(FOX 2) – Many small businesses have come up with unique ways to stay open while protecting their employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and one Detroit company believes its technology is helping make this easier than ever.

Detroit’s Huafone Technology has seen exponential growth in its intercom sales.

Tom Meyer, the company’s director of sales says,

– They’re able to stay in business now because our system is a touchless system, so nobody has to touch a button. Everybody can be safe.

– It’s not just restaurants and their drive-thrus that are utilizing these intercom services, it’s also libraries, pharmacies, the military and more.

– It’s the only option for many types of businesses.

– One of the primary customers that we’ve had is the recycling yards, for trucks that pull in that want to recyclable goods. The people in the booths don’t want to open the window so we set up an intercom system for them so they can talk to the truck driver to get their truck weighed.

– We’ve also sold to prisons, to help inmates speak with their attorneys

And as more small business change their way of doing business to survive COVID-19, he helps to keep more of them going.

Read the full article on FOX 2 Detroit >> Detroit tech company’s intercoms saving many businesses during COVID-19

The capital and operating expenses are one of the top worries of small business owners especially, to those who are just starting out. The constant worry often leads to mistakes in certain decisions like purchasing the right equipment for their businesses. If you have not reached your break-even point in your business yet, you may have the tendency to keep your expenditure as little as possible and more often than not, the quality of the equipment suffers.
One example of an equipment that most business owners spend on is the speaker for their Drive-Thru Intercoms. This time we’ll discuss the difference between a Knock-off Speaker and an original Huafone Speaker and why investing in Knock-Offs is a BIG NO-NO in the business world.

LOUDSPEAKER

Most of the small business owners who invested in a knock-off speaker complained of the poor sound quality with too much static which often caused difficulties in communication.
An original Huafone speaker provides a good, crisp, and clear sound. Your communication with your customer can be smoothly completed with the use of a good speaker.

WEATHERPROOF

A knock-off speaker often crashes when the weather changes. It can also short-circuit and just quit working after a few showers of rain. You can lose customers if this happens often.
The original Huafone Speaker boasts of its ability to withstand any kind of weather. It has an Aluminum uni-body that is fully water-proof. Rain or shine, you can depend on the original Huafone Speaker to assist you in your business communication needs.

VANDAL PROOF

A knock-off speaker is usually made out of substandard materials that wouldn’t last for long in harsh conditions.
The original Huafone Speaker is made out to be a vandal-proof substation. It is durable and resilient enough to withstand different weather conditions and harsh environment.

ATTACHMENT

Most of the knock-off speakers use double-sided tape to attach the speaker to the wall. It’s unstable and may detach itself after a short time.
The original Huafone Speaker uses a backplate to attach the speaker to the wall safely and firmly. The backplate ensures that the speaker will remain attached to the wall despite any harsh environment conditions.

WARRANTY

The companies who sell knock-off speakers usually don’t offer any warranty. These companies usually have a sketchy return and refund policies. It’s because they know that their products do not have the best quality and it may break at any time.
Huafone have a remarkably clear warranty, refund and returns policies posted at the website. The convenience of purchasing a product from a reputable company is that they have a specific team of people who can assist you if you ever had any problem with their products.

Seeing the price of the knock-offs might tempt you to purchase it but remember, it’s only nice at the beginning. You might think that you’ve hit the jackpot because it costs less but you can’t be too sure with its quality. Your business might suffer a larger expense if you choose knock-offs that are often substandard. Always consider the longevity and quality of the equipment along with its price before purchasing anything.

As a business owner, it’s true that you should be prepared to take risks but remember to be a smart risk taker. Naive small business owners will choose an equipment that costs less without knowing anything about it. Meanwhile, smart small business owners know the importance of researching every little detail they could find about the equipment before purchasing it. Research is the key to a successful business. Research always pays off.

We all know that starting or upgrading a business is tough. There are a lot of things to consider like the budget, the location, the competition, the dedication you should have to push it through, and the equipment you need to have to make sure that your services and products can compete to the ones already well-known in the market.

One of the things to consider when starting up a business or when you’re thinking of upgrading your service is if you need to add a Wireless Drive-Thru Intercom System.

 

What is a Wireless Drive-Thru Intercom System?

 

It’s the equipment used for quick communication. We usually see this in businesses that use communication as a vital part of their services. Detroit Huafone, one of the leading manufacturers of Intercom Systems in the United States has provided Intercom Systems to a lot of different types of businesses including the restaurants, cafes, banks, pharmacies, and so much more.

 

Things to Consider When You’re Adding a Drive-Thru Service:

 

1. Place

You should have a place that can accommodate a Drive-Thru Service. Consider the layout of the ground and if it can accommodate the cars of your customers.

2. Intercom System

You should choose an Intercom System that can cater to your business needs. Your business should be equipped to handle a speed based service to make your Drive-thru service a success. Make sure that it has the feature you need the most to best serve your customers.

3. The System.

A good Intercom System is not the only one needed to make your Drive-Thru a success. You should have a planned system inside of your business place to quickly and efficiently serve the customers waiting outside. You should have a system in place that would cater to those needs down to the second. Speed is the name of the game when it comes to a Drive-Thru service.

 

Benefits of Having a Drive-Thru Intercom System:

 

1. It has a great market.

In a restaurant or a cafe business, the one who has a quick drive-thru service usually wins. The convenience of ordering from the inside of your car is great. Making it easier for a busy customer to order for a quick food is an excellent service and one that has a great market. In a time when people are always on the go, offering this kind of service is a big hit.

2. It’s convenient to use.

When you have a good Drive-Thru Intercom installed in your business, it’s convenient for both of your staff and your customers. A good Drive-Thru Intercom System will help you serve your customers much quicker and so much more efficiently.  Serving your customers quickly while in the comfort of their cars is very convenient and turns your ‘once’ customers into ‘returning’ customers. If you serve them efficiently your business will thrive even more.

3. It’s a money-making cycle.

It was said in a study that 75% of the total earnings of a business comes from the Drive-Thru Service. It may be costly to add this service to your business at first, but according to a study, the cost is worth it because of the high returns you can earn from this service.

As a business owner, planning to expand your business may be scary and admittedly, you will need to work and plan it out very carefully, but with great execution of a well-thought-out plan, it can become a great source of income.