Are you choosing a new business phone system within the next 12-15 months?
Take a moment to get organized and clarify your priorities.
Does your business require a phone system with physical handsets for each desk? Or could a virtual service that uses computers, conference calls, or mobile devices support your needs?
For desktop phone systems, do you choose providers who supply services from a single, traditional local or regional phone company? Or do you choose a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider that uses the internet?
For VoIP systems, do you choose an in-house system hosted at your place of business, or host the system with a cloud-based service provider?
KCG Communications, Inc. can work with you to clarify your phone system requirements and design a custom solution that works with your budget and current needs. Our designs for business phone systems are fully scalable and can grow with your changing and expanding business needs.
With numerous options from which to choose, KCG Communications can help you decide which solution fits best with your business model and current resources.
What are some pros and cons of using different business phone system technologies and services? Keep reading to learn this and other vital answers about business phone systems.
Virtual Phone Systems
Virtual phone systems use call forwarding and other business phone system features to connect remote workers and to present a unified, professional phone presence to clients and customers. Remote employees receive calls and conduct video conferences using company branded resources, thus maintaining consistent interactions with your company.
· Pros: Offers consistency of corporate presence for calls, emails, and video conferences. Also, remote employees can access advanced phone system features.
· Cons: There are additional access charges for using an internet-based service.
· Virtual phone systems are best suited for small companies with remote employees or solo entrepreneurs.
Landlines
Traditional phone systems and networks or landlines are managed by a local or regional phone service provider on public switched telephone networks (PSTNs). Using these systems for business phone service requires on-site PBX (private branch exchange) hardware.
· Pros: Landlines offer proven reliability.
· Cons: Historically, running this type of system is expensive to operate, and a significant cost center for any business.
· Landlines are best suited for large businesses that can afford the dedicated staff to run these systems.
VoIP
VoIP business phone systems use the internet instead of PSTNs, and provide many of the business phone systems features that only large companies have enjoyed in the past, including automation, at a fraction of the cost.
· Pros: They offer many features that are highly configurable at a lower cost compared to traditional phone services.
· Cons: VoIP relies upon and shares your company’s internet connection. VoIP requires a reliable, robust connection.
· VoIP is best suited for small businesses desiring corporate-level phone services at a reasonable price.
Cloud vs. On-site Systems
If you’ve chosen VoIP as your business phone systems solution, you need to decide whether to host it on-premises or to use a cloud service provider. Fortunately, KCG Communications can assist with both options.
On-site Systems
· Pros: They offers one-time equipment costs and full control of services.
· Cons: They requires up-front costs and dedicated staff to operate.
· On-site systems are best suited for businesses that are not comfortable having their services in the cloud, and yet who want total control of their systems and data.
Cloud-based Systems
· Pros: Cloud-based systems have no hardware to maintain. All systems set-up and configuration may be done remotely from the server on your computer.
· Cons: One must rely on a third-party provider for hardware and service up-time.
· Cloud-based systems are best suited for small businesses and start-ups who want a quick, easily configured business phone system that can grow with their business demands.
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