Are you looking for the best PBX system or VoIP phone system solutions for small business? If so, you have probably seen that there are a lot of options available. It is important for you to think about the quality of your business phone system because this influences how easily, quickly, and reliably you can communicate with your customers, employees, and business partners.
There are plenty of PBX services available, and the right service for one company is not necessarily going to be the right service for yours. What are a few of the most important factors you need to think about before you decide which PBX or VoIP services to choose? Learn more about the information you need to know before you decide what PBX is right for your company.
A Traditional PBX vs. Hosted PBX vs. Cloud PBX
If you are looking at a PBX system for your company, the first thing you need to decide is whether you want a traditional PBX, hosted PBX, or a cloud PBX.
First, let’s take a look at the traditional PBX system. A few important points to keep in mind include:
- If you go with a traditional system, you will have more upfront expenses because of all the equipment required, but your recurring expenses should be lower when compared to newer cloud or hosted systems.
- Because all of your equipment is going to be on-site, you will have more control of your networks, servers, and phone system.
- Because you have physical phone lines, you should have phone calls available to you even if the internet goes down.
- You are not as dependent on the internet for your services, so your phone system should be more secure.
A few quick points to keep in mind about a hosted PBX include:
- All of your hardware is going to be run off-site. A PBX provider is responsible for running all of the necessary services for you.
- You will access all of the servers associated with your network through a direct connection. Your services are dependent on the internet.
- All of your features are uniform and constant. Even though you do not have to worry as much about your services dropping, it is a bit more difficult to scale up or down.
- You usually pay for each phone number you require individually. Each new number takes up more server space, increasing your cost.
You should also understand a few basic points about cloud PBX as well. These include:
- Similar to a hosted PBX, you will be dependent on the internet for your phone services.
- All of your hardware is going to be hosted off-site, so you should not have to worry about having a bunch of server cabinets or phone lines on-site.
- You have more flexibility with a cloud system. If you want to increase the number of users, you should be able to do so easily.
- On the other hand, if there is a spike in demand, the quality of your phone services could suffer, as you will be restricted by the cloud.
Now that we have covered a few of the basics regarding the different options you have available, it is time to figure out which one is right for your business. One of these options is not necessarily better than the other, but you need to figure out which one is best for your needs.
What are a few of the most important factors you need to think about?
What Is the Actual Cost of Ownership?
Of course, one of the first factors you need to think about is the actual cost of ownership. Even though you probably see prices advertised from time to time, you need to make sure you understand the total cost of ownership.
For example, if you decide to get a traditional system, you will have to invest more money upfront. Then, your recurring expenses should be lower.
On the other hand, if you decide to go with a hosted or cloud system, you do not have to purchase as much equipment. Therefore, your initial expenses might be lower, but your recurring monthly expenses could be higher.
Keep in mind that you might incur some expenses that are not necessarily charged by your phone provider. For example, you may have to hire an internal IT system that is responsible for helping you take care of any physical equipment you have. Get an accurate picture of the price before you make a decision.
How Easily Can You Customize the System To Meet Your Needs?
You should also think about the customizability of your PBX system. Every business has a slightly different set of needs, so you may want to customize your PBX system to meet your needs as well. The easiest way for you to customize your system is through a traditional PBX system. All of the equipment is on-site, so you can make changes to the equipment easily, but you might be limited by the number of phone lines you have. Some changes are easy, but others are challenging.
It might be a bit harder to make changes to your hosted or cloud system because the equipment is off-site, but you might still be able to make changes to your subscription plan. You also need to take a look at the contract to make sure you can quickly scale your plan up or back as needed.
The same is true with a VoIP system. Because there isn’t necessarily a lot of physical equipment, you might have more customizable options available, but you could take a look at the contract and make sure you can make these changes easily.
What Is the Quality of the User Experience?
You should take a look at the quality of the user experience as well. The first thing you should consider is your sound quality. You need to make sure this is high because you want to easily understand the person on the other end of the phone. If you have a traditional PBX system, most of your information should run through physical phone lines, so your sound quality should be high.
If you decide to go with a cloud system, a hosted system, or a VoIP system, you need to make sure you are getting good sound quality. Keep in mind that your sound quality might not necessarily be constant. When there is not a lot of demand for your bandwidth, your sound quality might be high. Then, when you have other demands placed on your internet bandwidth, your sound quality might drop. You may want to take a look at a few user reviews and ratings to make sure you have the sound quality you require.
Find the Right PBX System to Meet Your Needs
Ultimately, these are just a few of the many factors you need to consider if you are looking for a PBX system to meet your needs. Make sure you consider the cost, the quality, and the flexibility of the service before you make a decision. If you need help finding the right PBX system for your company, reach out to a professional who can assist you with this decision.
