making them an ideal choice for field workers. Cyrus true-rugged smartphones and mobile phones meet the MIL-810G and IP68 standards and offer their users a dedicated Push-to-Talk button for instant connectivity.

Here’s why you should implement Cyrus products to keep your field workforce connected:

• Dedicated Push-to-Talk button
• SOS button for emergency and crises communication
• Can be operated with gloves or when they display is wet
• Dust resistant and shockproof
• Gorilla glass screen
• Long battery life

4. Cat Phones

Cat phones offer market-leading rugged smartphones that are engineered to withstand dust and bustling high-pressure environments. Users can leverage SOS connectivity, thermal imaging technology and much more making it a perfect fit for field workers.

Here’s why your business can benefit from investing in Cat phones:

• Built to endure extreme environments
• Programmable side push-to-talk button
• Long battery life
• IP68 and MIL-SPEC certified rugged performance
• Corning Gorilla glass screen

5. Crosscall

Crosscall is a French brand that specializes in manufacturing rugged smartphones and tablets for field services and industries that operate in harsh environments. Crosscall rugged smartphones offer their users a heavy-duty exterior and are equipped with a programmable side Push-to-Talk button to enable instant communication.

Here’s why you should invest in Crosscall smartphones to keep your field workforce connected:

• 1-1 or group communication with a programmable Push-to-Talk button
• Long battery life 
• Glove touch technology

Closing Lines

Communication is the key to operational success, especially in modern times when businesses are exploring enterprise mobility. The ease of use, simplicity and speed delivered by Push-to-Talk devices is unmatched. You can also experience this ultra-fast, simple and reliable Push-to-Talk connectivity using your own Android or iOS smartphones with the NuovoTeam Push-to-Talk app. NuovoTeam is designed to help the mobile workforce simplify its remote communication and easily integrate with your smartphone to turn it into a walkie-talkie.

Fleet management is the process of keeping all the fleet running on time with maximum efficiency. It involves several players including fleet managers who constantly monitor fleet drivers and various activities involving routing, asset management and much more. Needless to say, fleet management requires flawless communication between managers, drivers, dispatch agents and warehouse workers to ensure on-time deliveries and customer satisfaction. Earlier, fleet drivers relied on two-way radios to communicate with diverse team members. Two-way radios being simple in functionality offer easy push-button connectivity, which enabled fast connectivity to fleet drivers.

However, radio networks are gradually becoming obsolete and with it, radio devices such as walkie-talkies are becoming outdated. This has left fleet management companies to rely on cell phones for their daily communications. But do cellphones offer the same speed and simplicity as walkie-talkie radios?

Fleet drivers are constantly on the move, which means they need to communicate every minor and major detail with their distributed teams. Maintaining efficiency can be really challenging when you are constantly moving between destinations.

What Are the Common Fleet Management Challenges?

1. Decision Making

Your fleet drivers are the bottom line of your company. They are the ones that manually transport your cargo, interact with the middlemen and ensure timely and safe deliveries. With so many responsibilities on their shoulders, drivers are required to stay constantly in touch with their supervisors and team members for informed decision-making. Phone calls are not up to the mark when your driver needs to connect instantly with his line manager to discuss routes, detours and issues.

2. Employee Engagement

Fleet drivers are a part of a deskless workforce that is constantly on the move. Drivers do not have the benefit of discussing issues with their colleagues in person, experiencing cross-functional teamwork or staying up to date about the minute company happenings. Businesses need to take extra efforts to ensure that their drivers are well-informed and engaged at work.

3. Asset Tracking

Modern-day fleet drivers are provisioned with technologies that help them improve their efficiency. Transportation companies provide their drivers with digital devices such as smartphones, walkie-talkies, electronic logging devices (ELDs), etc. While these digital devices play a vital role in enhancing on-road efficiency and connectivity, tracking these devices and gaining visibility of the constantly moving fleets can be a great challenge for managers.

