Business phone systems are a vital part of the infrastructure for any company to run smoothly.
If your current systems offer you everything you want, then you need look nowhere else, but if you’re looking for a new system, or are setting up an office from scratch, two options to consider are to hire a company to deal with it for you or try and piece together an in-house system that suits your needs.
What is a Business Phone System?
Communications in the workplace are essential for a smooth running business. If every member of staff had their own dedicated phone line attached to their phone, this could be really costly. A phone system reduces the amount of lines you need coming into the office by giving everyone extension numbers running from the same line. This also means internal calls are quick and more importantly free, increasing staff and business productivity all in one. There are also quite a few features that can be gained from having a professional phone system whether you are a large call centre or a small business.
Outsourcing
The benefits of outsourcing your phone systems become apparent when you look at the costs. In using a company such as Midshire , you know you are choosing professionals who can offer you a fully rounded service all under one roof. You also have peace of mind that any issues that may arise – and there is usually something at some point – someone else will deal with it, removing the problem from your desk so you can get on with your job.
Key features
Features a business will need will vary from business to business. That aside, you know there are many things that are a must. To start with, a company that can lease you the handsets is a great idea because they will deal with repairs and updates as and when needed.
This means there is no big expense at the start. Ensure they can install the phones and set them up to work for you and your business in a way that suits your needs. Don’t be swayed by sales patter, make sure you are getting what you want and not be over sold.
- The phone line you have installed can make a difference. A company that can offer ISDN lines are great, as these are high speed connections making the internet speedy meaning staff will have fast emails and internet searches which is especially key if most or all of your business is centred around the world wide web.
- Messaging services are essential so no one ever misses a call again. Customers would prefer to leave a message rather than getting irate that no one is picking up. Call forwarding, conference calling and caller ID are important tools to help the business run smoothly – if a customer calls and gets through to the wrong person, you need them to be transferred as quickly as possible so they are not waiting around.
- 24/7 support is essential. If a repair is needed, you want it done quickly and efficiently so it does not have a knock on affect on your business.
- Phones lines that link to the computer systems may be essential for the running of your business. It might be that staff need to be able to connect incoming numbers to customers details, which they will view on the computer screen. Whatever your needs, think through the system you need and then research the company based on that.
In conclusion, you need to assess your company objectives and what will help productivity and customer satisfaction. Companies offering business phone systems will know more about the set up than you trying to do it yourself. Think the system through and create an operation with an outsourcer that suits your growing business and not one that just fits your needs for the present.
