A business phone system is essential to any organization, especially in the current digital age when almost all communication is done via phone. This is because it’s not just a way to communicate more efficiently with customers, vendors, and employees. It also allows businesses to manage their operations and improve customer service significantly.
Setting up a phone system for your business can seem unnerving. However, it doesn’t have to be. There are steps you can follow to ensure that you have a reliable and efficient system that meets the needs of your business. Read on to learn more about the nine steps to complete this crucial process successfully.
Importance Of a Business Phone System
The real value of business phone systems can be seen in the following benefits:
- They Enable Advanced Features
Business phone systems are directly affected by technology. As the latter advances, so do the features of the former. For example, you don’t have to do outbound calls or use regular voicemails today.
Instead of ringing the prospective customer’s phone, you can deliver your message through a ringless voicemail, which uses software to deliver a pre-recorded message. This technology has been quite successful in streamlining companies’ communications. The recipient is notified when the message is delivered, and it’s up to them to choose when they listen. Because it’s ringless, it doesn’t interrupt the recipient’s activities to listen to your marketing campaign, increasing the likelihood of them taking action.
Other advanced features you should consider include:
- Automated attendant
- Multiple lines
- Conference calls
- Call forwarding
- Visual voicemail
- On-hold queuing system
- Handset support
With a phone system equipped with the latest technological features, any business can soar to greater heights.
A business phone system can help you save costs in several ways. If you adopt a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), for instance, you won’t have to shell out any amount for hardware as you can simply make use of your existing phones and computers. Also, unlike traditional phone systems, you can completely avoid long-distance fees, as calls are made over the Internet. Moreover, you don’t have to allocate hardware to each team member for cloud-based phone systems, helping reduce installation expenses.
Finally, features like ringless voicemail technology are cost-effective. This emerging marketing tech allows businesses to send one message to several customers, helping them to cut costs.
- They Promote Business Growth
When you can reach more prospects, you increase leads, which could lead to more conversions and sales. The more sales your business makes, the bigger it grows.
Other than that, a business phone system can grow with you. For example, if more customers mean more inbound calls, with traditional phone calls, you’d have to hire more employees. However, scalability for business phone systems means that you can implement things like automated responses to address common issues, lessening the work. The smother your business can handle change, the better it grows.
These are just a few advantages of having a reliable business phone system. Therefore, if you haven’t installed one yet, this could be your sign to do so.
Steps In Setting Up A Business Phone System
To ensure the optimal operation of your phone system and its suitability to your business, here are some steps you need to follow:
Step One: Determine Your Needs
The first step is establishing your business’s communication needs. For example, you’ll need a multiple-line phone system if you have many departments. Determining your requirements will also help you know all the features you need from a phone system, making it easier to pick one that’ll most benefit your daily operations.
Step Two: Establish A Budget
Before beginning the installation process, create a budget. It should indicate how much you plan to spend on the business phone system installation and the estimated maintenance cost.
A detailed budget helps you decide on what features you need for your system. It’d be best if you only adopted technologies that you can maintain easily in the future. It’ll also keep you from overspending.
Step Three: Know Your Options
After creating a budget, you can now research the various options available for your business. These include:
VoIP allows companies to make calls using the Internet instead of traditional telephone lines. It’s generally more affordable than other solutions and can be easily integrated with other services. It’s compatible with software such as video conferencing and customer relationship management (CRM).
This is the traditional form of telecommunication that uses copper wires or fiber-optic cables and transmits analog audio signals over long distances. Even though it’s considered old school, many businesses still use this system today. This is because it’s independent of Internet connectivity or power outages.
Cloud-based phone systems are becoming increasingly popular as they’re easy to set up and manage. They can also be accessed from any device with an Internet connection.
It combines the best of both worlds by using VoIP technology for some calls and traditional landline connections for others. This allows businesses to benefit from the cost savings associated with VoIP while still enjoying the reliability of a conventional landline system.
Some businesses use cell phones for their business phone system. However, these are a more expensive option because they require a monthly service plan. However, they allow more flexibility, as you can make calls from any location.
Understanding these different types of systems available allows you to find the perfect solution for your company’s needs.
Step Four: Choosing The Right Service Provider
After you’ve determined your needs, budget, and options, it’s time to choose a phone system provider. The only way to get a reliable business phone system is by purchasing it from experts in the field. One example is Drop Cowboy, which offers a reliable phone system solution. You may check out this link to learn more about its features: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUzsbIrz840
Check reviews from clients who previously hired your prospects’ services. You can also seek recommendations from other businesses in your industry to know what usually works and what doesn’t.
When choosing a service provider, here are some of the things to consider:
You must select a reliable vendor that won’t let you down when you need it most. Keep an eye out for the ones with good reviews and uptime records to ensure consistent performance and eliminate unexpected downtimes.