4. Employee Safety

According to a report, 4842 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2020, which is 33% higher than the rate of truck accidents in 2011. Communication, no matter how crucial, can be a source of distraction for drivers. Expecting drivers to dial lengthy phone numbers and engage in long phone conversations, or typing lengthy details over text messages is impractical and hazardous to their lives.

Push-To-Talk Apps: A Safe Way to Communicate While Driving

You can prioritize your drivers’ safety, and yet achieve instant communication with push-to-talk apps. Push-to-talk apps essentially bring walkie-talkie-like capabilities to your smartphone. Which means that your drivers can turn their smartphones into walkie-talkies and leverage ultra-fast push-button connectivity anytime, anywhere.

How is this different from walkie-talkie radios? Here’s how.

1. Sound clarity: Unlike walkie-talkie devices that use radio networks, push-to-talk apps function over cellular networks. Cellular networks provide a superior sound quality in comparison to radio networks.

2. Wider coverage: Unlike radio devices which offer connectivity over a limited area, Push-to-talk over cellular networks offers global connectivity and does not operate on line of sight transmission.

3. Encrypted communication: Radio networks can be easily intercepted making them less secure. When it comes to corporate conversations, it is best to rely on cellular networks that offer encrypted communication.

4. Lesser devices: Your drivers must always be heads-up and as hands-free as possible. Carrying more than one device such as smartphones and walkie-talkies on the voyage and constantly juggling between them poses safety concerns. Push-to-talk apps allow smartphones to be turned into walkie-talkies, which means the drivers need to carry only a single device.

Also read: Various Modes of Field Communication: Why PTT Stands Out?

Nuovoteam Push-to-Talk: Taking Fleet Management to the Next Level

NuovoTeam is a powerful and sophisticated push-to-talk app that helps logistics and transportation businesses stay connected with their fleet drivers while ensuring seamless communication and enhancing driver safety.

Your drivers need not engage in intense training to use the app. It can be easily integrated into Android, iOS, rugged smartphones, as well as custom-built devices and is extremely easy to use.

Know how the NuovoTeam Push-to-talk function works, here.

Here’s why NuovoTeam is the ideal communication platform for your fleet management. Explore the comprehensive capabilities offered by NuovoTeam to keep your workforce connected on the go.

1. 1-1 or 1-many PTT calls

With NuovoTeam, you can connect with a single employee or an entire group with just the press of a button. NuovoTeam Push-to-Talk lets you create public and private channels for privacy-focussed communication.

2. Multi-Media Messaging

Your fleet drivers can go beyond voice communications and share images, videos, files in diverse formats over the air. This allows drivers and line managers, or employees belonging to diverse teams to stay updated with the latest reports and documentation.

3. Location Tracking

Line managers and supervisors working from offices struggle with decreased visibility of their moving fleets. NuovoTeam lets you track your drivers’ locations, define location accuracy, and sampling frequency and analyze route histories.

4. Geofence-Based Clock Ins & Clock Outs

Managers no longer need to conduct frequent calls to check if their drivers have punched in and are on duty. They can view their driver’s working hours by monitoring their attendance on the NuovoTeam dashboard. Managers can also choose to configure geofence-based clock in and clock out for their teams.

5. Corporate Directory Integration

Looking for contact details of employees belonging to diverse verticals can be a time-consuming affair. NuovoTeam lets you integrate your organization’s corporate directory, and sync your phonebook and contact list so that you and your drivers do not have to waste more than a minute looking for contact information.

Closing Lines

Fleet drivers have to maneuver large containers, drive for long taxing hours, navigate through rocky terrains, maintain constant communication with multiple teams and ensure timely deliveries of shipments. They deserve a communication platform that caters to their needs. NuovoTeam PTT fits in perfectly with the complex fleet management needs and enables you to simplify your communication across diverse geographies.

