Investing in a new business phone system can feel like a difficult decision, such is the myriad of options available. These vary depending on the nature of the company.
For example, a small business operating from a single premises site and where staff members rarely work outside the office walls, may be best suited to a simple landline system.
However, larger companies can have a dispersed workforce, spread over several premises and perhaps even different countries.
The systems employed by such firms will still need to act like single telephone operations but in reality, communications will likely be across landline and mobile phones and via voice call, texting, instant messaging, and social media.
A cloud-based solution may be the answer in such cases.
These have been enhanced significantly over recent years as data connectivity solutions have become faster, making them more secure and able to handle a full range of communication tools.
Cost, as with every business decision, can be a major factor.
An on-premises voice communication system is typically more expensive to set up than a cloud-based solution when installation and maintenance costs are taken into consideration.
A hosted system will cost less to set up but may require more effort on the part of the business to configure the network.
Whichever system is chosen, ongoing maintenance will be required, and the occasional upgrade, which for those sited on business premises, will require a technician to physically visit the site.
Cloud-based solutions meanwhile may be more likely to be upgraded automatically. However, this may remove an element of control from the company using the system, and could pose a significant risk if an outage is required and enacted at a time not of their choosing.
Conversely, hosting the phone system off the premises can provide greater flexibility in terms of adding new services such as unified communications applications like voice conferencing or document sharing.
Again, these could be added almost immediately for a cloud-based solution but may require an appointment to be made with an installer if the system is held within the business premises.
For some organisations, the decision may come down to control and the perception that an on-site phone system provides a greater level of security and avoids the risk of outages as the result of failures from outside the company.
The quality of the service can also be greatly affected by the strength of the available internet connection. This is becoming less of an issue as modern software enables a high level of voice quality.
Weighing up the pros and cons, and seeking professional guidance from those that understand the industry inside out, will aid the process of finding a phone system that works for your company and its specific needs.
For further information or guidance on which type of phone system is most suitable for your business, contact a member of the Clarity Telecom team on 0800 912 1000