Choosing the right telephone system means completely evaluating what your business goals are. What is the future direction of your company? VoIP, voice mail, unified communications, call centers and data are some of the components that you need to consider when choosing a specific system.
The reality is that many companies simply do not have access to a telecom department that would support their chosen system. Businesses should be independent and self-sufficient, or completely able to make changes, add things or move without third party assistance. A good telephone system should be changeable online, so that maintenance and updates can be performed automatically—without any costly interruptions.
More convenient than external equipment in this case, is an interface card that has the in-skin application. These ‘in-skin’ cards are incredible, allowing companies to add functionality as the need arises. They are also guaranteed that the application will work in conjunction with their chosen telephone system. There are many examples of in-skin cards—the most common being VoIP, conference bridge and voice mail. .
As a basic principle in telephony systems, remember that if it is difficult to use, it will not be used. You can have all the features in the world, but if they are not easy to use, no one will use them. The system ‘brain’ hides away, but people will be using that telephone on a daily basis.
For successful use of the applications in the system, telephones need to be visually appealing and ergonomically designed for use. There should be a large LCD screen that can be adjusted when used, for displaying important caller IDs and other system information. Users should not have to refer to a user guide all the time, which is why softkeys exist.
The most important function of a telephone system is flexibility, because different businesses have different needs. A business should not have to adapt to their telephone system, or operate in a specific manner due to limited functionality. That’s why matching unique business applications to a specific telephone system is key.
All businesses need to understand that choosing the right business telephone system is essential for success. It is how you communicate with customers, affiliates and partners. It can be really frustrating dealing with the process of choosing the right telephone system, but it does not have to be that way!
Luckily, the benefits of choosing the right telephone system far outweigh any research and effort that you put into selecting one.
- The right telephone system can increase productivity and save your company money. If not installed properly, they can cause endless problems.
- Optional features included in your business telephone system give you the edge. An auto-attendant for example saves you the cost of a receptionist and frees you and your staff from having to take every single call, which interrupts your work day.
- Being connected with the right conferencing capabilities can rapidly improve out-of-town business, which will help your business grow at a much faster rate than before. Plus, you will not have to pay for third-party conferencing services.
- If your business relies on sales, you always need someone to answer the phone. With the right system, calls will be bounced to the nearest available staff member, which means you will never lose out on a lead.
- When you take the time to select the best telephone system, it enhances customer service in your company. When your employees are connected, they will be more informed—and with better communication comes smoother operations.
- Telephonic communications often hold a lot of power, in how you are perceived by your customers. When a customer calls in and they get great service, they will be more inclined to buy, or say nice things about your brand online. Reputation and your telephone system go hand-in-hand for this reason.
- The right telephone system also adds value to your company, in the eyes of your employees and customers. When communication works well, and fuels collaboration and productivity—it improves the overall ‘value’ of your company.
- Choosing the right telephone system allows your business communications to expand unencumbered because it is easily scalable and adaptable. Spending a little more on the best system now, increases your chance of business success as you expand.