Switching from traditional phone service to VOIP can be an intimidating step for a business owner who isn’t an engineer. Here are a few things that every business owner should consider when deciding which of the many business voip providers he or she should use.
1) Customer service. While it is intuitive that every business owner should do the most to keep overhead as low as possible, low price often comes at the expense of service. Beware of budget providers! While VOIP is a stable technology, network expansion and administration requires trained professionals for assistance – professionals that many budget providers can’t afford to hire. In the unlikely event of a problem, a budget company will often be slower to respond, leaving you completely out of the loop and incapable of doing business as usual. Since disruptions or problems with service are unusual however, another aspect of customer service that you need to consider is getting a solution that is truly tailored to your needs. Many companies consult on a ‘sales model,’ giving your ‘customer service’ representative a commission for what he or she sells you. Not only is this dishonest, but it’s bad for you, and could translate into much greater costs for you over the long run.
2) Handset selection. Companies that offer only a few handsets should raise a red flag. A meager selection means a few things. First, it means that the company is probably behind on technology (and also that its engineers are familiar with just a couple of models of phones and are afraid to move forward). Second, it means that your options for expansion and upgrading going forward will be more limited and that, therefore, the solution won’t be well-tailored to your telecom needs. Third, it is indicative of an attitude that puts sales before service. While it is slightly more work for a VOIP provider to implement a solution with various handsets, the end result is a solution that gives features and simplicity to those who need them most.
3) Reputation. Many VOIP companies are here one day and gone the next. If you plan on implementing a hosted PBX network, this could be a nightmare for you – imagine picking up the phone one day and getting no dial tone, only to find out that your network administrator is nowhere to be found! GetJive has been operating a successful business for far longer than any of the competition, and is well-capitalized to continue serving our customers.
4) Price. All service and no savings does not a profitable business make. Because we have grown our business through our customized solutions, we have been able to take advantage of scale discounts from phone manufacturers and hardware suppliers. We’re able to pass that savings onto customers and keep up our award-winning level of customer service.
