There are now more options than ever by the way of phone systems suitable for business use. Whether you employ 10 members of staff or 1000, you are guaranteed to be able to find the perfect telephony service for your needs.
To help you along the way, we’re going to provide several considerations which you should take into account when choosing a phone system for small offices as well as an overview of some of the systems available.
What is a Business Phone System?
The telephony needs of a business are going to differ from the needs of a residential property. The services and functionality you require will vary but will usually include:
- The ability to record telephone calls, either automatically or on demand.
- The use of multiple telephone lines so that multiple calls can be handled at once.
- The ability to receive voicemail that can be stored and passed on to colleagues as required.
- A queue system which can handle large volumes of calls.
This list is not exhaustive and there are many more functions that you may require for your business.
VoIP Phone Systems
One telephony system for small offices that features all of the aforementioned functionality are VoIP telephone systems. These systems utilise the internet to make and receive phone calls and can interface effectively with any computer, providing a whole raft of increased functionality.
VoIP telephony is perfect for offices that handle large volumes of calls or feature staff which need to be able to access their computers at the same time as headsets can be utilised with a VoIP system to ensure that hands are kept free.
Cloud Based Phone Systems
Another possible option is an offsite cloud based telephone system. Phone systems for a small office need to be just as advanced as they would be for any other business with cloud based systems being a good choice. Similar to VoIP phone systems, you will be provided with telephony via your broadband connection rather than a traditional phone line.
The difference is that your telephone network will be located in a remote location and then accessed whenever you need to send or receive a call. The benefit to such a system is usually a low monthly fee. A possible downside would be the scope for downtime if the server hosting your telephone network were to go offline.
Traditional Telephone Systems
One possible option which may be more suitable is a standard telephone landline, the sort you would typically use at home. The functionality you will receive with such a system is limited but you are still able to record telephone calls and receive voicemail messages as required.
If you only require a single phone line, choosing to use a traditional telephone system could end up being the most cost-effective option.
To help you in your decision, it might be a good idea to start by compiling a list of the services and functionality you require from your telephone system before then deciding which option might be the best for you.