Guide to Business Telephone Systems

If your business is just beginning to take off then it is highly probable that you will need a business telephone system.
This article will give you some ideas of what is on offer, so that you can decide which might be the best option for your needs.
A good communications system is at the heart of a successful business; the wrong system could complicate matters with your clients, cost you a lot of money and cause possible harm to your business. Nobody can know or understand your business as well as you, which means that you have to be confident in assessing your business’s communication needs. An overview of the systems that are currently available should help you to make the right decision for your company.
Look at where your business is now; if you have a growing customer base then you will need a system that will work well now and in the future. You may also need a telephone system that will be compatible with any customer software and perform the functions that you require. Think carefully about your needs, if you choose a traditional system you will need to think about how many lines and extensions you need internally and how many trunks or outside lines. You also need to think about the volume of calls; if you expect substantial growth then a traditional system may cause problems if clients cannot get a line.
Types of Telephone Systems available:
KSU and KSU Less
The KSU or key system unit is actually a hub system that works well with up to 50 users. A particular feature of this system is that it also works with internal calling, which you don’t get with all business telephone systems. The KSU Less is also a hub system without the special features and is only suitable in a business where there are less than ten users.
PBX
The PBX is a private branch exchange system, which means it is a system that automatically selects an outside line for whoever is using the phone whereas with the KSU the user has to manually select the line for an outgoing call. This system was expensive and designed for large companies. However, most PBXs now operate on a broadband system with a fast data transfer; this has brought the cost down and made the system suitable of small and medium sized businesses as well.
IP and IVR
IP stands for internet protocol, which means that instead of the call coming over the traditional telephone line it comes via the internet. This system is more cost effective than some because voice calls and data all come through the same network. The reduced cost and adaptability of these systems makes them quite popular, especially in businesses that have client management software as the system integrates with them quite easily.
The IVR system is an interactive voice response system whereby clients can enter, speak their information into the phone, which reduces the cost of sales and service requests. This system will also guide the client through the system to the department they want.
Suppliers
There are now a huge number of telephone system suppliers in the UK. You need to know whether they can supply the type of system you want and what sort of package (i.e. costs) they can offer you. Do some online research before you settle on a supplier as you will want to get the best deal that you can for whatever business telephone system you choose.