Have You Seen the Latest Flash in Business VoIP?

What do you consider the ideal phone system? Is it one that allows you to integrate your smartphone into the system when you’re in the office, giving you access to all the bells and whistles while also supporting business VoIP and other capabilities? Is it one that integrates both new and old technologies so you can work and communicate the way you want to?

The answers can be different for different users, but everyone probably has one thing in common – they all want to achieve greater efficiency with a new phone system. Many providers offering business VoIP as their key business line will promise the best quality at the lowest rate, but the reality is not much innovation (or flash) has occurred since the arrival of VoIP. Networks have improved and bandwidth has expanded, but VoIP is VoIP.

That said, how do you set one provider aside from another and implement the best phone system in your office? Fortunately, there are a few things you can consider to make the process easier. For instance, is the telephony solution proprietary software that is locally developed? If so, the vendor may have optimal control over the development and features and could continue to off you better and better solutions in terms of business VoIP.

At the same time, don’t be fooled by flashing marketing. It’s not uncommon for providers to tout the virtues of their PBX functionality, but this should really be a given. This technology has been nothing more than a commodity for the last 40 years and there’s nothing new or innovative about it. You don’t get control, integration, management or real-time reporting with this technology; you need the next step in innovation. This comes with business VoIP and the right customized solutions from your provider.

If you can’t gain control over your phone system, you need to keep looking. You need this control to be simple and easy, supporting the initiatives you’ve put in place to support your company strategy. This also means management should have easy access to cost reporting with the ability to gain a snapshot at any time. Likewise, you should be able to easily integrate the phone system with your network and other technology investments, leveraging automation wherever possible.

As you continue to vet business VoIP providers in your market, don’t forget a few other steps in due diligence, including support, length of time in the industry and talking to current clients. Remember to avoid the flashy promises and get to the heart of the offering. When you do so, you can select a system that truly improves efficiency in your office, whether your smartphone connects directly to the system or not.