How to Buy a Business Telephone System

A business telephone system can help you run your office more efficiently, reduce costs, improve customer service and enhance your reputation for professionalism. It’s likely that 100% of your customers will contact you through your telephone system.

This is one of the most important decisions that you will make for your business. Sales people will try to sell you all the bells and whistles, but you need to look at each feature and decide if it will add value to your business or save you money.

Here are some things you should consider before purchasing your telephone system:

  • What are your telephone system requirements? Who uses your phones most? How many employees do you have, and how do they communicate with each other and your clients?
  • What system functions do you need? When someone calls, do you want them to hear an automated message giving options to reach staff members directly or do you prefer to have the receptionist answer the calls? How do you want to receive messages via voicemail, email or text? Do you want call center capabilities? Do you want to integrate your telephone system with your computer network for click to dial and screen popup features?
  • Should you consider VoIP? Do you have remote or home workers? Do you have multiple locations that you would like to utilize a centralized voicemail system for all of your employees?
  • What about training? Who will teach my employees how to use the telephone system? Is there system documentation?
  • Request quotes from a few companies, not just one or two. These quotes must be detailed so that you can make an educated decision about which company is best. Always check the contract fine print! Be sure that the price includes equipment, installation, administration fees, training and warranty information.
  • When you get all of the detailed quotes, sit down and compare the results. Look at price, warranty and the company’s installation processes. Check to see how long the company has been in business, how much experience they have and check their references.
  • Finally, after you have decided on a company to install your new business telephone system; carefully select installation dates that will not cause a disruption to your business.