Featured article by Boris Dzhingarov, Independent Technology Author
Telecommunication sits at the heart of every business. Whether you are streaming data over the internet or receiving phone calls through a PBX system, the support of a capable and robust telecom system is essential to the growth of any business.
That is why the tasks of choosing and installing a suitable business phone system are crucial. You have to find a system that isn’t only reliable, but also cost-efficient and produces good ROI. There are several things you need to know when it comes to choosing a business phone system.
Know Your Options
Before you begin looking into your business needs and calculating the scale of your telecom needs, you need to take quick look at the available options. Aside from the more conventional PBX system, there are a lot of business phone solutions to choose from.
VoIP-based systems are among the most popular right now. They are immensely flexible and offer additional benefits such as ease of integration. There are also modules that help bridge old PBX systems with newer VoIP solutions.
For an even lower entry barrier and a higher long-term ROI, you have hosted phone systems. They are essentially VoIP-based systems, but without any on-premise servers or expensive hardware to invest in. Hosted phone systems also come as managed services.
SIP or Session Initiation Protocol is another option to review. SIP is very similar to ISDN, but rather than using conventional switches and copper cables, SIP relies on automation and the internet in general. It offers the best of both worlds.
Check Your Internet Backbone
The availability of a strong internet backbone is essential in this decision-making process. For you to turn to IP-based systems like SIP and VoIP, you need a capable broadband connection. If a suitable broadband or fiberoptic connection is not available, now is the best time to get one installed.
Depending on where you are based, you will have a number of providers to choose from. Don’t forget to also check with the telephony service providers that you are considering in order to get recommendations or even managed broadband service as an integrated package.
Companies like integratedcom.net also offer integrated communications as a service. This means you can trust a single provider to provide everything from business phones, fiber internet, and even your call center needs. You will certainly save a lot of time and money by working with a single provider.
Know Your Needs
If your business has been running for a while, this would be the easiest part of the process. You already know the kind of telephony services you will use the most and you can tailor the new system based on specific business needs.
For new companies, however, there is no past experience to turn to. The best way to go in this situation is enlisting the help of an expert. A consultant – including the one from your service provider – will guide you through the process of reviewing your business needs.
At the end of that process, you will have a clear picture of a suitable business phone system to install. Now is the time to start taking into account details such as the devices you want to use and the investment you are willing to make for the system.
Now that you know these essential things about choosing a business phone system, it is a lot easier to invest in the right system. Maximizing ROI and supporting business operations with a capable phone system will no longer be an issue.
Boris Dzhingarov graduated UNWE with a major in Marketing. He is the founder of a brand mentioning agency ESBO ltd.
