Whether you manage a remote workforce or have welcomed your employees back into the office, you might be considering upgrading your phone system. Choosing the right business phone service in Orlando is a rigorous task. Just the number of providers in business can seem intimidating.
It’s essential to work with a provider who listens to what YOU want, as opposed to just fitting you into a one-size-fits-all solution which may not fit with your business needs. You may want to work with a provider familiar with your area, as opposed to a national provider.
Here’s how you can ensure you choose the right Orlando business phone service.
Orlando Business Phone Service: Know what You Want
Conduct an audit of your current communication system and where there may be some holes. Are your employees maximizing their productivity with your current solution? Will migrating to a new system improve productivity? Don’t assume you know what your employees want. Ask them. How will a new communications system improve your job and what features are you looking for?
What features do we need?
- Screen sharing
- Video conferencing
- Tools integrations
- Auto-attendants
Once you have collected the necessary data, you can research business phone services in your area.
Orlando Business Phone Service: Exploring Providers
When choosing a business phone service, don’t get steered by the provider. You want to work with a company who provides a consultative approach. You need to drive the conversation and tell them what you need.
Working with a provider in your area will work to your advantage, as well. Often, when working with a local provider, they tend to be smaller providers. This means they will have more time to focus on your and your needs. Basically, they will provide a better customer experience.
When exploring providers, here are some of the questions to ask:
- Is there a charge for support?
- Besides a monthly fee, what other fees might I incur?
- Do you offer devices?
- Do you offer voice only?
- Do you offer collaboration tools?
- Are you able to port our numbers?
- What’s the onboarding process like?
Orlando Business Phone Service: Know Your Budget
Although you don’t want to get too preoccupied with cost, you have a budget to stick with. Most hosted VoIP solution providers have subscription models based on users and features included. You might see terms like ‘Basic’ or ‘Premium.’ At Advanced Communications, we offer competitive pricing on both our basic and advanced solutions.
If you anticipate growth, you need to anticipate features you need today, as well as in the future. Make sure your provider can scale with you, and then do your shopping. You may need to spend a bit more to future-proof your business. Just remember, it’s about the value, not necessarily price. If the provider delivers value, you’ll get your money’s worth.
Orlando Business Phone Service: Training
Does the provider offer training (in-office/virtual)? Or do they just direct you to a knowledge base of documents and training videos? Either can be fine. Most providers will offer both, but make sure you know how your teams like to learn; that will ensure a positive experience and lead to higher user adoption. It all depends on how your employees learn. There will be a learning curve when using new, modern technology no matter what solution you use.
Orlando Business Phone Service: Security
The final issue to consider is security. As soon as you plug into the Internet, you’re susceptible to a cyber-attack. Your communication system is the life of your business, so it’s essential to know the security measures of the hosted VoIP solutions provider you’re potentially partnering with.
Ask who is in control of security and what security measures are built into the solution. Most providers offer end-to-end encryption – data in and data out. Two-factor authentication is another possibility, as well. At the very least, your business should have firewalls to shield against attacks. Depending on your industry, like healthcare or finance, you may need a few advanced security measures.
Orlando Business Phone Service: Unify Communications
Technology has evolved for business communication systems. You no longer need to work with multiple vendors for your communication needs. You can work with one vendor and work with one integrated platform. Most hosted VoIP solution providers offer video conferencing, messaging, and collaboration under one service. That’s a significant cost savings, as well as a more efficient way to operate your business. User management is simple as it can be configured through a dashboard by an admin from their computer or mobile device.
Advanced Communications is Your Choice for Business Phone Service in Orlando
Advanced Communications is here to answer all your questions about deciding on a business phone service. We take a consultative approach to get to know your business and fit a system to you and your business based on your needs. We’ll help you through the entire process from installation and deployment to support and updates. Contact us today to get started!
