Do you need to switch to VoIP?
Business owners ask themselves this question all the time, and it’s an important one to answer correctly. A VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system may not be the right solution if you don’t need the benefits it provides, such as cutting costs by having your own PBX (Private Branch Exchange), the ability to customize call routing and features, or the elimination of recurring monthly phone bills from traditional phone carriers. However, business owners find that switching to VoIP offers significant benefits they wouldn’t get with other solutions in many cases.
Choosing between cloud-based or on-premises systems
It’s not just a matter of deciding whether your organization should host its phones onsite or in the cloud, but what type of hosted system will be right for you. Before making that decision, consider your needs and goals. If cost is an issue (and it almost always is with new technologies), then a hosted model may be more attractive. Also, a hosted phone system lets you focus on growing your business instead of investing in hardware. On-premises systems are better if your IT department wants total control over the system and network.
I want it all, but will I actually use it?
Choosing a hosted VoIP service doesn’t have to be a complicated process, as long as you know what factors are essential for your company. In addition to cost, other factors will influence your decision — capacity (how many employees and extensions), ease of use (will you have to manage the system?), customization options, and customer support. Hosted services often come with additional features like call forwarding, multiple extensions per line, voicemail-to-email, and do-not-disturb settings; look for these if they matter to you.
How to choose a VoIP service provider
Many companies offer hosted VoIP services, each with its own pricing, features, and contract terms. Some providers only offer prepaid monthly plans; if that’s your situation, choose a plan that matches your business size — you don’t want to pay for extra capacity you don’t need. Other providers may have no limits on inbound or outbound calls but charge for the additional features you need. Remember to also ask about customer support and any charges related to service calls. Once you’ve figured out what feature set works best for your needs, start looking at reviews online to see which company offers a good match on price and performance.
Choosing a VoIP service is a lot like choosing an email provider. There are some key differences, but it comes down to trust for most people: Can you trust the provider with your business phone service? If so, there’s really no reason to keep using traditional phone lines.
Your Business Phone System Provider – Lafayette, Indiana
Engage a local VoIP company for the best experience possible when evaluating a new business phone system. These providers can offer valuable insight from years of experience and often have more attractive pricing than national vendors.
The experts at UpLync Communications, a VoIP provider in Lafayette, Indiana, can help you dig into which option is right for your business. Contact us for a free consultation.