Push-to-Talk apps, which are replacing walkie-talkie radios in field services are now gaining traction in the retail industry as well owing to the simplified and seamless communication that they offer. The retail industry is dynamic in nature with new trends surfacing frequently. E-commerce is one such trend that has considerable popularity. However, despite the widespread popularity of online shopping, a majority of shoppers prefer old-school brick-and-mortar stores. People prefer an interactive shopping experience with great customer service. As we already know, communication is one of the most important aspects of customer service. Retail stores have a distributed on-site workforce that needs to communicate efficiently with each other, to deliver a great shopping experience.

Retail stores have employees deployed at various locations, guarding the facility, greeting customers, assisting customers to find the right product, evaluating inventory and attending cash counters. It is impractical for a cashier to run and greet the customer, assist with finding the right product, as well as help the customer with an easy check-out process. Brick-and-mortar stores are buzzing with people more often than not, and demand a large on-site staff deployed at specific locations to cater to diverse customer needs. A push-to-talk app helps this distributed retail workforce stay connected at all times without interruptions.

Retail: The Current Landscape

It is true that online shopping allows customers to shop round the clock and offers greater convenience with doorstep deliveries and instant online payments. But, a majority of people also prefer the in-store retail experience, interaction and pre-purchase product trials, as well as the immediate nature of in-store shopping, rather than waiting for days to receive a delivery and paying extra shipping charges. According to a report, 46% of consumers prefer in-store shopping over online shopping. But, 60.3% of consumers have also abandoned a brand for good due to a poor in-store experience. In view of the modern-day consumer demands, retailers worldwide are prepared to take their in-house service to new levels with an aim of delivering a flawless customer experience by leveraging solutions like ecommerce solutions and retail execution monitoring software to optimize their operations.

NuovoTeam Push-to-Talk

NuovoTeam is a push-to-talk app that lets users turn their smartphones into walkie-talkies. Why is this a boon for retailers? Because retailers can ditch the age-old radio-based walkie-talkies and empower their in-house staff with push-to-talk over cellular networks for better clarity and easy push-button connectivity. It offers users to leverage simple and fast push-button connectivity instead of making time-consuming calls and keeping the customers on hold. Besides, since the NuovoTeam app can be easily installed on smartphones, your on-site staff does not need to carry multiple devices to work. Smartphones are owned and operated by almost everyone these days, your employees can leverage instant connectivity using their very own smartphones.

Why Retailers Love NuovoTeam

1. Improved Inter-Team Collaboration

Your staff can connect with their front-end or back-end teams with just the press of a button. NuovoTeam PTT app is easy to use and adds efficiency to your retail operations. For example, your sales consultants can instantly connect with the inventory managers in the stockroom to find out the product availability instead of running back and forth. Or, cashiers can instantly connect with their teams for price lookup or assistance with customer management.

2. 1-1 and 1-Many Conversations

The communication between in-store staff is always dynamic and situation-driven. NuovoTeam PTT app allows your store employees to connect 1-1 or in groups. Not every communication can be done 1-1, some communications such as company-wide updates, organizational changes, emergency updates, etc. need to be heard and discussed with all employees in the store. With NuovoTeam, you can create diverse public and private channels that let you connect with a specific group of people regardless of their locations.

3. Beyond Just Push-To-Talk

No doubt voice communications are the best form of conveying information since they add a human element to the conversations and drive greater clarity. But, NuovoTeam allows you to step above and beyond simple PTT calls and voice communication and leverage multi-media sharing, location sharing and text messaging, all from the same app. You can instantly share discount details, stock images, invoices and much more with your team members.

4. Easy Implementation

If you have thought of implementing a communication tool for your in-store executives, you must already be aware that endless options exist. But what’s important is that the communication platform that you pick is easy to implement and allows scalability. NuovoTeam integrates easily with Android, iOS smartphones, as well as custom-built devices and offers connectivity on any network, be it WiFi, cellular, 3G, 4G or 5G. You can even integrate your MDM solution and distribute the NuovoTeam app remotely on your bulk devices with ease.

