How to Choose the Right Virtual PBX Provider

The benefits associated with the virtual PBX have been touted throughout the corporate landscape through telecommunications providers and even happy customers. But how do you break down the hype to select the provider able to meet your needs? A recent blog in Aitonic offers sound advice on what to look for in the right provider.

The first tip provided in this blog forces you to take a step back and be sure you have done your homework before you start assessing virtual PBX providers. It’s important to determine your business requirements and assess your VoIP readiness. This step forces you to dig deeper into your current situation to know for sure that you’re ready to make the change. It also requires that you complete a thorough assessment of your current environment to understand the steps needed before you can fully launch a hosted VoIP solution.

Once this step is complete, you can then start to look at providers that can meet your needs. In this process, assess the technology infrastructure offered by that provider. It must have the right technology in place, which includes the platform and the software on the backend. If your system doesn’t run smoothly after it is deployed, the benefits you were hoping to gain may be overshadowed by a problematic system. The key here is to ensure the core technology was developed by the VoIP provider and that it is not licensing it from someone else.

The quality level of the provider’s customer support is another important consideration. It’s not enough to look at their guarantees and assess the Service Level Agreement (SLA). Take the time to interview current customers to gauge their satisfaction with the service provided. Ask tough questions that go beyond the typical yes and no answers. Ask about personalized support, response time, catering to their needs and meeting challenges head-on. It also helps if the provider offers a risk-free trial period so you can test the waters on your own.

Finally, be sure you fully understand the provider’s service plan pricing. Don’t automatically assume that every provider offers the same packages and include all the same features. There are some providers who may charge extra for what others view as standard features. Be sure you know exactly how you will be charged, get a list of everything that is included in the monthly payment and read all the fine print. Add-on pricing is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you know about it ahead of time.

The important point is to be informed when it’s time to start looking for the right virtual PBX provider. The more educated you are at the beginning of the process; the better able you are to make the right choice.