Common mistakes will throw off your PBX search
Choosing the right virtual PBX system could mean the difference between life and death of your business. While that may be a little bit melodramatic, selecting the right system will significantly impact your ROI as well as the quality of your customer service, both of which are large parts of your company’s overall success. In order to get the most out of your devices, it’s important to avoid a few common mistakes many businesses make when looking for solutions:
1. Having no understanding of the technology
If you don’t have any knowledge about the system, you have no business purchasing it. You wouldn’t purchase a car without looking at its specs and taking it for a test drive, would you? Well, the same approach should be taken when selecting a phone system. Doing research and understanding how systems work will help to choose the one that will benefit your business the most, according to VoIP Supply. The more you understand about the system and its benefits, the better you will be able prepare your team for a successful implementation.
2. Not fully planning for a new system
You can’t just assume that once you buy the system that everything will just fall into place or that your IT gofer will handle everything, there are still aspects that you need to figure out. First of all, you need a solution that will scale with you as your business grows. Making predictions about company staff increases or potential mergers can help you to decide what size solution will best fit your company, according to VendorSeek. You must also determine what additional features will be most beneficial for your business. An auto attendant feature could help manage the stream of customer calls while giving employees the freedom to work in a bring-your-own-device environment. Having a solid business plan is a key factor in choosing a system and without it, you’re sunk.
3. Doing everything on your own
You’ve bought a virtual PBX solution without the blessing of your team, and now no one understands how to use it. Not only that, but you wound up investing more than necessary for a system that isn’t compatible with your current infrastructure. Yikes! The only way to prevent this situation is to discuss options with your team members and IT staff. Getting suggestions about what is needed will guide you toward the solution that has the features best suited for your business, according to TechRadar. Having your staff involved in the selection process will also allow them to show their interest in the system as well as give them a chance to learn about the technology and how it will benefit their everyday work processes.
4. It failed…now what?
While it’s always hoped that new technology will be successfully implemented, if it fails for one reason or another, you’ll need a backup plan. This could come from the provider with backups in disaster situations and recovery plans. Another way that a system could fail is from a lack of testing. Ensuring that your employees can handle the system is crucial to the process, and if they are having a difficult time, the issue needs to be addressed immediately, according to Demand Media. Once you’ve done that, test, test and test again! You’ve spent a fair amount of money on this system, and you’re going to want to make sure it works as you need it to.
Choosing a virtual PBX system can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. With appropriate planning and testing, your new system could revitalize your business and facilitate new growth.
Category: Business
