An entrepreneur considering the use of business telephony will often feel overwhelmed by the vast array of options available. The telephony landscape is so extensive that simply making or receiving calls no longer covers the full scope of what’s possible.

When we talk about business telephony, we also mean mobile communication, automated call handling, registration, follow-ups, video calls, remote meetings, teleworking, and much more. Every business has unique needs. It’s important to not only understand what’s available in the market, what your specific business needs are, and who can provide those solutions, but also to consider the costs, time investment, and infrastructure required.

Identifying Your Needs

When listing the features and applications your business requires, it’s important to not only consider what you currently use and how you can transition to a better-performing, more cost-effective, or modern phone system. Equally important is accounting for changes and new technologies that may be adopted in the future. This involves assessing the scalability and flexibility of the system.

Implementing business telephony cannot be a rushed decision. Your business depends on optimal communication with customers, suppliers, and employees. Your customers’ expectations are also your expectations, as they increasingly demand seamless accessibility. Being competitive today is not just about offering the lowest price but also about providing the best possible customer experience.

Do you want quick call routing to the right department or person? This can be done via a traditional receptionist who answers and forwards calls, but it can also be streamlined with an automated menu thanks to VoIP. Do you need a call queue with announcements? Then a traditional phone exchange won’t suffice, and necessary upgrades will be required. Do you want options to stay reachable outside the office via call forwarding to your smartphone? Or do you want your employees to answer calls via their laptops?

Do you want integration with your customer database to view open orders during each call? Would you prefer to host your VoIP phone exchange in-house or outsource it? Do you want to enable video telephony? These are all questions only you can answer, but they play a significant role in choosing the right provider or package for your business telephony.

Making Choices

A well-considered choice brings many benefits. A provider who thinks along with you can significantly reduce your telecom bill. They can ensure your communication tools are always up-to-date, that your data is secured 24/7 with backups, and that they can adapt flexibly to any changes within your business.

Often, the first consideration when making this choice is the price of the offered package. However, as with any contract, the fine print is equally important. Are there additional charges for certain calls, or is everything included in the package? Do you need to maintain your phone exchange yourself, or is this included in a hosting package? How quickly can changes be implemented? Who can you contact for questions or issues, and when is this service available?

When choosing your business telephony, you are the customer and deserve the best possible customer experience with a solution tailored to your business!