Business Phone System - How to Customize it For Your SMB
By Daljeet Sidhu
It is not too tough to buy a phone system but customizing it to have it function optimally for your business is a challenge. The word 'system' in itself suggests the integration of roles, functions and responsibilities. The first step in designing any system is to understand the requirements of the users. It is the responsibility of the business executive to define the expectations from the telephone system, and that of the provider to build a system that meets the expectations in the best way.
Business owners are unsure of the true value a phone system will bring to their business. Telephone systems are a costly investment, and it is understandable for business owners to be cautious. Advertisements can promise the sky, but a telephone system will prove its worth only if it gels with your business processes seamlessly.
Outlining the purpose of the phone system
The first thing a business head needs to do is to outline the purpose of the telephone system. For example, a business head may envisage cutting costs by having virtual conferencing rather than having employees travel to conference locations. The business telephone system should make this possible. The purpose of the telephone system could be:
Driving sales to the web site
Increasing customer satisfaction
Reducing administrative costs by auto answering and transfer to appropriate extensions
Allow easy communication across offices in different geographical locations
Diverting calls to sales people who are travelling
Making long-distance calls economically
The telephone system provider should understand the requirements of the business and provide a solution using the best technology and tools for the job.
Customizing the phone system to fit business practices
A business telephone system has to work according to the rules that are part of business processes. This helps employees understand the phone system, how it affects their work processes and in accepting it as a work tool. To know the rules of a business, providers need to ask specific questions. If calls are to be routed to sales people, pertinent questions are how, when and where the calls should be routed.
All the functions expected from the telephone system will have some rules to go by. The provider has to program the system according to the rules, so that employees realize the benefits of the telephone system and optimize on it.
Building a flexible phone system
It should be easy to modify a phone system. With time and familiarity, the business may want changes or improvements. This should be possible with minimum or no disruption of telephonic communications. The provider should have an after-sale technical support service that can assist the business after the installation phase. As a business owner, you need to find out if the provider has a process for making changes to the installed system, timeline for the changes, availability of technical personnel and their work schedule.
A business phone system is an intricate combination of technology, tools and business processes. Business heads and the phone provider should work together to ensure the business gets the maximum benefit out of their system.
Daljeet Sidhu is Co-founder at TradeSeam. Read our small business phone [http://www.tradeseam.com/smallbusiness/buying-guides/view-buying-guide/519/Phone+Systems] system advice. Compare phone system [http://www.tradeseam.com/smallbusiness/business-resources/get-free-quotes/519/Phone+Systems] quotes.
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