5. Cost Efficient

What’s more comforting than realizing that you have found yourself a solution that can add value to your operations and reduce costs at the same time? Implementing a powerful app like NuovoTeam allows you to skip investing in bulky and expensive radio devices, as well as the extensive licenses that they require. Moreover, with a feature-rich platform like NuovoTeam’s you need not invest in separate instant communication, location tracking or file sharing tools. A single app caters to all your communication needs—making it an ideal choice for a dropshipping business seeking to streamline supplier and customer coordination.

Closing Lines

Good customer service and a well-managed store is the best strength that retailers can have today. Your customers must feel engaged and satisfied even during your busiest hours. NuovoTeam steps in perfectly to fill the communication void for your in-store staff and helps deliver greater efficiency.

Have you ever wondered how much time we spend inside buildings and various facilities? Research suggests that an average of 90% of our lifetime is spent indoors. No matter what the space is, an office, a shopping complex, a factory or a hospital, there are countless buildings and facilities that are created for diverse purposes. The maintenance and management of these countless facilities is a complex operation that requires tremendous coordination between various teams.

Given the diverse nature of the task, facility managers who oversee large properties need to be aware of the challenges and the solutions in order to streamline workforce management. In this article, we’ll shed light on some of the major challenges encountered in facilities management, and how facility or property managers can resolve these challenges. But first, let’s talk about what facilities management exactly is.

What Is Facility Management?

Facilities management is a vital combination of manpower, processes and equipment to ensure that the functioning and the infrastructure of the real estate are secure and well-maintained. Facility managers are responsible for executing strategic plans to ensure improved operational efficiency, reduced costs and strong preventive measures for the smooth functioning of the place. It is an extremely crucial aspect of every organization since it helps people living and working in various spaces feel secure and have the best experience.

What Are the Different Types of Facilities Management?

Facilities management is a multidisciplinary industry with diverse specialties and demands. Here are some of the major types of facilities management.

• Real estate management
• Enterprise asset management
• Energy management
• Space and floor management
• Environment and safety management

What Are the Top Challenges in Facility Management?

1. Increasingly Distributed Workforce

A large on-site workforce is required to manage diverse operations involved in managing a facility. But managing a large workforce itself is a complex chore, and that includes employee training. Facility management encompasses a largely dispersed workforce. Keeping track of employees’ locations, coordinating with remotely located team members, communicating the latest updates, and ensuring ongoing employee training are all part of this cumbersome task.

2. Constant Damage Control

Facility managers have to always be on their toes and expect a constant inflow of problems that require instant damage control activities. It can be highly pressurizing to receive constant urgent calls, locate relevant on-site teams to have various issues fixed and prioritize every task to ensure people working, visiting or residing in your positive geared property do not encounter obstacles. Implementing a property management answering service can ensure that urgent calls are promptly addressed, facilitating swift damage control and enhancing tenant satisfaction

3. Maintaining Productivity

Facility management can be demanding at times, as the workforce is required to constantly multi-task and get diverse operations done in a time-critical manner. There needs to be a smooth communication flow, seamless exchange of information and documents between on-site employees and a tad bit of automation to reduce excessive hours spent on manual tasks. All these factors help teams improve their productivity and operational efficiency.

4. Safety & Compliance

Security is a big subset of facility management. In the event of security failures, the on-site workforce needs to have an instant means of communication in order to execute urgent actions. Utilizing SOP software in these scenarios enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of communication and task management. Managing risks of the facility or people working on the facility need to be dealt with on an urgent basis. Manually hunting for your crew members on-site is time-consuming. Efficient contingency plans, supported by SOP, rely on speed and accuracy to ensure that procedures are followed correctly and promptly.

Read more: How Do Push-To-Talk Services Help Businesses To Save Costs?

