If your business uses traditional telephone technology, you may want to consider switching over to a VoIP phone solution.
VoIP technology operates over the internet, saving you money on phone services, and offering far greater flexibility, mobility, and features than a traditional system.
Whether you’’re already using VoIP, or are considering switching over, one important consideration is the type of VoIP phone to use. There are many available on the market, and all vary in design and quality, and also vary in cost, so it’s important to choose the right phone for your business.
Phone Usage
In order to decide on a budget and get the get the biggest nag-for-your-buck, you need to start at the beginning. Here are some things to think about:
How often will you use it?
Do you frequently use your existing phone system, or only occasionally?
If your business relies on phone use, you’ll want to invest in the most feature-rich VoIP phones you can find, while a business that uses phones more infrequently may prefer a good-quality phone without all the bells-and-whistles.
Purchasing high-quality phones is a ‘must’ though, whatever your individual case. Fixing the problems that arise from using poor quality phones is time-consuming and expensive, so buy the best quality you can afford.
What will you use it for?
If you’re in customer service, you’ll need to handle large call volumes and be able to keep people on hold with features such as call park.
On the other hand, if you have varying roles, you may need different types of phones for each department. E.g., your receptionist will get a fully-featured phone with a sidecar, display, and hold features, while other staff will get simpler phones without the additional features.
What features do you need?
Every business is unique. And every VoIP phone is different, with varying features. which is good because you can choose the exact models you need without any unnecessary features and costs.
Look out for features that will make your daily activities more efficient, as well as those that increase your business capabilities – such as handling more customers at once without requiring extra staff.
Integration
Online tools and services are frequently used for daily tasks, and if your phone doesn’t integrate with those tools, you’re forced to either switch over to a tool that’s compatible with your phone model, or you have to get another phone.
Make sure the model that you’re considering integrates with all your current online tools and services before you make the purchase.
Ethernet or Wi-Fi?
This is a pretty simple one, but if your business uses Ethernet, make sure your phones actually have a port for it – and similarly, ensure your phones have Wi-Fi capability if that’s what you’re using.
It may be a good idea to get a phone that can use both, just in case you need to make the switch from one to the other for any reason.
Mobility
Not all VoIP phones need to be desk-based; there are lots of portable models too, ideal for on-premise employees that need to move around the building.
Sidecars
If team members need to contact each other frequently, or handle and transfer lots of calls, you might want to consider buying phones with sidecars. A sidecar is filled with programmable buttons that can hold different numbers for instant recall and access, so when a receptionist gets an incoming call, they can check the sidecar and easily transfer the call to the required extension.
Busy Lamp Fields
Busy Lamp Fields (BLF) are light-up buttons that work in tandem with the sidecar, making it easy to see which of your team members are available at a glance.
Typically, a green light means they’re available, a flashing red light means someone is calling them, and solid red means they’re unavailable or on another call. This can save you and your customers time, and keep them off hold as much as possible.
Headphones and Speakerphones
Depending on your business, you may use headphones to receive calls. In this case, you’ll want to make sure that your phone is compatible with whatever type of headphones you use. And remember that headphones can be wired or wireless.
Also, you may use the speakerphone function frequently, in which case you’ll definitely want a phone with a good-quality mic.
Making the best choice
With so many options to choose from, it’s important to do you research into what you really need. And with some attention to the needs of your business, you’ll quickly discover what features you do and don’t need, and get the most bang for your buck.
Find out more about TechPoint’s cloud phone systems, or get in touch with us today to learn more!