Working with companies helping them with advice on their business phone plans, you soon get to see what is important to business decision makers. One of the toughest decisions to make is purchasing a small business phone system.
You know you should get one but there are just so many choices out there. Coupled with this is probably the belief that your current one still works. Well, maybe it does, in that you can answer calls, but it may also be limiting business growth as there are new PBX systems with new features that could improve your business.
Business Phone Plans
1. Is the small business phone system future proof
The way that business phone lines are delivered to your premises is rapidly changing as technology improves. We've moved from PSTN technology to digital technology. Chances are that the way that your phone lines are delivered now is not the way they will be delivered in two years time. Do you really want to have to by a new system in 2 years time or would you like it to last a bit longer? Make sure you buy one that is easily upgraded and capable of dealing with multiple different technologies.
2. How are you going to pay for the phone system
Do you have a large amount of cash in the bank to pay for your small business phone system upfront or are you going to pay it off over a certain period of time with finance? A news system is not cheap.
3. What level of technical support is offered
Unfortunately sometimes things go wrong and you may not be able to fix them. You need to make sure that you buy a phone system that comes with an associated service agreement so things will get fixed in a timely manner should something go wrong.
4 Can you integrate it with your business phone line bill
Some business telecommunications providers will allow you to purchase a business phone system and pay it off on your phone bill over a mutually agreed to time frame. This can be great for many businesses as it improves cash flow and it also means that you only have to worry about one bill for your telecommunications usage. you don't have to worry about paying multiple people money.
5. How can you utilise features to boost staff productivity
New phone systems have great features that your old one won't. For example, with a new NEC phone system when someone rings your office phone number both the phone on your desk and mobile will ring at the same time. This means that your staff are more productive because they can answer more phone calls. If they are a sales team, this means that they can spend more time on the road in front of potential clients.
Is it time to update your system? If you have been thinking about it even a little then chances are yes. Hopefully some of the points I've shared above help stimulate thinking so you can make some intelligent decisions.