Instant Communication: The Key to Efficient Facility Management

Considering the key challenges, establishing superior facility management requires seamless communication between diverse on-site teams to coordinate and execute various activities. Facility managers need to constantly be aware of the whereabouts of their team members, and leverage a cloud contact center for instant connectivity with their crew members, as well as other departments., Employees need instant connectivity with their crew members, as well as other departments. Time is of the essence and the workforce is distributed, which means a fast and reliable communication platform is a must.

NuovoTeam is a push-to-talk app that helps diverse businesses streamline their remote communication. Communicating with a distributed workforce over phone calls is time-consuming and impractical which is why facility managers have relied on outdated walkie-talkie radios for so long. NuovoTeam helps the facilities management industry to turn smartphones into walkie-talkies. Your on-site workforce can connect with each other over cellular networks just by the push of a button.

NuovoTeam offers the following capabilities to help your facility management team communicate with ease:

1. Instant push-to-talk connectivity
2. Over-the-air file sharing
3. Multi-media messaging including images, videos, etc.
4. Corporate directory integration for faster contact search
5. Location sharing to quickly locate on-site team members
6. Monitoring employee attendance and clock ins & outs

How does this benefit facility management teams?

1. No need to rely on bulky and unclear radio devices
2. No need to invest in expensive radio equipment
3. NuovoTeam is easily integrated into Android, iOS and rugged smartphones
4. No need to waste time on dialing or typing protocols
5. Distance is no more a barrier, you can connect with anyone, anywhere
6. You can conduct group calls to keep your entire team well-informed

Closing Lines

Facility management is required by every organization. But managing large properties and facilities has several complexities that need to be addressed and resolved. NuovoTeam helps facility managers to streamline one of the most important aspects of facility management – instant communication.

Walkie-talkies are devices that we all know. You must have seen construction workers, or first responders such as police officers and firefighters use these devices at work. Why do these frontline employees or field service workers use walkie-talkie radios and not smartphones? We live in a mobile-first world where smartphones are commonplace, and most business communications happen using smartphones. So why pick walkie-talkie radios over cellular smartphones? The answer is simple. Walkie-talkie radios offer push-to-talk capabilities that your smartphone does not.

Why Should You Turn Your Smartphone Into a Walkie-Talkie?

Let’s rewind and think about how we make phone calls from a smartphone. You hunt for a number in your contact list. Then you dial the number and wait for the receiver to receive your call. Followed by this you exchange pleasantries and convey your message. Often, your calls go unanswered simply because the receiver is busy. When you think of first responders, or field workers that operate in high-risk remote locations, cellphones are too time-consuming.

But sadly, walkie-talkie radios aren’t as efficient either. It is true that users can leverage super fast push-button connectivity with walkie-talkie radios. But radio communication has failed to evolve with time and presents several challenges in terms of coverage and call quality.

So the next best thing is to combine the capabilities of a walkie-talkie into smartphones and that is exactly what Push-to-Talk apps like NuovoTeam help achieve. That’s right! You can simply turn your smartphone into a walkie-talkie by downloading a PTT app.

NuovoTeam PTT App to the Rescue

NuovoTeam Push-to-Talk App can be easily installed on your Android or iOS smartphones, as well as your rugged and custom-built devices. Besides push-to-talk voice communications, NuovoTeam provides your employees with a powerful communication suite that helps them leverage business messaging, multi-media sharing, location tracking and much more.

You can save immense amounts of money spent on purchasing expensive radio equipment and the licenses associated with it by turning your employees’ smartphones into walkie-talkies. Wondering how you can turn your smartphone into a walkie-talkie with NuovoTam? Here’s a simple step-by-step process.

Step by Step Guide on How Can You Turn Your Smartphone Into a Walkie-Talkie With NuovoTeam

Getting Started

Visit the NuovoTeam website and sign-up with NuovoTeam. Fill in all the required information, check the terms & conditions checkbox after reading it carefully and proceed to click on the ‘create account’ button. Alternatively, if you have already created a NuovoTeam account, simply enter your login credentials to access the NuovoTeam dashboard.

