Choosing the Best VoIP phone system for a small business can be a hard task. When you are considering switching to a VoIP system, there are a few things you need to have in mind. The VoIP system fits businesses of any scale, from a large multi-site enterprise to a small local business, but it can be tricky to choose from a wide range of options available. It is even trickier for a small business owner looking for the cheapest option to migrate.
What is VoIP?
The VoIP system, or Voice over Internet Protocol, uses the Internet to take and make calls instead of traditional telephone lines. This cloud-based system can help businesses to cut costs, improve communication between remote workers, and increase productivity by collaborating with different software.
There are a lot of benefits to moving to a cloud-based system, but as the 2025 date of PSTN switch off nears, it becomes a necessity for every business, still relying on traditional telephone lines.
How to choose the best VoIP provider
VoIP Cost
One of the main reason businesses consider switching to VoIP is a cost cut. As VoIP uses Internet, all the installation costs, coming with physical products, along with the maintenance cost, can be dropped. Depending on the type of service, number of users, and features, the cost of Cloud systems can differ. To reduce the cost, you can choose a provider with free international calling rates, or reduce the number of unnecessary features.
Questions to ask yourself: What is my budget? What features are the most important for my business? What level does my business require?
Network and VoIP system
A reliable Network with a powerful signal is crucial for businesses who consider migrating to a Cloud telephone system. The VoIP traffic is much more sensitive to unstable connections than general office traffic. It can lead to poor call quality, dropped and lost calls.
Another complication can be hidden in the network design, as many small businesses use a few different routers rather than dedicated Ethernet jacks. It can lead to difficulties in monitoring and maintaining traffic quality.
Questions to ask yourself: Is my business network reliable?
VoIP features for your business
VoIP is known for its extensive list of features for business communication. Call holding, queuing, recording, and monitoring, music on hold, conferencing tools, live chat, digital faxing – the list is pretty long. While all features sound attractive, not many businesses need to have all of them. Consider making a list of the top 5-10 features for your business needs. Questions to ask yourself: What VoIP features does my business require?
Once you answer this question, you can start looking for a VoIP service provider, that suits your business needs.
Contact our support team at Touch Blue to find out more about the Best VoIP phone system for a small business.