Push-to-talk (PTT): Why this walkie-talkie alternative is a must for frontline workers

There’s a reason why walkie-talkies have traditionally been a popular communications tool on manufacturing floors, in retail stores, in healthcare settings, and other environments. They allow employees to connect instantaneously with a single person or group of people. This type of technology, called push-to-talk (PTT, also known as press-to-transmit), is easy to use and cuts down the amount of time it takes to call or text someone and wait for a response. 

But standalone walkie-talkie devices have their weaknesses. They’re bulky and need to be charged often. As with any hardware, it can get expensive to purchase enough devices for your growing workforce, fix or replace malfunctioning equipment, and upgrade to newer models. Your employees need to remember to carry around a separate device all day, the audio quality isn’t always clear, and they only work within a limited range. 

Push-to-talk apps can turn your smartphone or tablet into the modern equivalent of a walkie-talkie with an unlimited range, without the added baggage of carrying around an extra device. Read on to learn about how organizations use PTT for frontline worker communications, and the benefits it can bring to your team.

Push-to-talk is a method of communication that allows you to transmit or receive audio by pressing or letting go of a button.

It works by using a half-duplex system, in which only one party can transmit at a time. This differs from a traditional phone call, in which both parties on either end can speak and hear each other at the same time in what's known as a full-duplex system.

When push-to-talk is active on your device, you’re in “receiving” mode and can hear audio being transmitted. Holding the button down switches your device to “transmitting” mode, allowing you to send a voice message. Letting go of the button automatically switches you back to “receiving” mode.

Today, push-to-talk capabilities aren't just available on standalone devices like walkie-talkies and two-way radios. Using a third-party app or PTT functionality offered by your phone provider can turn your mobile phone or tablet into a push-to-talk device. This service allows you to connect with others over your cellular phone network, on the same device where you make calls and send chat messages. Providers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and RingCentral provide push-to-talk capabilities at an added price, but PTT is included with paid Zoom Phone plans at no additional cost.

Frontline workers in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries with hands-on environments have unique communication needs. Push-to-talk technology addresses those needs with specific advantages over other types of communication. Not only that, using push-to-talk on your mobile device has benefits over a walkie-talkie or similar dedicated PTT device. Here are some of the reasons why you might want to consider mobile push-to-talk:

Reach a group of people

Because push-to-talk allows you to transmit your message to multiple people at once, it's perfect for environments where information is constantly being updated and requests need to be answered quickly. You can simply press a button to ask a question and reach your entire team. No more calling one department, then another, then another, to get the answer you need.

With Zoom Phone's push-to-talk feature, admins can create, name, and add users to different groups. Instead of coordinating group members on different channel numbers, all you have to do is select the name of the group you want to reach. 

Communicate instantly

Picking up the phone and calling someone may seem like a pretty quick task, but it takes time to search for a contact, dial the number, and wait for the person on the other end to pick up. With texting or instant messaging, you need to type out the message and send it, requiring your hands to be free. With push-to-talk enabled, all you have to do is press a button and speak, and your message is broadcast to other active PTT users almost instantly. They don't even need to be within arms’ reach of their device — if they’re across the room, they’ll still hear your message.

Use your existing device

Using push-to-talk as an app or feature from your phone carrier allows employees to use their existing mobile device. This often leads to lower costs and fewer operational headaches, since organizations don’t need to buy standalone walkie-talkies or radios, or worry about charging and storing them. Plus, employees only need to worry about carrying around one device while they’re on the floor. They can still be reached via phone or chat while staying available to receive and transmit audio via PTT.

Zoom Phone’s push-to-talk feature is part of the Zoom Workplace app, meaning employees will have a familiar experience to navigate. There’s no separate app to download and deploy — admins just have to enable it in Zoom to provide this functionality to their users.

Extended range

Whereas traditional walkie-talkies work within a limited range, mobile push-to-talk devices use your cellular network or wifi, giving you a much wider range. You could use push-to-talk with team members who are in a different city or state, as long as you all have a cell phone connection. 

If you want to learn how push-to-talk can help your frontline employees stay connected, here are a few examples.

“Can I get a manager to the floor?” 

A retail employee who needs to override a transaction at the register can switch to the “Afternoon shift” channel and ask a manager on duty to help. An available supervisor responds to the channel that they’re on their way so other managers know the situation is being handled.

“Any more of this product in stock?”

A manager at a large store can reach employees on the floor in a specific department to ask if a product needs to be restocked. If it does, they can switch to a back-of-house channel to see if that product can be brought out.

If your organization uses Zoom Phone, our cloud VoIP solution that’s part of Zoom Workplace, push-to-talk is available for all paid Zoom Phone users. You don’t need to download another app or pay any extra costs — all you have to do is enable push-to-talk in your Zoom account. From there, you can create channels and add channel members depending on your organization’s needs.

If you’re not using Zoom Phone, learn more about how our AI-first cloud phone system can help your team stay connected with features like push-to-talk, SMS, global calling, and more. Plus, AI Companion for Zoom Phone provides you with an AI assistant to summarize phone calls, prioritize voicemails, and identify action items — all at no additional cost.*

*Zoom AI Companion may not be available for all regions or industry verticals. Included at no additional cost with the paid services in your Zoom user account.