The benefits of VoIP are that it is affordable, it comes with many features, and it is quick to set up. But there are many providers to choose from when you start your search, and they all offer slightly different services. So how should you go about choosing the right VoIP provider for your business phone system?
Provider Reputation
One of the most important things to consider is the reputation of your provider. There are many providers to choose from these days, and they all offer different services, features, and prices, so start looking for a provider and pay attention to their reliability.
One way to do this is to read reviews provided by existing customers. You can use this trusted guide to business VoIP service providers that will help you easily evaluate the differences between the providers so you can choose one with a good reputation. You don’t want to choose a provider who goes out of business a year later, so this is the best way to start your search.
Provider Support
You want to find out about the support the provider offers, and a good way to do this is to give them a call once you have found a provider you like the look of. Talk to them over the phone and you will get a good idea of how they treat their customers. Is it easy to get through to someone who can help? Do they answer your questions quickly? Find out about the specific support they provide as well, and this will all help when you come to making your decision.
Overall Cost
Cost is going to be an issue for most businesses, especially small businesses. Just make sure you work out the complete cost involved, which means looking past the price per user. The overall cost may well be more than this because you may have to pay for licensing, and you may have to buy the handsets as well.
High-Quality Calls
You will want to use a VoIP provider that offers high-quality voice calls. You may be able to find this out during your research based on customer reviews, and it is an important factor to consider. Bad voice quality can affect your business, and you want to avoid any distortion or static. The quality can vary widely between providers, so make sure you find out about this.
Good Security in Place
Security is also an important consideration, so find out which measures different providers have in place. These could include firewalls and anti-virus software, as well as many other measure. Ask your chosen provider about their security features and use this to help you make your decision.
Is It Scalable?
How scalable is it? This is an important consideration, especially for startups, so you will want to have a clear answer. You don’t want to have to go and change providers once you start growing. As you expand, you want your VoIP service to expand with you, so make sure you find out exactly how easy this will be.
Hosted vs Self-Hosted
This is another important factor to consider. A hosted solution will be hosted in the cloud, meaning you will not need any equipment apart from the handsets. Everything is taken care of, and it is quick to set up. However, you will have less control over the system.
Self-hosted means you have to purchase the hardware, including a private branch exchange (PBX), and you will also have to pay for maintenance costs. It may work out as more cost effective in the long-term, but that is not guaranteed. It provides you with more control, but there are larger upfront costs involved.
Features Provided
There are many possible features that providers may or may not include. You have to look at the options and decide which are important for your business, and you will often have to pay more for the advanced features.
Basic features include things like voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, virtual receptionist, and mobile apps. But there are many more advanced features, including things like call bridging, customizable greetings, paperless fax, voicemail transcription, and email notifications.
Choose the Right Provider for Your Business
These are some of the most important considerations when you are choosing a VoIP provider for your business. Make sure you look at these factors carefully and don’t rush your decision because you want to ensure you choose a suitable provider. Spend some time looking for possible providers, then call them up and find out more about them. You want to choose a provider who you can work with for many years to come, so this is worth spending some time over.