So, you’ve finally decided to start looking for business phone systems in the UK! Exciting times await. If you haven’t used an online telephony system yet, you’re in for a surprise. The functionality available with the latest systems is simply staggering.
Did you know that the market for internet-based call centre infrastructure is expected to grow by 26% between 2024 and 2029? That means a lot of your competitors who aren’t already using online telephone technology will be doing so by the end of the decade. Put simply, you can’t afford to be left behind. Your customers won’t stand for it.
If this is your first time – or you made the wrong choice last time around – you’re in luck. To ensure you get the best bang for your buck, here are a few things you should look for when comparing office business phone systems.
Utilise Advanced Calling Features
Gone are the days when a phone simply connected two parties via a voice call. That’s so 20th century!
Today’s business phone systems in the UK are cloud-based and packed with features. Instead of using old-fashioned copper lines or fibre optic cables, they take voice calling online – and that allows for a multitude of features that have the potential to make your business more productive.
Take call transfer, for example. If you’re the one who takes the initial call but you realise a colleague is the best person to deal with it, just transfer it with a couple of button presses.
If you’re out and about for the day, a good business phone system can forward all your calls to your mobile device – ensuring you never miss a lead or an opportunity to impress an existing customer.
In fact, when you have an internet-connected business phone system, you can perform most of the functions you’d come across when contacting a call centre. Add multiple people to calls, play music when you have people on hold, and receive a discreet notification when a second call is coming through. Imagine the possibilities. You’d never miss a selling or customer service opportunity again. You’d also create a professional workplace that may give your organisation the edge over your competitors.
Keep Your Existing Number
When VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phones first emerged, some business owners were reluctant to make the switch. This represented change, and some businesses like to avoid that wherever possible. Another obstacle was the idea that businesses would have to change all their numbers – and run the risk of missing sales opportunities and annoying existing customers.
But there’s no need to change any of your numbers – they can all be ported to your new system with ease. You can even choose local numbers to demonstrate your commitment to the local community. Or if you want to operate abroad, you can set up international numbers so your overseas clients only have to call a local number to get through to you.
Stay in Control with a User-Friendly Management Interface
Think of a UK business phone system as a giant computer network. Just like any computer, you’ll need to make certain decisions to ensure it delivers what you need from it. That control is given to you in the form of administrator and user dashboards.
If you want call routing but not call transfers, just make the necessary changes in the dashboard – in a matter of seconds. If you want to see how long key personnel have spent on customer calls over the last month, a couple of button presses will deliver the report you need. And it’s all done from a simple yet powerful dashboard.
Never Miss a Call with Mobile Compatibility
How you set up your office business phone system is up to you. If you don’t want any traditional-looking phones on desks, you can allow your team to download an app to their existing phones. However, the best solution involves combining VoIP desk phones with mobile devices.
What does this look like in the real world? Well, imagine you’ve left your desk for the day to visit clients in their workplaces. Just a few settings changes, and you’ll continue receiving calls as if you were still at your desk. You’ll also be able to make calls on your mobile and no one will be any the wiser – they’ll just assume you’re still beavering away at your desk.
With the right business phone system in place, you can connect all your devices to a single internet-based telephony system. Implement a VoIP mobile app, desktop app, web app, and mobile twinning functionality all working as part of a single communication infrastructure, and you can make the entire world your office!
Collaborate Seamlessly
Remote meetings are a breeze with office business phone systems. You’re probably thinking you have Zoom or Teams for such shenanigans. But the great thing about using a VoIP system is that you can host all your organisation’s communications on a single online platform.
Need to set up a video conference with several people in different locations? A one-click meeting link will do the trick. The same applies to audio conferencing and three-way calling. And you can replay calls, obtain reports, and change conferencing settings from the same dashboard that allows you to manage your phone calls.
In short, you’ll spend less time on administrative tasks and more time delivering for your customers.
Ramp Up Your Security
Be honest. The last thing you probably want to concern yourself with is system security. What if there were a single security solution that kept all your communications and data safe without you having to worry about it? You don’t have to imagine, as that’s exactly what you get with a business phone system.
Automatic fraud detection, country calling limits, roles and user permissions, and audit trails are all taken care of with minimal input from you or your team. And when vital updates are made available, they’re downloaded and applied automatically – giving you around-the-clock data security with no fuss.
Making the Switch to a Business Phone System in the UK Has Never Been Easier
Whether you’re a newcomer to VoIP telephony systems or you’ve had a bad experience in the past, there are office business phone systems out there that make work life simple. That’s because sign-up, number porting, training, and general onboarding are all delivered by experienced professionals.
If you’re ready to embrace ALL the benefits of an advanced business phone system, contact the Sipalto team today to request a custom quote.