While most business managers see the business phone system as an unavoidable cost, ensuring that your business has the right phone system is actually as important a decision as your HR or Marketing functions.
Your business phone system can add an immense difference to your bottom line with measurable increases in:
Scalability and team morale
Businesses traditionally only look for new phone systems when they move or grow. At SJH Communications we recommend you review your system at a minimum of every two years to make sure your business is operating at peak operational and marketing efficiency. Like most technologies, the customers’ ability to change, upgrade or replace their systems has become increasingly easy. It is also now the case that as a business, you do not have to tolerate previously common outages and downtime at all when going through change.
As you look for competitive advantage through new tender or quotation processes, it is helpful to keep the following points in mind.
Consider VOIP & mobile phones
The type of system you need may be changing. You may want to investigate systems beyond the traditional land line. Many businesses are using VOIP and mobile phone systems to increase their response times to customers (and quick response times mean greater sales conversions).
The size of the system you need
Work through how many lines you will need (and include the growth expected in your team for at least the next 3 years), what other services you will use your system for and how your team will be working moving forward.
Shop from local suppliers
While you may find some very competitive price options online, ensure that your supplier is local. Accountability and quick attention from your supplier will be important to you as technologies and needs change rapidly.
Not all quotes are the same
Compare both the basic services AND the add-ons you require before making a final decision. Business Phone System quotes take many different forms and like other competitive industries, some quotes are designed to look cheap at first but do not include all the phone system services and functions you expect.
Check all of the Inclusions
Check that all the standard phone system services are included – e.g., Voice mail, Call forwarding, Caller ID, on Hold advertising, automated Business Hrs and training etc. before moving forward.
Waranties, support & service plans
After-sales service is crucial to a business’s success. Collate and compare warranties, support and service plans – particularly the time to provide support. When you need it most, you want to be sure your provider is firstly committed to ensuring your business phone system remains maximised and secondly, is equipped to keep that promise.
Check your phone system is performing as expected
Lastly, diarise your phone system review for 2 years henceforth. This not only ensures you remain competitive with your Brand promises, internal productivity, team morale and growth plans but takes pressure off when it comes to the processes of upgrading or changing
SJH Communications turns 5 years old this year and we believe our rapid growth and strong customer loyalty is a direct result of our internal culture of caring for our clients and our community and sharing a common commitment to smarter growth with every one of our business customers. If your business is Maitland, Newcastle, The Upper Hunter or Central Coast, we would be happy to work with you to plan your system needs and ensure you stay connected to your most important asset, your customers.
