Communication moves fast these days, so you want to make sure that you have the best way of communicating possible, supported by reliable technical service. You need a system that allows you to take messages while you are away and keep them organized. You also want to ensure that the system you are using allows for clear communication. Whether it be with clients, or with your own team, you don’t want to wind up playing a literal game of telephone because you couldn’t quite hear what the person on the other line was saying.
The great news is that the world of communication has come a long way. There are plenty of business phone system features that will do wonders for you and your staff team.
If you’ve been looking to upgrade, then look no further. Here, we will go over all you need to know about how to choose the best phone system for your business.
Create a Plan
Before you invest in a conference phone system, you want to think about the future of your business. Maybe you only have ten employees now, but there’s a good chance that you will need to hire more people in the future.
That’s important to consider because you will need to have an office phone system that supports your entire staff. Yes, you can buy more phones later, but it is better to have everything thought out from the moment your business phone system installers show up.
Choose a System
The next crucial step is to choose the right type of phone system for your business. VoIP phone systems are becoming more common and allow connections from multiple geographic locations. These are called hosted phone systems. However, some businesses might not entirely trust having data stored in the cloud and may feel better opting for a landline.
If you opt for a landline, you will also need to think ahead to the future. Will your business ever change locations? Will it expand? These are important questions to think about when choosing a system.
Choose Your Features
Now that you have assessed the future of your company and decided what kind of phone system you want, you’ll want to decide on which features you would like included. This may seem like a simple task, but there are probably more features to pick from than you would think.
For example, maybe your business hired a receptionist. If so, there are probably some features you don’t need — or need less robust versions of. By employing a receptionist, you might not need to have as much storage capacity for voicemails.
Or you could choose to use an auto attendant. An auto attendant is a menu service that allows customers and coworkers to get the information they need or reach the person they want without having to employ a receptionist. If you choose to go this route, you will want to opt for more storage capacity.
You may also want to consider if you need your phone system to allow for conference calling within the office. Being able to get ahold of your coworkers without leaving your desk can save valuable time during busy stretches and is definitely something worth considering.
Testing
If you think you have figured out the perfect phone system for your business, you want to do your due diligence to make sure that it works for your needs. Before installing an entire phone system, you’ll want to test it out.
You want to make sure the call quality is up to your standard, that storage for messages is rock-solid, and that your data is secured. Most importantly, you’ll want to test the programming and make sure you understand how it works so you can teach your staff team.
The phone is such a crucial bridge between you and your customers — and your fellow employees — so you want to make sure you are getting exactly what you need.
If you are interested in learning more about phone systems or have any questions regarding a phone system for your business, please contact Sissine’s Office Systems today!