We’ve an updated article on how to choose a VoIP Provider here.
You’ve decided to get a VoIP telecommunications system for your company but how do you go about it. The first thing you’re going to need is a VoIP provider to supply your system also any additional hardware required. Choosing a VoIP provider can be a little confusing, considering what a competitive and growing market it has become, so think about our important points below to get the service you really require for your business.
Choose a VoIP Provider
Cost
The cost of a purchase will always have to be considered when it comes to keeping the profits of your business up and you can actually save a great deal by switching to a VoIP system in the first place. Though VoIP can and should be an affordable service, some companies will hike up the prices of calls so they can cream the excess off for their own margins when there is plenty to go around. See our article on What you should know about the Telecoms industry to see how much you should be paying for VoIP calls. As much as there are great savings to be had, bear in mind that you are also paying for the quality and reliability of your calls as well as monitoring and security, so the cheapest package may not always be the best option. The next points talk through the added extras you may need and how understanding your business needs can help you choose the right supplier.
Added Features
When choosing the right VoIP system, you need to think about why VoIP would benefit your business other then the cost implications. Does your company simply want it for just in and out dialling or are there more features you’ll need. A Good VoIP provider should be able to suggest and clearly explain what added features may be beneficial to your company. Call screening, call redialling and automated messaging are the most popular but there are costing features to cap calls, training help through conversation recording and onscreen response functions for customer service. The possibilities are endless when it comes to features. If you have an experienced VoIP provider who has a background in merging software with their telecoms systems, then ask them what they can do for your company to see the true value of their skills.
Upgrades
Added extensions to your current system should be an easy process and the cost should be minimal but this is often an area where poor VoIP providers try increase their own profit margins, even though there is little need to add costs. An added phone for your business should cost the same as when your first extensions were added. We understand that businesses grow and change so we add phone lines quickly for our customers at the true cost of installing it rather then increase the price because it wasn’t in the original contract. The same goes for using fewer lines. We know businesses sometimes have to scale back their call systems, whether that’s through staff changes or in off peak times and we don’t charge you fees for dropping lines. We believe you should only pay for what you need, when you need it. Upgrades to the system as a whole come with technological advancements and this should be part of your contract and not an added extra. If the upgrades are required for your system to run, then the onus is on the provider, not on the consumer.
Reliability
Though it is sometimes hard to see the quality and reliability of a call system until you are using it in the day to day running of your business, the provider should be able to reassure you of their ability to provide a reliable service. They should have near-zero downtime, fault-tolerant components, up to date technology and a recovery plan should the worse happen. You should also look for a provider who offers 24 hour support 7 days a week so that no matter when your business operates they can be on hand to monitor the system and fix any issues that occur. Customer service for your provider should be as important as the customer service your business provides to your consumers. Before committing, make sure they offer a preliminary check of your network to see if it is suitable to handle VoIP.
Terms & Conditions
We don’t believe in tying our clients down to long contracts. Our services speak for themselves so our customers always stay with us. If you have little experience with VoIP and VoIP providers, look for ones that offer flexible contracts or trial periods so that you can get used to the system and see how it performs in a real life scenario. As always, be sure to read through any contracts carefully for hidden charges and to discover issues that aren’t covered. Choosing a provider is a very serious matter and should not be rushed, so take your time and find the right provider for your business needs.
Do you want to become a VoIP Provider? contact us on 03300881182 or send us an email to: sales@vipvoip.co.uk