Below are five questions that should be answered before you make your decision
Without the answers to these simple questions you could end up with a telephone system that won’t work for your business.
It’s true that, in the past, large corporations with huge budgets seemed to have exclusive rights to feature-rich business phone systems. But with the fast paced, technologically driven society where more people have cell phones than a toothbrush, business phone systems have become imperative to any sized business looking to be successful in the 21st century. The good news is that, implementing telephone systems in a business has become much more budget friendly, provided you choose a system specifically for your needs.
We’ve simplified this process for you by listing below the five most important questions every business owner should ask before signing on the dotted line for a phone system plan.
1. Does the company you’re considering have a good reputation? While the reputation of the brand of phone system is important, it’s even more important to make sure the local company you hire to help you with your telephone needs is a professional and well regarded business. Ask for referrals and read online reviews. Note: If you find a negative review online, or otherwise, ask the company to explain. Often the way a company handles this kind of question will give you more information than you could get from just hearing the good things.
2. What budget are you working with? Do your own research before purchasing a phone system and work out the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to ensure the system is within your budget. Include capital expenses, installation charges, maintenance charges and training charges while coming up with the TCO. There are so many options available that you’re sure to find the perfect system for your budget. Speak at length with your local reseller to discover exactly which option would be more suited to your needs.
3. Are you looking for a premise based telephone system or a hosted telephone system? Some companies prefer to purchase and manage hardware and software. This option though does require some initial capital investment, phone company line or trunk charges and potential recurring charges incurred for smoothly running the system. Also, you will want to work with a local business telephone company who will provide the ongoing maintenance and installation for you.
The alternative option is cloud or hosted services. With this option there are no upfront costs because you’re not responsible for the purchase of the phones or system. You don’t have to worry about software upgrades. A hosted phone system will ideally be managed by your local cloud system reseller off site. It is a good idea to make sure that your hosted or cloud system will be installed by a local certified reseller rather than the hosted or cloud services company shipping your system to you and expecting you to connect and configure your system. With this option you’ll only pay a one-off professional installation fee, followed by a nominal monthly charge per user. Also, note that with the cloud system, your phones and software will automatically be upgraded.
Another issue to remember is scalability. Envisage how your company will grow in the future before you make a final decision. With hosted phone systems, you can easily add or remove users, but with an on premise based telephone system, you will either have to purchase additional expansion for your system or potentially purchase a larger system.
4. Do you already have a phone system? What issues do you require your new telephone system to resolve? A telephone system outage lasting a few hours, or even minutes can cost you leads, sales and produce some angry customers. What exactly is your pain point with the current or old business phone system that you own? Perhaps it’s not operating correctly, or needs regular expensive repairs. Is your old phone system so antiquated that your employees are forced to use the more modern features of their mobile phones. Analyzing what your old phone system lacks will help you pick a feature rich system specifically suitable for your workforce.
5. What special goals are you trying to achieve with your newly acquired phone system? Write each of those down. Maybe it will increase your profit margin by making your business accessible to a whole new market, maybe you are looking to better the quality of customer care, or for your employees and the telephone system to be able to handle a larger call volume. Now write down the specific functionalities you require your new phone system to include. This could include caller id, automated attendant service, voice mail, call forwarding, intercom, conferencing and paging features. Once you’ve established your ‘wants’ or your goals, then finding your perfect match becomes simplified.
With a little bit of time and research you will definitely find a telephone system perfect for your business. If you need any help or would like a professional recommendation, please give us a call. Our experts are waiting to help you.
Why is Northwest Telecom Systems Your Perfect Choice?
Whereas many other companies don’t provide you with multiple options, our alliances with a variety of telephone and internet providers afford us the opportunity to make the most precise recommendations for your specific needs. The result is that you will receive our very best service, at our very best prices. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call today, on 503-243-2255.
Northwest Telecom Systems Inc. was established in 1989 and has a great reputation for providing top-quality telecommunication products and services for businesses in the Portland Metro Area. Unlike many telecom companies, NW Telecom, isn’t tied to one carrier. This means they can help you find exactly the right option for your business telephone service and system.
Business Information:
Northwest Telecom Systems, Inc
10824 Southeast Oak Street
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 243-2255
http://www.nwTelecom.com/