- Easy Setup And Configuration
Setting up a new phone system can be time-consuming and frustrating if not done correctly. To avoid this, only deal with service providers that offer easy setup and configuration options. The last thing you want is to spend hours figuring out how everything works or troubleshooting issues arising during installation.
Investing in a quality business phone system doesn’t have to drain your pockets. There are plenty of reputable but affordable options from legitimate companies today. Compare prices, features, and services to find the best deal for your business.
The right dealer should provide cloud-based services. Systems with cloud-based features offer greater flexibility and scalability than traditional on-site systems. Furthermore, you can easily add or remove lines as needed. You can also get additional services like call forwarding, caller ID, and automatic call distribution (ACD).
Ensure your vendor offers secure network connections with features such as encryption protocols. This helps prevent unauthorized system access and data breaches.
Many business phone system companies offer support and maintenance, ranging from basic setup assistance to full technical support, depending on the needs of your business. Make sure you select a firm that handles issues quickly to minimize downtime. Additionally, work with vendors who offer regular maintenance updates and patches.
Today, businesses have to remain accessible at all times, even when employees are away from the office or out of town. Therefore, look for providers who offer mobile access so employees can stay connected while on the go.
Choosing the right business phone system vendor is essential for your business. Ensure you take the time to assess your prospects to secure the best deal thoroughly.
Step Five: Install Your System
Once you’ve chosen the best phone system and provider for your business, have the experts install it.
Installing the system involves the following steps:
- Transfer Business Phone Numbers
Transfer the business phone numbers to your new system. This makes it easier for your customers to access your services when needed.
- Design Multiple Extensions
You want a system with multiple extensions if your business has multiple departments. That way, you can dedicate specific digits for each unit to allow your company a multiple phone line system.
- Set Business Working Hours
The next step is to set your working hours. Also, this is where you set voicemails for people who call outside working hours. These should inform customers that the business is closed and when it will reopen.
- Make The Business Phone System
Once you’ve followed the three steps above, your business phone system is ready to go live, so your customers can now access you.
These steps will ensure your business phone system works as efficiently as possible.
Step Six: Train Your Employees
Train your employees to use the phone system properly. This can help provide clarity on how to use certain features. It can also help you avoid costly mistakes related to incorrect usage or system abuse.
When training your team members, teach them how to troubleshoot common problems. This will help reduce the need for repairs. It’ll also ensure that business operations won’t be interrupted unnecessarily.
A successful training program requires careful planning and execution. Here are some things you need to do in this regard:
- Identify The Objectives: Before beginning any training session, establish clear objectives. They should outline what employees need to know about the phone system so they can confidently use it to your business’s advantage.
Ask yourself what topics are essential for each user level. What do they need to learn? Once these objectives have been identified, break them down into smaller goals.
- Gather The Training Materials: Gather all necessary materials, including manuals and recordings demonstrating how to use the system. Make sure they’re easily accessible, too, as some employees may need to refer back to them if they need additional help after the training sessions have ended.
- Practice: After the training, allow them to practice using the phone system. During this process, create a safe environment with no pressure or judgment. This ensures that everyone feels comfortable using the phone system.
- Monitor Progress: Throughout the training period, monitor progress. You’ll need to answer any questions during practice sessions or while making actual calls using the phone system. If a team member has difficulty with a particular feature or function, provide additional instructions until they become familiar with its use.
Training your employees on effectively using a business phone system shouldn’t be overlooked. Your staff can use the system confidently like pros with the proper guidance.
Step Seven: Monitor The System
Remember to invest in technologies for tracking and monitoring the system for any issues or changes that need attention. Key areas to look into include call volume and duration and caller ID accuracy. You can also set up automated alerts that notify you of unusual changes in these metrics.
Use these metrics to analyze the data from your business phone system regularly. This will help you identify trends and patterns that may indicate areas for improvement or further investigation. This step’s primary purpose is to identify improvement areas and take action. For instance, you may need additional features like call recording and routing to further boost your business phone system. Continuous monitoring ensures optimal performance over time and helps avoid any potential problems.
On the one hand, you might notice an increase in call volumes during certain hours or days of the week. This could indicate increased demand for customer service support. It could also suggest that a marketing campaign may have generated new leads.
Step Eight: Upgrade Your System Frequently
Finally, it’d help to stay abreast of technological updates and changes. This ensures that your system has the latest features on the market today. This will enable you to keep up with customer demands and current trends in communication technology.
Parting Words On Having A Business Phone System
Setting up a business phone system can seem overwhelming at first glance. Nevertheless, if you break down the process into simple steps, it becomes much more manageable. Follow this nine-step guide, and you’ll benefit from your new system. Not only will it allow easy communication between your business and its customers, but it’ll also help streamline the company’s workflow. Keep these steps in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to having a highly optimized business phone system within no time.
