Are you in the process of getting a telephone exchange for your business? That’s great! It will improve your customer satisfaction, efficiency and reduce your costs. But it’s not an easy choice; it’s a jungle out there. Here’s some advice to help you choose the best provider for your small business.
Why should you have a telephone exchange as a small business?
As a small business owner, it may seem a bit strange to have a telephone exchange. Isn’t a personal mobile number enough? No, not if you want to be taken seriously. It’s hard enough to take calls and not know whether it’s your mother-in-law or a customer.
A telephone switchboard makes it so much easier for you to handle your business calls. You’ll also improve your service, professionalism and productivity – while saving time and money. The list of benefits is endless – even for small businesses.
The benefits of a telephone exchange for a small business
Best possible treatment
Today’s customers are often well-informed and aware of your competitors. That’s why one missed call is all it takes for them to turn their back on you. First impressions are extremely important – that’s why you need to treat your customers in the best possible way.
With the right choice of switchboard, you can easily control how your switchboard works to provide the best service to your customers. If you are not available, the switchboard will take over with an IVR or transfer the call to a colleague.
Make a professional impression
Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a small-scale image. With a telephone exchange, you come across as a reliable professional. Welcome customers with a welcome message that informs them of your opening hours and connects them to the right person.
Work remotely with ease
A smart PBX – preferably a cloud-based one – makes it easy to work remotely. A PBX gives you freedom, as all PBX functions are available on your mobile. Some providers also support smart features such as chat and video conferencing, simplifying your workday wherever you are.
A telephone switchboard can take your business to the next level, not least in terms of customer service. But which provider should you choose? Read on to learn more about the features you should look for in your choice of provider.
Consider this when choosing your telephone exchange provider
A cloud-based PBX gives you flexibility
One of the best choices you can make is to opt for a cloud-based solution. A cloud PBX allows you to integrate your telephony with your computer, mobile and fixed connections. A physical PBX is not only costly – it is also cumbersome to manage. In many ways, a cloud PBX is an obvious choice for businesses that want to be agile and cost-effective.
The importance of a mobile app
Today, many of us are on the move or working from home. Having access to a mobile app makes it easy for everyone to manage your switchboard. Change your opening hours, adjust your availability with profiles and transfer calls.
We have lots of intuitive apps on our personal phones, so why shouldn’t your PBX be as easy to use? Make sure the solution you choose has a nice interface too!
With a mobile app, you have the switchboard in your pocket and can make changes without external help. That brings us to the next point:
Do it yourself!
With a cloud-based PBX, your company can manage your PBX itself. Say goodbye to having to queue up to change your opening hours or record a welcome message. With the right choice of provider, you get a solution that puts you in control. That way, you don’t have to spend time on support for things you could just as easily handle on your own.
At the same time, it doesn’t hurt to have a supplier who can help in a crisis:
Choose personalized and flexible support
Make sure the supplier has a support person who knows your industry and the challenges you face. Choose a personal contact person instead of an anonymous service department. You deserve it.
A solution you can grow with
There will come a day when you are no longer a small business. That’s when it’s good to have a provider that can grow with you. With the right PBX, you can scale up or down your business as needed.
Flexible licenses mean you’re not locked into expensive subscriptions, but can assign phone numbers to new employees if someone leaves. The same goes for the features you use: add or remove telephony (both fixed and mobile), intranet, chat, video conferencing and contact center as you scale up or down.
Read more: The mistakes many make when buying business telephony
A cost-effective solution
A cloud-based PBX is a smart choice – not least when it comes to costs. Choose a provider that makes billing easy. How about one invoice a month for all services? Avoid spending time analyzing complicated invoices.
Buyer’s Guide: How to choose the right cloud-based PBX Download the guide here
Executive summary
Even as a small business, a telephone exchange can make a big difference. That’s why choosing a provider is so important. Here are the requirements you should set when choosing a provider.
- Is everything under one roof?
A cloud-based PBX makes it easy to manage all your calls. It streamlines your operations and lowers your costs. - Can you work remotely with ease?
Make sure your provider offers a flexible solution that works on the go, regardless of the platform. - Can you manage the switchboard on your own?
When you can handle your calls yourself, you are so much more efficient and can spend your time on important customer meetings instead. - Can you scale up and down with the solution?
Whether you are expanding or need to downsize your business: make sure you invest for the future. - Do you receive personalized service?
The right supplier is familiar with your industry and provides a personalized approach.
Why Telavox solution could be right for your business
With Telavox’s solution, you avoid unnecessary costs and can scale up and down smoothly. With us, you can combine our PBX services any way you want. You choose whether you want to invest in an unlimited number of PBX services or just need one. Add services such as queuing, fax mailbox or multiple voicemail boxes if needed.
Want to know more about how you can streamline your business with a telephone exchange Book a free demo and we will tell you more about how Telavox can help you!
