Your business phone system is central to the workings of your business. Text, email, social media and websites are all integral parts of communicating with customers. But that does not mean the phone is obsolete. In fact, most people still prefer the old fashioned way of communicating. Most of your leads covert over the phone, believe it or not. This makes it even more important to make sure you pick the right phone provider like AT&T or Frontier service. But don’t make this decision in haste. You don’t want to end up with a system that barely covers your needs. This blog can help you make that decision in an informed manner.
8 Tips to Choose the Right Phone System
Phones are still popular because of the personal and immediate connection they offer. So there is no question about whether you need a phone system for your business. But there is a lot to consider when you’re thinking of getting a new business phone system. After all, you don’t intend to do business for a few months. There’s no reason why your phone system shouldn’t be just as sustainable. Here are 8 things to look for when choosing a business phone system:
- Is it scalable?
- Is there a backup?
- How many calls do you anticipate?
- Who answers your phone?
- Do you have multiple locations?
- What features do you get?
- Is it mobile friendly?
- How much maintenance does it need?
This simple checklist can help you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right phone system for your business. Let’s see how.
Is it Scalable?
Most businesses aim to grow beyond their comfort zone, which is a healthy outlook. As your business grows, you may need to hire more staff to manage the workload. More staff obviously means at some point you’ll have to add more phone lines. So ask yourself, is your business phone system scalable? Is it easy or difficult to add new phones to the system? Do you need a complicated setup procedure to add new people? Will you be needing a service technician to install the new phones? These are all important questions that you should ask yourself when considering scalability.
Is there Backup?
VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is extremely popular, but it has an Achilles heel. VoIP works using an internet connection. This means any internet downtime will also cause your phones to go offline. When considering a phone system, it’s very important to confirm if the system has a backup for situations like this. It would be extremely detrimental to have your phone system go down because of an internet outage.
How many Calls do you Anticipate?
Call volume should be the next major consideration on your list. You need to have some idea of how many people simultaneously use your system. You also need to anticipate the number of calls you may receive. If your system can’t handle them, your phone lines will get tied down. This will make it harder (and annoying) for your customers to reach you. Don’t go for a system with limited call volume capabilities.
Who Answers your Phone?
Who answers your business phone is a very important factor to consider. The first touch is the first impression, so you need to put thought into it. This will also be a consideration when choosing a phone system. If you will have a receptionist answer the phone and then route the call, you will need a phone system that supports that. If you go for a call tree, you need a phone system that lets customers dial directly.
Do you have multiple locations?
Thanks to globalization, businesses are above geographical limitations these days. You need to consider the different locations you have business units in. If there are multiple locations, you would do well to go for a hosted phone system. This lets you dial any person on your system using a 3-digit extension. It works just like a regular office phone but eliminates tedious long distance dialing or video calls.
What Features do You Get?
One thing you need to clarify with your service provider is what features are included in the cost. Some providers build advanced phone system features into their service. Others charge an additional fee for them. Explain to your provider what features you need. Features like call routing, call queues, call recording, outlook integration or reporting may or may not be essential. Consider what your business needs and ask for those features.
Is it Mobile Friendly?
Most staff these days is mobile. This means they rarely use a desk phone. In some cases, they may never have used a desk phone at all. A mobile-savvy workforce means you need a system that supports that. Your phone system should support VoIP, call forwarding and voicemail for mobile workers.
How much Maintenance does it need?
Maintenance costs and processes are a deal-maker or a deal-breaker when it comes to phone systems. You need to understand how easy the system is to use. Figure out if it blends in well with your business and workforce. Will the provider serve as IT support to keep it maintained? If you are tempted by a used phone system, you’ll be spending a lot on repairs and maintenance. What you need is a system that runs smoothly with minimal downtime. Technical support should also factor in if you don’t want to hire an IT team in-house.
Your business phone system is not a cost, but an investment. It can help support the long-term success you want for your business. Hopefully, this blog has given you enough information to choose your new Frontier phone service or any provider you go with. Just be sure to cover all the points above before you make a decision. A business depends heavily on its phone system. Don’t let it fail you.
