In today's fast-paced business world, a reliable phone system is essential for any small business. Whether you're trying to stay in touch with customers or maintain communication with your team, a good phone system can make all the difference. At the core of any successful phone system is dependable technology that is capable of handling high call volumes, providing a stellar caller experience while allowing you to work remotely and much more.
Additionally, small businesses need to ensure that their system has the flexibility to be scaled up or down as their needs change over time. With these things in mind, it is clear that a solid phone system is an integral part of any successful small business. As such, investing in quality technology from the start will help companies to set themselves up for growth and success.
What Is a Business Phone System?
Communication is vital for all business in order to survive and grow. Whether your business is entirely online or you have premises, communicating with your stakeholders well is where a digital phone system can really come into its own. Yes you've got instant messaging and email, but picking up the phone and speaking to a real human still has an important place.
Business needs are different to householder needs though, with business phone systems often needing to have time and money-saving features such as:
- The ability for many people to log on at once
- Automated answering
- Call forwarding to multiple sources
- Conference call facilities
- On hold call queuing system
- Headset support, wired and wireless
To ensure that your small business has the right phone system, use this quick checklist:
✓A futuristic digital solution
The future of landline phones is now digital, not copper. At the end of 2025, all UK landlines will be axed and replaced with an all-IP digital network. In a world where almost everything seems to be going digital or wireless, why rely on something that's stationary, physical and using Victorian-era technology?
VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol phone systems is your ultimate answer as a business owner! VoIP is an innovative way to make phone calls. The phone calls are made via internet or mobile connection and it works by taking your analogue voice signals and converting them into digital data which are then sent as part of a broadband connection through the internet or mobile data when out and about!
✓Sounding professional
Most small business owners are familiar with the idea of using a personal phone number for business purposes. However, there are a few downsides to this arrangement. First, it can be difficult to keep track of personal and work calls when they come through the same number.
Second, if you give out your personal number to customers, it can create a sense of familiarity that may not be appropriate for a business relationship. By getting a new business number, you can avoid these problems. Not only will you be able to differentiate between your personal and work calls, but you will also be able to portray a professional image in front of your potential and current customers. In today's competitive business world, this can make all the difference.
✓Full control at your fingertips
Consider getting a phone system that eliminates the need to call your provider for basic needs like call recording or voicemail information. For small business owners already facing time constraints, VoIP is an innovative and easy way to make calls and manage call flows, out of hours, and more on the go. You can use any devices you currently use like smartphones or laptops to make and take calls! There may be tons of changes that you want to make every other day like adding call diverts or managing call flows. Nevertheless, they all can be done by yourself if you select a provider that offers an easy and intuitive VoIP phone system.
✓Affordable
While a phone system is an essential business tool, it can be prohibitively expensive for small businesses. High installation costs and ongoing fees can drain the resources of small businesses, making it more difficult for them to succeed in today's competitive landscape. Instead of investing in an expensive legacy phone system, small businesses should embrace new technologies at a fraction of the cost.
By adopting a cloud-based VoIP phone system, businesses can reap all the benefits of a robust phone system while keeping costs under control. With these options, any small business can stay connected and stay ahead of its competition. Cloud-based systems are a fraction of the costs and don’t require any engineers, installations or lengthy setups - additional savings are almost immediately guaranteed as VoIP or digital phone lines can actually be cheaper than traditional landlines and often include calls as part of the monthly price.
✓Packed with essential features
Regardless of the type of business you run, having a reliable and feature-rich phone system is essential. Accurate communication is critical for any type of organisation, and it can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining customer relationships or managing projects, whether you’re an established business or just starting out. With that said, there are many different types and features of VoIP phone systems available on the market today. While most systems come with some sort of basic functionality, there are certain features that every business must have in order to succeed. Some key must-have features include call recording, seamless call transfers, call forwarding, and automatic dialling capabilities. With features like welcome greetings or auto-attendants at your fingertips, you will be able to manage your calls more efficiently, look more professional and keep your customers happy at all times.
✓Remote working solved
Cloud communication systems are essential in today’s modern workplace. Thanks to these innovative technologies, you and your team can work remotely. Whether it’s working from home or a local coffee shop, you and the team can access your phone systems on the go and have the flexibility and freedom to be highly productive and engaged with calls.
By leveraging the latest mobile and desktop apps, VoIP enables individuals to seamlessly receive, make, and transfer calls from wherever they happen to be. With these tools at their fingertips, entrepreneurs and business owners can also operate their businesses on the go, ensuring that their operations stay up and running no matter what challenges may come their way.
✓A scalable solution
The last thing you want is for your small business to grow and then find out that the phone system isn't scalable. Before purchasing one, make sure it can be expanded and can accommodate additional users without much hassle or cost!
Next step:
When it comes to choosing a VoIP provider for your small business, there are many factors to consider. Not only do you need to find a provider that offers reliable service at an affordable price, but you also need to choose one that is geared specifically towards the needs of your small business.
Fortunately, bOnline is one such provider. As the UK’s most awarded VoIP provider so small and micro-businesses, bOnline has a proven track record of providing high-quality service trusted by more than 50K businesses.
With features like call flows, call diverts, call queuing and 45+ more, our platform is tailor-made for the unique needs and requirements of small business owners, startups and freelancers. Whether you're looking for reliable phone service or an affordable phone solution, bOnline has everything you need to maximise your company's efficiency and performance.
So why wait? TRY bOnline for FREE today and start reaping the benefits of the VoIP solution!
