Is your business phone system holding your business back? There are so many different options on the market today that you should be able to find the right phone system for your business that fits within your budget. In order to pick the right type of phone system, businesses must really understand their needs and evaluate what they are looking for in terms of service, features, and functionality. Be thoughtful about what capabilities and features you choose, as they need to work with your existing IT infrastructure and support your business as it grows. Not sure which business phone system is right for your business? Make an informed decision by considering the following before purchasing a new business phone system.
1. Affordability
Traditional phone systems mostly relied on in-house private branch exchange (PBX) systems to manage calls and provide voicemail. If your current phone system is in-house, you may be paying more for maintenance, hardware and software costs, and break-fix services. Today’s unified communications systems are often cloud-based, making them more affordable than their on-premises counterparts. Plus, they offer modern features such as video conferencing, team chat, and voicemail-to-email.
2. Calling Capabilities
When evaluating features, consider those that will provide flexibility to all users, such as Call Forwarding to allow employees to take calls wherever and “Do Not Disturb” mode that helps employees gain uninterrupted focus. Every business must determine what call capabilities are necessary for their business as the right functionality can help increase your team’s productivity. Plus, with call analytics and reporting, you can better understand call volume, call duration, and other key metrics that can help increase productivity.
3. Security
Look for a business phone system that is designed with security in mind. Simply choosing to add security after the system is installed is not a thoughtful approach. For example, UCx with Webex is built with enterprise-grade security, including end-to-end encryption, so your communications remain secure.
4. Reliability
Cloud-based business phone systems offer the best reliability, but when you work with a managed services provider that offers more than just voice services, you can gain greater business continuity. For example, TPx offers cloud communications, internet, networking, and cybersecurity services. We are able to provide 100% uptime when you pair our business phone system with SD-WAN. However, reliability is more than just uptime, and a managed service provider may be able to ensure your system is running without interference or delays.
5. Collaboration
A business phone system should provide much more than just calling. Today’s workers need true collaboration to be productive and feel like a part of the team. A unified communications platform brings together calling functionality plus the ability to meeting, chat, and collaborate in a single application. With integrated collaboration features, users can do more by meeting face-to-face virtually, screen sharing, whiteboarding, and more.
6. Mobility
It has become business-critical to enable your workers to communicate effectively from anywhere. Look for a phone system that offers true mobility and flexibility that enables employees to work where and how they want. Businesses should consider if the phone system offers a mobile app that allows employees to make and receive calls from their mobile devices while maintaining a professional appearance with their business phone number. A cloud-based business phone system allows you to use the device of your choice, whether that is a traditional desk phone, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone to make and take calls. As businesses continue to adopt Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, having a flexible mobile app and platform is critical.
7. Scalability
Unlike traditional on-site systems, cloud-based phone systems allow you to more easily scale when your business grows without having the burden of an upfront invest in hardware and software. Cloud-based solutions allow you to add only what you need, when you need it making it cost effective and easy to add and remove users. This level of support will enable business growth without the growing pains of a complicated system to install and maintain.
8. Regulatory Compliance
Ensure that any business phone system you are considering is compliant with industry regulations such as e911, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. A non-compliant phone system could end up costing a lot in regulatory fines.
9. Integrations
Your employees will be much more productive if your phone system integrates with the tools they use the most. Integrations with CRM systems and productivity tools like calendars and email can streamline workflows and improve customer interactions. UCx with Webex offers dozens of business phone system integrations that will enable your employees to have a productive and seamless workday.
Want to learn more about different business phone system options and what type of system is best for your business? Reach out to the experts at TPx to talk through options and see a demo of UCx with Webex. Let us help you find the solution of your dreams.