With all of the options available today for business phone systems, choosing the best solution for your company can overwhelm even the most tech-savvy business owner. 

Top of the line or affordable? Landline or VoIP? Mobile or desktop? Video or no video?

We know firsthand that these decisions and others often make choosing the right system a chore. Our best advice: focus on these five variables before you start thinking about the cost — so you can narrow down your choices.

Consider these five things when choosing a business phone system:

1. Scalability: This is often the most important question to ask yourself: How many phones does my business actually need? Whether you’re in the beginning stages of growing your business or already thriving, it’s important to have a system that scales seamlessly as your company grows. Be sure to ask your providers if they offer scalable business phone options and what that might look like as your company changes.
2. Mobility: Many companies have remote workers, so having a phone system that provides flexibility remains crucial. With cloud-based business phones, you can connect with your customers or employees through the office or on the go via a cell phone or laptop.
3. Compatibility: Will your new phone system require you to get rid of your current phones? Check with your provider to see if there are any new business phone systems that are compatible with your current.business phones. While upgrades are sometimes necessary, it’s still good to know ahead of time so that you aren’t hit with an unexpected additional expense.
4. Integration: Many businesses have some sort of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system in place so that they can keep track of their customer data. If you have this type of system or are planning to get one, it’s important to make sure your new business phones offer CRM integration so that you can access your data all in one place. Whether you need quick access to your client’s history or information, CRM integration will allow you to connect with your customers on a whole new level.
5. Additional Features: Before purchasing your new business phone system, you must ask yourself if there are any additional features you will need so that your business can operate more smoothly in the future. Fortunately, many business phones offer a variety of additional features, including voicemail setup, faxes, call queues and auto-attendants. Be sure to ask your prospective business phone providers what additional features are available to your system.

For more information about business phone systems from the experts at Heritage Telecom, please contact us here or call us directly at 616.465.5001.