It’s the beginning of the year, the perfect time to make and implement sound business plans to ensure growth and success. Adopting or switching to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system could be one of the best decisions you will make in 2024. Statistics have shown that with VoIP, you can save up to 50% on phone costs, and small businesses can save up to 90% on start-up costs. You would, essentially, be setting your business up for success.
But choosing VoIP as your business phone system is only half of it. You also need to find the right VoIP service provider for your business. Here are 7 steps That can help you make the right choice.
This step is crucial because several VoIP technologies are out there, and not all of them are a good fit for your business. Popular VoIP systems include Hosted PBX, Cloud-based, Unified Communication systems, and Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS). To make the right decision, you must understand the specific communication needs of your business before selecting a VoIP service provider, if at all.
Today’s VoIP service providers typically give extensive feature lists. It is, therefore, beneficial to begin your search with an idea of your ideal phone communications features. You’ll probably have “nice-to-haves,” “must-haves,” and features you most definitely do not need. Make sure to choose those that will drive the productivity and efficiency of your business. If you are unsure what features suit your business, message us, and we’ll help you figure it out.
Numerous VoIP providers base their rates and plans on the number of users—phone lines or “seats”—the company will require. Determine the number of phone lines your business will need before selecting a VoIP provider. Ensure you can easily add more lines as your business grows. Something as simple as a few clicks of the mouse or taps on a screen should be able to do the trick.
VoIP may be cheap compared to other phone systems, such as traditional PBX, but there are definitely bills to pay. Set-up fees, monthly charges, and training costs can amount to a lot, depending on your business size. However, these costs vary between service providers. It will do you good to compare prices and then pick one that fits your budget and has the desired features.
As you use your VoIP system, you will occasionally run into a snag. When that happens, you want a service provider with excellent customer support in your corner. Otherwise, you may risk grounding business operations to a halt for a while, and that is never a good thing. Choose a service provider with a support team that is responsive and always available to you. That way, you’ll never have to worry about losing time or money because of technical issues.
Selecting a top-notch VoIP provider is crucial to avoid problems like latency or security breaches in the future. Latency cause communication lags or delays and VoIP phone systems are not immune to them; however, certain providers guarantee lower latency or “downtime” than others. You can ask VoIP providers if they offer an “uptime guarantee.” To avoid latency problems, you should also consider upgrading your network connectivity.
And then, there is the issue of security. Choose a provider with tight security protocols to protect your business data. This is especially important if your business deals with sensitive data. Regular data center audits and implementation of multi-factor authentication strategies help keep your security tight. When selecting VoIP providers, be sure to inquire about their data security measures.
Following the 6 steps above, you are now ready to choose the perfect VoIP provider for your business. This will require you to research and compare multiple providers. Don’t forget to look at their customer reviews. Choose a service provider with good and genuine reviews. A strong reputation in the industry is indicative of reliable service. If others love them, there is a good chance you will, too.
Final thoughts
VoIP is a fantastic tool for streamlining business communications. However, selecting a top VoIP service provider is essential if you want to get the most out of it. If you carefully follow each of these 7 steps, you will find the perfect VoIP provider for your business.
Looking for a top VoIP service provider that ticks these boxes and then some? Supreme Call is it. Leave us a comment or send us a message. We’ll be all too happy to discuss your specific business needs.
