The process of selecting VoIP solutions—whether for a large or small company—should be founded up upon a shortlist of key factors. These factors relate both to the qualities of the vendor and to the qualities of the solution. At the intersection of these two categories lies the right mix of features and value needed to meet each organization’s unique needs.

 

It is pretty straightforward to evaluate any potential VoIP solution based on eight general factors, outlined below. These summarize the various, and sometimes complicated, aspects of picking an organization’s next communications system.

 

Total Cost of Ownership – The first consideration should be price. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that the organization should understand the total cost of ownership (TCO) associated with each VoIP solution under consideration. The up-front price tag is not the only cost. The organization should ask, What is the real cost of this solution over its lifetime? What is the value being obtained for the money being spent on the solution? How much does each extension cost and what features does the solution come with?

 

Feature Robustness –Thinking about features associated with a given VoIP solution leads to the next consideration: the overall quality of the offering. This includes consideration of the solution’s scalability (can it grow alongside the company using it?), flexibility (does it suit the needs of more than one type of end-user?), adaptability (can it be reconfigured easily as the company’s needs change?), and compatibility (with other systems already in place, with different types of IP phones). Also consider what type of support is available for the company’s Internet telephony service provider (ITSP).

 

Business Continuity – Two features in particular that deserve their own category are security and back-up. Essentially, these features—if they’re present—can help ensure business continuity (also sometimes referred to as disaster preparedness). What it really comes down to is making sure that the company’s communications functions are protected.

 

Company Size – The size of the company choosing the VoIP solution is a key consideration. How much money is there in the budget, realistically, for this communications investment? What does the company really need now, and what might it need in the future? As noted already, the solution should be flexible and able to grow with the company, but all companies do not need all features—the selection should be based on real needs.

 

Ownership – Many VoIP solutions are marketed as “hosted” or “managed,” meaning that the vendor handles most or all of the complex infrastructure elements off-site at its own facilities, freeing up the customer to focus on its core functions. This may raise the related question, Who owns the system? The pros and cons of an “owned” system versus a Centrex solution should be carefully weighed.

 

Management and Support – The ease with which the VoIP solution can be kept up and running is also important. Evaluation of a solution and its vendor should include the question, What support methods are available? Also: How experienced is the vendor’s development team?

 

Complexity – Hand-in-hand with management and support is the final question in the shortlist: how complex is this VoIP solution? The answer to this question should include information about average installation time, ease of installation/configuration, and ease of maintenance. Plus, of course, how easy the system is for end-users to navigate.

 

By doing homework about each potential VoIP solution using the criteria summarized here, companies can more easily and more effectively evaluate systems and vendors. To learn more tips, please visit the Selecting VoIP Solutions channel on TMCnet.com, brought to you by Epygi (News - Alert).

 

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