The key components of a successful business are communication and collaboration. The easier you can make it for your team to communicate ideas with each other, the higher productivity levels will become. If you are using outdated or antiquated communication systems in your place of business, now is the time to change that.
For years, business owners have been phasing out traditional phone systems in lieu of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) systems. This type of phone system is powered by the Internet rather than telephone lines. Learning how to setup VoIP will require some professional assistance.
Over 40 percent of the small businesses in the United States use VoIP, and for good reason. Using a VoIP system can help you save money and offer a higher degree of communication flexibility.
Are you interested in putting one of these state-of-the-art phone systems in your office space? If so, read the following tips on how to put VoIP to work for your company.
How Many People Will Be Using the System?
The main thing you need to figure out before installing a VoIP system is how many employees you will have using it. By getting this information, you can begin the process or narrowing down the selection of VoIP systems at your disposal.
Knowing how many lines you need can also give help you figure out the call volume that needs to be handled. There are a number of VoIP packages that allow you to use extensions for your employees instead of sperate phone number.
Using these types of extensions can help you save money over time. Once you have this information, you can start to reach out to VoIP suppliers to figure out what type of deal they can provide. When reaching out to these suppliers, be sure to find out things like what is VoIP and how to manage one of these systems.
Testing Your Office Internet Connection Is a Must
If your business has a computer network and other IT infrastructure in place, then you are probably familiar with just how fast your Internet connection is. However, when you add a VoIP system to your existing network, it can slow down this connection quite a bit. Instead of dealing with the problems this can cause, be sure to check your Internet speed beforehand.
Failing to do this can create many problems should the number of calls you receive increase substantially in a short period of time. Getting a baseline number of how much your connection can handle will help you figure out when to scale your network to accommodate more calls.
If you test your connection and it doesn’t measure up to what you need, you need to contact your Internet service provider.
While you may have to pay a bit more for higher speeds, it will be worth it. Instead of rushing through the VoIP selection and installation process, you need to create a plan of attack. Doing this can save you a headache in the future.
Work on Setting a VoIP Budget
You may be surprised to learn just how many unique features are offered on the VoIP market. Before you commit to adding various features to your system, make sure you can afford it. Some business owners get so excited about these features that they add them and suffer the consequences later on.
Instead of putting your business in a financially compromised situation, sit down and develop a VoIP budget. The cost of a VoIP system will vary based on the supplier you choose. Researching the various plans being offered by VoIP suppliers is essential before making this decision.
Some VoIP suppliers will offer popular features free of charge to new clients. Looking around for one of these specials can help you both outfit your new system with great tools and save money at the same time.
Decide Which VoIP Features Are Important
As any business owner knows, providing employees with the best tools is a key component of success. When choosing a VoIP system, you need to take the time to figure out which features are the best fit for your company.
Features like auto call routers, mobile calling, and conference calling can provide your team with increased levels of flexibility. If your team is on the go constantly, then features like mobile calling make sense.
Sitting down and making a list of the features you want is a good idea. Once you have this list, be sure to consult with your teams to find out what they think. Often times, your team can offer an objective look at these features that can help you make the best decision possible.
Selecting a VoIP Phone Service Provider
Working with the right suppliers is something most business owners view as a priority. The key to getting a great VoIP system is choosing the best provider. While this may sound like a relatively easy task, it can be quite complicated.
When trying to find the right provider, you need to consider things like the features they offer and how competitive their pricing is. Before making this important decision, you should also look at the reviews the provider in question has received.
If all you can find is negative reviews about the VoIP service, you need to think twice about using them. The time and effort you invest in this type of research will pay off when you are able to choose the best VoIP supplier on the market.
Let Professionals Teach You How to Setup VoIP
If you have zero previous experience with VoIP systems, then trying to set one up can be nearly impossible. Allowing professionals to teach you how to setup VoIP is crucial when trying to get this system in place quickly.
Are you looking for more tech advice for small businesses? If so, check out our article about recommended technologies for small business owners.