• Step 1: Add Users

Once you have gained access to the NuovoTeam dashboard, you can add one or more users from the ‘Users & Teams’ section on the left-hand side feature panel. You can either choose to ‘Add user’ or ‘Upload CSV’ of your contact list. Once you enter the user details, click on ‘invite’. The users will receive an invitation to log into NuovoTeam. You can view the invite status to check if the users have successfully accepted the invitation.

• Step 2: Log in to NuovoTeam

Users can now download the NuovoTeam app on their Android or iOS smartphones from the Google PlayStore or the Apple App Store. Once installed, they simply have to log in to their NuovoTeam accounts to start using the software from their smartphones.

Note: If you use the NuovoTeam IDs to create users, the credentials need to be passed down manually to the users.

• Step 3: Use the PTT Button

Once the users successfully gain access to the NuovoTeam app, they can leverage the PTT button located under the ‘Talk” section to establish a PTT connection with any user from their contact list or the corporate directory.

• Step 4: Desktop PTT

Line managers, supervisors and office staff too can leverage web-based PTT calls straight from their web dashboards. With this, the office staff can connect with any field employee or a group of employees straight from their desktops.

• Step 5: Create Teams

You can create a team on an organizational level and select the contact types and lists. You can also sync employees’ phone books with the published contacts. To create a team follow these directions:

1. Add the basic information such as team name, list the contact list behavior and toggle the other options of your choice. Then click on ‘next’ and select the users.

2. Once you have added users to the team you have the option to enable or disable the default SOS channel along with a set of channel settings.

3. Finally, configure your team’s work schedule, alert behavior and location behavior before clicking on ‘Done’. Your newly created team will appear in the Users & Teams section of the dashboard. You can edit or delete the teams by clicking on your team and accessing the three-dot menu.

• Step 6: Create Channels

You can add multiple users and create open or closed channels based on their locations, departments, etc. This helps you to make group PTT calls and connect to a larger audience.

Closing Lines

NuovoTeam helps field service industries and frontline industries reduce costs on age-old radio technology that is extremely expensive and gradually turning obsolete. Employees can instead leverage ultra-fast push-button connectivity straight from their smartphones.
To know more about how NuovoTeam helps you to turn your smartphones into walkie-talkies, please visit https://nuovoteam.com/push-to-talk-app

Almost 2 billion people worldwide are field service workers who work in task-oriented roles at remote locations and are constantly on the go. These field service workers interact with your customers, represent your brand and cater to real-world challenges. Be it employees who work at warehouses, manufacturing lines, construction sites, mining sites or logistics and delivery companies, what they lack and deserve the most is seamless and quick communication. Although several enterprises belonging to these industries provide legacy two-way radios such as walkie-talkies or land mobile radios, in today’s mobile-first world, radio communication does not cut it. This is why several businesses are turning towards Push-to-Talk over cellular networks.

Push-to-Talk is a mechanism that allows two users to connect with each other using a simple push-button action. Legacy walkie-talkie radios use this same push-button mechanism to establish a half-duplex communication between the sender and the receiver. Thanks to technological advances, this PTT capability can now be integrated into smartphones and rugged devices using powerful Push-to-talk apps.

What is NuovoTeam?

NuovoTeam is a push-to-talk app that is designed to keep the field employees well-engaged and connected on the go. It can be easily integrated into Android, iOS smartphones, as well as rugged smartphones and custom-built devices. Unlike walkie-talkie radios that require dedicated handsets and licenses, NuovoTeam needs to be simply installed on the users’ devices to enable them to use their smartphones as walkie-talkies. In a mobile-first world, all field industries require not just communication, but real-time collaboration. In view of this, NuovoTeam offers its users a complete suite of communication features right from text messaging to multi-media sharing. It is one app that can cater to all your field communication needs.

