Comparing Hosted VoIP Solutions

Comparing Hosted VoIP Solutions

Businesses are turning to VoIP solutions for their communication to increase the effectiveness of their voice systems and save money. But with increased demand comes increased supply, and it can be difficult to wade through the many companies and services offering VoIP to find the best fit for your company. When looking for your hosted VoIP solution, you should be able to find one that fits your current needs and budget, as well as offers new opportunities to increase productivity. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few key things to consider when shopping for VoIP services.

Reliability

One of the benefits of a hosted VoIP system is its mobility, enabling users to make and receive business calls wherever and whenever they need to. This makes it all the more important that your phone system is working when you are. Outages can happen, so make sure that any VoIP provider you are considering has procedures to prevent them. Read reviews and references to see how good they are at responding to incidents, and determine from there whether or not the provider seems reliable. Remember: reviewers are more likely to comment on negative experiences than positive, so no news might be good news!

Included Features

To stay competitive, VoIP providers offer a variety of features that could significantly boost your phone system’s effectiveness. Features like the ability to migrate your current phone numbers, enhanced voicemail, and auto attendant are included free-of-charge in some plans, available at a cost in others, and are just plain unavailable from some providers. Some important features are:

  • Local Number Portability
  • Auto Attendant
  • Call Forwarding
  • Enhanced Voicemail
  • Security
  • Call Recording
  • 911 Support
  • Web User Interface
  • Conference Capabilities
  • CRM Integration

Based upon your business needs, decide which features are must-haves, and which you could do without. This will help you decide on a provider that meets your needs and is cost-effective.

Customer Service

With a hosted VoIP solution, in which the provider owns, manages, and maintains the physical equipment, it’s important that you and your business can get answers and support at any time. Many VoIP providers offer 24/7 support lines, but regardless of when they’re available, providers should define and be accountable for convenient ways to receive help.

Cost

Of course, a VoIP system’s ability to fit seamlessly into your business includes its ability to fit seamlessly into your business’s budget. Some VoIP providers cater to small and mid-sized businesses, while other’s services are better suited to large enterprises. With that in mind, a higher price point does not necessarily mean better, as it could include features that are not relevant to your company’s needs. But also don’t be too thrifty: a hosted VoIP solution could be just what you need to help your business grow. Plan for future needs as well as current ones for an ideal VoIP system.

Searching for a VoIP solution for your business can be overwhelming, but if you know what to look for, it could lead your company to greater heights. By knowing exactly what you want from your phone system, shopping becomes simple, making it easier and faster to give your customers the service they want.