How modern connectivity is saving Lancashire businesses 50 per cent on overheads.

As Lancashire’s business landscape continues to evolve, the line between IT and Communications has effectively vanished.

For the modern SME, staying competitive in 2026 isn't just about having a presence in the county; it’s about having the digital agility to operate without borders.

At J700 Group, our recent expansion into our new strategic hub at Europa House, Bury, has highlighted a significant trend: Lancashire and North West-based firms are increasingly ditching legacy telecommunications in favour of unified, cloud-based systems like 3CX to fuel their growth.

The Borderless Business

Whether your HQ is in Preston, Bury or the Ribble Valley, your team is likely more mobile than ever. The traditional desk phone has become a literal anchor, tethering staff to a physical location and creating silos in communication.

By transitioning to a unified system, Lancashire SMEs are enabling their teams to take the office with them. Whether it’s a laptop in a coffee shop or a mobile app on a site visit, 3CX ensures that a Lancashire local number is answered with professional clarity, every time.

Efficiency as a Growth Driver

In a challenging economic climate, efficiency is the ultimate competitive advantage. Legacy phone systems are often riddled with zombie costs; line rentals for unused desks, expensive maintenance contracts for aging hardware and punitive call rates.

For many of the firms we partner with, the move to cloud telephony isn't just a technical upgrade; it’s a financial one. By leveraging existing internet infrastructure, businesses are typically slashing their monthly communication overheads by 30-50%. In the SME world, that is capital that can be immediately reallocated into staff, marketing or further research and development. 

Security Beyond the Server 

With the rise of sophisticated AI-driven threats, communication security is no longer an optional extra. At J700 Group, we treat telecommunications as a vital security layer for the businesses we support. By moving to a unified 3CX system managed by a local IT partner, your voice data is encrypted and your 'front door' is protected by the same rigorous standards as your servers, ensuring your communications are as resilient as your data.

A Commitment to the North West

Our expansion into Bury isn't a move away from our Lancashire roots; it’s a reinforcement of them. We believe that North West businesses deserve local, face-to-face expertise. As we grow, our mission remains the same: ensuring that the region's SMEs have the robust, scalable and secure technology they need to lead on a national stage.