Read more: What is a Push-to-Talk app?: A Fundamental Elaboration

Challenges of Field Workers & How NuovoTeam Helps To Mitigate Them

1. Communicating in Harsh Environments

Most field operations are labor intensive with heavy-duty machinery and harsh terrains. Picking a mobile device for your field employees is vital to creating a seamless communication experience. Most field employees carry more than one mobile device to work. While some businesses provide dedicated walkie-talkie radios to their field workforce, others provide them with rugged devices to sustain the harsh field environments. But the challenge of juggling between several devices in a noisy outdoor environment still persists.

How NuovoTeam helps: NuovoTeam is a Push-to-talk app that can be easily installed on smartphones, as well as rugged devices. With this, your employees can simply carry one rugged smartphone to work that can offer a plethora of instant communication features for your employees. No more need to switch between multiple devices at work.

2. Lack of Collaboration

Voice communication is important for your field workforce, it adds a human element and ensures clarity when conveying messages. However, with today’s dynamic work environments, your field workforce has to manage unpredictable situations and emergencies. Just voice communication is not enough, businesses need to collaborate with their field force management software on the go. Effective collaboration is built on mutual understanding and shared goals, as highlighted in resources like these 225 quotes about teamwork.

How NuovoTeam helps: NuovoTeam offers a wide array of features from instant voice communication such as push-to-talk and VoIP calls, to other means of communication including video messaging and text messaging. Your field employees can instantly share high-quality images, files, as well as their current locations using NuovoTeam.

3. Ineffective Group Communication

Field communication does not just mean connectivity between field employees. Your field employees also need to connect with their line managers, supervisors, subject-matter experts and other remotely located teams. Walkie-talkie radios have geographical limitations and enable only line-of-sight connectivity. Phone calls provide global connectivity, but are too time-consuming as users have to undergo specific dialing protocols and can connect only with one person at a time.

How NuovoTeam helps: NuovoTeam allows companies to create public and private channels to establish group PTT calls. With this, your field employees can connect with multiple people from anywhere in the world. This simplifies communications and ensures that all the concerned employees are on the same page.

4. Non-Secure Business Conversations

Although field communications are different in comparison to office communications, one thing that remains common is data security. Businesses that have a field workforce experience a greater threat of their corporate data being leaked. Legacy walkie-talkies do not offer encryption. Radio frequencies are shared between multiple users or organizations which makes it very easy for strangers to gain access to your private conversations. Ensuring the confidentiality of the sensitive business information that is being relayed back and forth with your field employees is a great challenge.

How NuovoTeam helps: NuovoTeam understands that businesses have to suffer heavy revenue losses and legal and financial penalties if they encounter corporate data breaches. That is why the communication made from the NuovoTeam software is secured with 128-bit encryption.

5. Lack of Safety & Seamless Crisis Communication

Hands-free connectivity is when users do not have to engage themselves in physically receiving a call or reverting to it. This capability is something that field employees require the most given the fact that they are heavily engaged in labor-intensive processes and sport bulky protective gear such as helmets, gloves and safety suits. Receiving a phone call means that the field employees have to surrender the equipment in hand, and remove their gloves and helmet just to pick up a call. This not only puts the employees at risk but also lowers their productivity. In emergencies when lives are on the line, this cumbersome process is highly ineffective.

How NuovoTeam helps: NuovoTeam allows users to receive barge calls as and when they arrive, without the need to manually receive a message. With this, employees can focus on the task at hand and still be updated with all the latest information in a hands-free and eyes-free manner.

Closing Lines

Today’s field service workers have to survive volatile environments wherein communication can make or break their day. It is crucial that businesses opt for evolving technologies as times change. NuovoTeam PTT app helps businesses combine the pros of walkie-talkie radios and modern-day communication tools and delivers streamlined connectivity for all.