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9 Tips on Choosing the Right Phone System for Your Business
By Hamish Jones
Buying a new phone system for your business is not as easy as it sounds. It is not just the handsets on your desk. There are a number of factors that you need to think about and this article outlines 9 of them. Before you make a purchase of any business system you need to consider all of the points that I mention. If you don't, you could end up with an expensive system that does not actually suit your needs.
What are the future plans for your business- You need to think about the future plans for your business. Will your business grow? Will your business change its structure or will your staff work in different ways? Will there be more remote staff working from home?
Is there likely to be changing technology in telecommunications where your business is going forwards- Is your business currently working on standard fixed line services? Are you in an area where you will likely see large increases in Internet speeds making VoIP a viable business option? If so, you may want to consider whether an IP PBX system is for you. The best phone systems these days work on both standard fixed lines and IP services.
Do you have technologically savvy people in your business- Most phone systems are easier to manage these days than in the past but they still require some level of tech savvy to manage. I ask whether you have tech savvy people because if there is someone that can do a lot of your work then you will save a lot of money in maintenance costs.
Think about how your staff can be most productive- Do you want a phone system that only supports desk phones or do you want a unified communications solution where your staff can be reached on one number no matter where they are at any given time? Unified communications through your new business phone system are a great tool for business productivity.
What sort of calling patterns do your staff make- Is it best to have your staff chained to a desk or is it better to have them out of the office and in front of clients? Unified communications mean you can have your staff doing what they should be doing but still being contactable.
Think about whether all staff need to be treated the same or differently- There may be different handset options for your new business phone system. Have a look at a phone system that supports different handsets for different staff members depending on your needs.
How much will it cost you- Cost is obviously an important factor and you have to offset certain features against what you can afford to pay.
Can you bundle it with your phone bill- Many businesses cannot afford the costs of a PBX system if they pay for the phone upfront. Will your telecommunications service provider allow you to finance the cost of your phone system and pay it off over 24 months?
Buying a business PBX system is not a spur of the moment decision. Follow the 9 tips mentioned above and you should be able to ensure that you make the right decision.
If you are considering purchasing a new business phone system give Altitude Communications a call. The team here, with over 25 years experience in telecommunications, can help you pick the best business phone system for your needs.
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