Like any investment, you want to get the most out of a new phone system for your business. But simply buying the option with the most bells and whistles may not be the best way to get there, especially if you have a small business budget. As a managed phone system and service provider, Digital Agent has helped small businesses in a wide variety of industries choose the best system for their unique needs. Here are a few of the factors that go into deciding which phone system is best for small businesses.
Industry
Your industry will have a huge impact on what you need out of a business phone system. For instance, a medical clinic would likely need a fairly complex phone tree, during and after-hours call menus, and call forwarding. Meanwhile, a real estate office would need to handle a large call volume and would likely benefit from conferencing, mobile, and quick chat features.
Essential Features
Regardless of your industry, an intuitive, customizable UI is a must-have in a modern business phone system. Unified Communications (UC) phone systems have been shown to increase workplace productivity by consolidating a wide-variety of conferencing, chat, and standard call features into a single, easy-to-use interface. Key features to consider include:
- Unified Messaging
- Instant Messaging / Chat
- Overall Call Quality
- Conferencing
- Video Calls
- Desktop Sharing
- Speech Recognition
- Status Monitoring
- Mobility
Phone Tree Complexity
Another important factor to consider, which will likely vary even between companies in the same industry, is what you want your phone tree to look like. If you know you’ll have a pretty simple call flow, you probably won’t need features like speech recognition. However, if you have multiple departments, direct extensions, and a complex call menu, you’ll want a feature-rich phone system that allows for call flow automation, reporting, and easy call transfers.
Mobile vs Office Phones
Mobility is an extremely important feature for many businesses. Company cell phones have become commonplace, and many premier business phone providers offer desktop and mobile applications as well as traditional desk phones. To see a live example of this functionality, register for our free weekly Switchvox UC Phone System demo.
Which Phone System is Best for Small Business Depends On Your Usage Patterns
No two small businesses work the same way, and that’s especially true when it comes to communications. The best way to decide which phone system is best for your small business is to look closely at how you use your current phone system and how that could be improved with new features or mobile functionality. And, when in doubt, consult your Digital Agent.
Kate Lewis
Marketing & Sales Coordinator
Digital Agent
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