As you comparing phone systems for small businesses? Finding the right one for your small or medium-sized business doesn’t have to be complicated.
A full 65 percent of people want to call your business before visiting in person. Don’t miss that opportunity to make a great first impression with a first-rate phone system.
If you are a small business owner, cutting costs and improving efficiency becomes part of your DNA. If your business is still using an old-school landline, aka a PBX (private branch exchange) phone system, it may be time to transition your communications to the 21st century.
Discover VoIP
Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone systems, also called managed voice, are the most common telephone systems used in business today. This is especially true for small and medium-sized businesses (fewer than 250 employees). Managed voice systems share a lot of features with traditional PBX phone systems, but they cost far less than conventional phone companies’ services.
Managed voice refers to the way calls are made; using a high-speed internet connection instead of a conventional phone line. You can also use a business VoIP system with customary hardware or opt to answer calls using computers, which saves you the cost and hassle of installing phones.
Even though managed voice phone systems can be a good choice for any business, they are a favorite choice in phone systems for smaller businesses because of their flexibility. With a managed voice system, it’s easy to add new users and expand features as your business grows. It’s also easy to downsize, if needed. And the overall cost for smaller operations is more affordable with VoIP service.
What Does Your Company Need?
Choosing the right managed voice phone system for a small business involves considering several factors to ensure it meets the specific needs and budget of your company. Here are some key considerations when selecting a VoIP or managed voice phone system:
- Features and functionality: Identify the essential features and functionality needed for your business operations. This may include call forwarding, voicemail-to-email transcription, auto-attendant, conference calling, mobile app integration and scalability options.
- Cost: Evaluate the cost of the VoIP phone system, including setup fees, monthly service charges and any additional fees for add-on features or international calls. Consider whether the pricing structure aligns with your budget and offers good value for the features provided.
- Scalability: Choose a VoIP phone system that can easily expand or contract with your business as your business grows or shrinks. Look for flexible pricing plans and the ability to add or remove users and features without significant disruptions or additional costs.
- Reliability and uptime: Assess the reliability and uptime of the VoIP service provider. Look for providers with redundant network infrastructure, reliable data centers and a track record of high availability to minimize downtime and ensure consistent communication.
- Call quality: Test the call quality of the VoIP phone system to ensure clear and reliable voice communication. Factors such as network bandwidth, codec support and QoS (quality of service) settings can impact call quality, so choose a provider that prioritizes voice quality.
- Integration with existing systems: Determine whether the VoIP phone system integrates seamlessly with your existing business tools and software, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, email clients and productivity applications. Integration can streamline workflows and improve productivity.
- Mobile and remote work support: Consider the ability of the VoIP phone system to support mobile and remote work scenarios. Look for features like softphone applications, mobile app support and remote call forwarding to ensure employees can stay connected from anywhere.
- Customer support and service level agreements (SLAs): Evaluate the level of customer support offered by the VoIP service provider, including availability, responsiveness and technical expertise. Additionally, review the SLAs to understand the provider’s commitments regarding uptime, support response times and resolution procedures.
- Security and compliance: Ensure that the VoIP phone system meets industry-standard security protocols and compliance requirements, especially if your business deals with sensitive data or operates in regulated industries. Look for features like encryption, secure access controls and compliance certifications.
- User interface and ease of use: Choose a VoIP phone system with an intuitive user interface and easy-to-use management tools. A user-friendly system can reduce training time for employees and improve adoption rates across the organization.
By considering these factors and conducting thorough research, small businesses can select the right VoIP phone system that aligns with their communication needs, budget and growth objectives. Additionally, consulting with IT professionals or trusted advisors can provide valuable insights and recommendations during the decision-making process.
Using an MSP to Integrate Phone Systems for Small Businesses
Having a managed service provider (MSP) integrate a VoIP phone system can be highly beneficial for small businesses, especially those without a dedicated, in-house IT team or deep expertise in telecommunications. That’s why BrightFlow Technologies offers BrightVoIP. Our BrightVoIP offers enterprise-level, advanced features that are cutting-edge and affordable. You simply pay a flat monthly fee, regardless of how many calls you make, where they occur or whom you are calling.
BrightVoIP comes standard with a plethora of features. These include:
- Call analytics.
- Call park/pickup.
- Call recording.
- Custom prompts.
- Conference bridge.
- Desktop integration.
- Fax to email.
- Line dial plans.
- Multisite compatibility.
- Music on hold.
- Personal dial plans.
- Ring groups
- Time-based routing.
- Unlimited auto attendants.
- Unlimited call queues.
- Unlimited domestic minutes.
- Unlimited extensions.
- Virtual fax.
- Visual dial plan editor.
- Voicemail to email
Here’s why having an MSP such as BrightFlow Technologies for VoIP integration can be so vital to short- and long-term business success:
- Expertise and experience: Because the team at BrightFlow specializes in VoIP integration, we have the knowledge, skills and experience to design, implement and manage complex phone system setups. We understand the technical requirements, best practices and potential challenges associated with VoIP deployment, ensuring a smooth and efficient integration process with no surprises or downtime.
- Customization and optimization: At BrightFlow, we can tailor the VoIP phone system to meet the specific needs and requirements of your business. We can customize features, settings and configurations to optimize performance, enhance productivity and improve user experience based on your unique communication workflows.
- Efficient deployment: The BrightFlow team can streamline the deployment process by handling tasks such as network assessment, hardware provisioning, software installation and user training. We ensure that the BrightVoIP system is implemented correctly and efficiently, minimizing downtime and disruptions to your business operations.
- Ongoing management and support: Once our BrightVoIP system is deployed, the BrightFlow team provides ongoing management, monitoring and support services to ensure its smooth operation. We proactively monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, apply software updates and provide technical support to address any concerns or challenges that arise.
- Security and compliance: Because BrightFlow specializes in cybersecurity and compliance, when integrating our BrightVoIP phone systems we implement measures to protect our clients. This includes protection against cyber threats, unauthorized access and data breaches. We ensure that the BrightVoIP system adheres to industry-standard security protocols and regulatory requirements, safeguarding sensitive information and mitigating risks.
- Scalability and flexibility: As your business grows and evolves, the BrightFlow team can help scale and adapt our BrightVoIP phone system to accommodate changing needs and requirements. We can add or remove users, expand features and integrate new technologies to support your business expansion without significant disruptions or additional costs.
- Cost savings: While there is a small cost associated with engaging BrightVoIP phone system, it can result in long-term cost savings for small and medium-sized businesses. We offer predictable pricing models, eliminate the need for in-house IT staff or dedicated telecom experts, and minimize the risk of costly mistakes or downtime associated with DIY integration efforts.
Say Hello to VoIP
Having BrightFlow integrate the BrightVoIP phone system provides small businesses with the expertise, support and resources needed to maximize the benefits of modern communication technology while minimizing the complexities and challenges of deployment and management. It allows businesses to focus on their core activities while ensuring reliable and efficient communication capabilities.
If you are ready to make the switch and save your company money, reach out to the team at BrightFlow Technologies right here.