4 Things To Think About When Buying A New Small Business Phone System

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Phone systems are currently very essential for a business to have as they improve the work environment in terms of speed and efficiency. Below are some key factors that one needs to consider when buying a new business phone system.

1. What Type Of System To Use. – There are mainly 2 to choose from which are Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system which runs over the internet or an analog system which delivers calls to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). VoIP is normally the best way to go as it offers many features at a very considerable cost. There is also the choice of having an on-premise system like the Cisco Smart Business Communications System or the Cisco Unified Communications 300 series or a hosted VoIP service like the Cisco Hosted Small Business Communications. Both hosted VoIP and on-premise have their advantages but in a small business, one normally considers whether the resources and staff are adequate enough to manage the phone system.

2. What It Is Going To Cost. – Small companies normally choose the phone system they desire with the cost having the biggest impact on which they choose. Comparing costs between different sellers and between hosted and on-premise solutions is very important. One of the main benefits of a hosted service is that it offers many different features at a reasonable price. Both solutions require the network infrastructure to be upgraded in order to be able to handle the extra voice traffic. The choice of using VoIP will result in a faster connection to the internet. As factoring in the cost of a solution is not enough, one needs to also put into consideration other things like: the cost of the hardware which supports the phone system, the budget required for the management of the phone system both internally and externally and the implementation costs from the vendor. Some of these costs are going to be on a regular basis depending on the calling plans.

3. What Features Are Needed. – While different companies have different requirements most phone systems tend to provide a similar set of basic features which include basic conferencing, call monitoring features like caller ID, voicemail and incoming and outgoing call management capabilities. Depending on the need, different products can be modified to suit your companies requirements. For example, you might be looking for extra customer service features like call center capabilities or automated call attendant or integration with devices such as mobile phones and computers. If you require advanced features or need some customization to the voice systems, working with a local phone system direct reseller who has a specialty in voice system is a good way to go in order to fully implement your phone solution.

4. What You Require From Your Vendor. – A lot of what phone systems offer are similar hence choosing the right one usually comes down to picking the vendor that suits your business. You should carefully look into each vendors pricing models, future road map and support policies for every solution in consideration. Inquire into some customer references so as to find out if the vendor actually delivers the type of customer service that suits your requirements. Also, ensure that the contract with your vendor has all the discussed matters and the vendor provides you with a project plan that explains the expectation of the implementation.

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