Have you had it with your office phone? Or perhaps it is just not meeting your needs. Wouldn’t it be great to have an office phone system that is both easy to use and flexible enough to make changes quickly as needed?

If you’ve decided to look at new business phone solutions, your phone equipment is just one of (and likely the least of) your issues. To ensure you get the right solution for your business, you’ll want to consider moving to a VoIP system and finding a provider who will fully manage your phone equipment, networking, and calls.

Not all VoIP systems and providers are equal and an apples-to-apples comparison of the offerings can be difficult to discern, so I’ve put together a list of points and questions to discuss with each provider you're considering. The variety of responses may surprise you.

1. Enhance your mobile workforce with call mobility.
1. Look for easy, transparent connectivity to any mobile device.
2. Ask whether full phone system features are available on other phone devices besides the desk phone.


2. Look for a provider that will tailor your phone system to your specific business needs.
1. An ideal service provider is willing to learn your preferred office processes and incorporate those into a custom system design that takes care of your customers in the way that you want.


3. Multiple office locations can be connected easily with the right system.
1. Find out if the system manages calls across all your locations.
2. Consistency across multiple locations can help ensure your calls are answered with a positive brand image every time.


4. Your business is dynamic and your phone system must be, too.
1. As your business evolves, chances are so will the way your calls are handled.
2. Ask how quickly and easily system changes can be made by you or your provider.


5. Your phone system should be a part of your disaster recovery and business continuity plan.
1. When your phones are down, your business stops and the cost of lost business can be significant.
2. In the case of an emergency that affects operations at your office, customers should always be able to reach someone at your main business number.


6. Your customers will appreciate an easy-to-navigate phone solution.
1. Find out if the cost includes intuitive, voice command prompts. Studies show that people prefer a natural language interaction versus long touch-tone menus.


7. Great customer service is so important when you are having issues with your phone solution.
1. Is there a single point of contact when you have phone-related concerns?
2. Look for a responsive provider who takes responsibility for issues and promptly resolves them.
3. Don’t get stuck with a company that passes the buck when you need service.


8. Does the solution include detailed and insightful call data to help you manage your business?
1. Knowledge is power. Call data can provide invaluable business intelligence that helps guide your business decisions – why customers are calling, how many calls are you getting and when, where are the calls being routed, how many calls are staff receiving/making.


9. Find out how the system is set up and maintained – is it mostly Do-It-Yourself or does the provider take care of it?
1. How long does it take to have your system up and running?

The right business phone solution will go a long way toward helping you reach your growth goals, and improving customer satisfaction and your business’s brand image.