Businesses today prefer using a premises PBX setup for their business, but many small businesses prefer using a hosted option. The risks that come with on-premises systems are much higher compared to hosted VoIP. VoIP will provide you with a powerful phone system that will eliminate CapEX and reduce the burden of your IT staff. The software and server maintenance will be taken care of by your VoIP provider. This means you do not have to incur extra expenses.
That said, the advantages that come with using a Unified Communications solution are very many. If you now decide to opt for a hosted option, there are things that you need to consider before deploying a VoIP system. Let us look at the different questions that you need to ask yourself when choosing a hosted VoIP provider.
1. Needs of Your Business. The number one thing that you should consider when comparing a hosted VoIP should be the business needs. Will that particular vendor supports the number of users and still provide quality service? Make sure you consider their cloud services in case of future growth and adaptation. Will your business's current network be able to handle a new bandwidth demand in case of an expansion?
2. Equipment. Many small businesses usually operate on a little budget as they try to grow with the lean equipment that they have. So, before you think of hosted VoIP, you need to compare different VoIP providers and check if they can utilize the equipment that your business has. If the provider can support them, it will save your business money. On the other hand, if they cannot, you will need to compare the renting amount and buying appropriate equipment.
3. Expenses. Before choosing a hosted VoIP system, you need to consider the fees and the sign-up costs. Make sure that the monthly fees that the company offers is not just for adverts or promotions before signing the contract. Once you have all the calculations figured out, you need to know the type of onboarding services they will provide. When comparing hosted VoIP, you need to choose a vendor who makes your start off easy.
4. Support. Once you have your hosted PBX ready, the first question you need to ask yourself is what kind of customer support will you get? Just in case you have an error or a technical problem, you do not need to worry. All you need to do is contact your support line and they will help you resolve any issues. You can either contact them or just send an email and all will be sorted.
5. Continuity. When you are choosing a PBX provider, you need to plan for the worst-case scenarios. This means to what extent can you depend on your vendor in case of any emergencies. Just because a hosted PBX is a cloud-based service, you will need to know its capabilities as a tool of disaster recovery. This is only as good as the service's ability to adapt to seamless services. It should always be accessible depending on the devices and the location.