Choosing the right type of phone system for your business needs can easily become overwhelming when you see how many options there are. Regardless, this shouldn’t deter you from upgrading your phones to help you become more competitive in your industry. It may still seem like a struggle to change from what you’ve used for years. Yet, the options vary enough that you can keep your same phones while still enjoying an upgrade.
What’s important is staying ahead of your competitors with the best telecommunications technology you can find. Digital phone systems like VoIP have different forms that can make your business operations run more efficiently.
You also have an upgrade in equipment so you don’t have to deal with old landline phones. This isn’t to say analog phones are completely out of the picture. As alluded to above, the world of the old and the new can easily coalesce to give you a technological improvement.
Let’s look at the different type of phone systems available, what could work for you, and what features each has to help you communicate better.
Cloud-Based VoIP
Known as Voice Over Internet Protocol, VoIP is a phone system that lets you digitize your phone system over an existing Internet line. While you need quality bandwidth on your IP connection, having your phone work through the Internet opens a new world of communication.
While standard on-premise VoIP is available to get you properly upgraded, cloud-based VoIP is growing exponentially. It’s no surprise why many businesses prefer having their VoIP service in the cloud since it already protects you against disaster.
With an on-premise system, all of your phone data stays in your own server. The cloud makes all data universal so you can access it anywhere. For communication, this opens up a lot of doors, literally. It allows your employees to work in the field with mobile devices and still be able to communicate with customers.
As for employee communication, it’s also superior. Through voice and even video conferencing, group meetings to discuss business ideas is an easy process.
In the case of disasters, you can access your phone system in the cloud if your business headquarters becomes uninhabitable. This is a major lifesaver to help get your business back on its feet.
Hosted VoIP
If you’ve ever used IT-managed services, you know how remote assistance works. Hosted VoIP works similarly with a dedicated team making sure your phone system has no issues. Working entirely through your Internet line, you’ll have monitoring for security, plus a team giving you automatic updates and upgrades.
The cost is more affordable than an on-premise option. All VoIP systems are money-savers compared to sticking with a phone company. Features are more extensive as well, including auto-attendants, Find Me/Follow You, and Fax to Email.
Using Analog Phones with a Digital Upgrade
Digital PBX systems can integrate well with analog phones if you’ve used the latter for a long time. You and your staff may want to continue using analog phones just out of familiarity. Conversely, a digital upgrade gives you many features that those with VoIP enjoy without going through a phone company.
As you can see, the past and the future can easily consolidate. Plus, VoIP gives you Bluetooth-enabled equipment like phone headsets. You’ll want these if your employees tire of holding a phone receiver for hours at a time.
Let us help you make the right phone system decision for your company. Contact us at Tie National, LLC to find out more about our IT services.
Michael Durante spent his teenage years into his early 20s climbing the ladder in a branch of a successful banking firm, starting as a teller and ending as a Sr. Branch Manager within 6 years. In 2003, he left the banking world to join his father and create TIE National, a telecom company 60 years in the making. Together, they grew the company from a two-man operation solely working on telephones to a multi-million dollar international business with employees in over a dozen states, covering everything from phone systems to cloud products and computer systems. You can find Michael on LinkedIn.