Don’t Lose Your Head: VoIP Can Work for Your Small Business
When it comes to technology for small businesses, finding the right fit can be difficult and frustrating. Between the lack of information for businesses of a smaller size and the difficulty in understanding what all these new advances in technology do, sometimes it feels like it’s not worth the hassle of upgrading. Maybe you have had your Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) since the business began but now you are hearing about all the advances with VoIP-based phone systems. The real problem now is how to figure out if the new systems are a good fit for you. Well fret no more, SMBs! Hear what some other small businesses are saying according to the findings in the newest report from telecom reviewer and comparison site Software Advice, “VoIP Software Small Business BuyerView”.
What are other Small Businesses saying?
If you are one of the many small businesses evaluating other software options, scalability is probably somewhat of a concern for you. One major factor that calls for companies to need scalable systems are when the small business is dependent on mobile devices. If the company needs to switch from a mainly mobile base to a cloud-based or on-premise system, the transition might not be easy because the systems don’t have all the necessary features. With the new technology available to all size businesses, VoIP systems have become a hot commodity because of their capability with mobile devices.
When it comes to on-premise versus cloud-based systems, you may be surprised to know that businesses are pretty evenly split on which system they prefer according to the findings in the Software Advice article called, “VoIP Software Small Business BuyerView”. One of the main reasons for the recent rise in cloud-based systems is partially because of the savings for the company as well as the low maintenance of the systems. On-premise systems need updates and consistent maintenance to keep them running at their full potential which can be a headache if you have a small or non-existent IT department. If you are ready to be rid of the extra hassle of an on-premise system then this can be beneficial, but some businesses would rather manage their own systems.
The Desired Functions
A large issue with researching new phone systems is that some of the information is just difficult to understand. Let’s be honest, technology is not always explained in the simplest terms and that can skew what you think your business needs. You may have ideas on what you want but when you go to research what is out there, the information is overwhelming. Other small businesses struggle with the same problem. In a recent poll by Software Advice, the most critical option wanted by small businesses in a phone system was auto attendant and automated call distribution.
Another functionality that small businesses definitively wanted was the capability for call-forwarding. For small businesses looking toward PBX solutions, this is one of the functions that is valued, especially for companies that place an emphasis on mobility.
The Next Steps
Figuring out the next steps in upgrading your phone system can be a daunting task, especially with all the information out there. For small businesses, this task is even more difficult. In order to get the most information when upgrading your phone, it helps to turn to your colleagues.
