Buying a new business phone system is one of
most important purchases any business will ever make. The selection of a phone system can either bring a business closer to its customers and clients or, cause confusion and chaos amongst all that use or interact with it.It is therefore essential that you choose right phone system for your business needs. The telephone is quite often fastest and easiest way to reach customers and clients. It should also be fastest and easiest way for them to reach you. It should be flexible enough to be able to cover all of your company’s needs and handle all calls appropriately. The last thing any business wants is for its important business callers and customers to be routed incorrectly, disconnected, or faced with a long list of confusing automated options.
There are lots of factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing a new business telephone system. Below are a few of main ones:
1. You need enough capacity to fulfil your current business needs.
2. Assess your potential future growth and select a compatible phone system accordingly.
3. Ensure compatibility with any equipment you already own (headsets, handsets, conferencing equipment, cabling etc).
4. What features does your business phone system need to incorporate?
Fulfilling all factors above and any more you can think of can be an expensive challenge for any business. The aim of this guide is to help you understand what decisions you need to make in order to choose right phone system for your business.
Types of business phone system
There are three major types of phone system available: KSU-Less phones, Key systems and Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems. Which type of phone system you choose will depend on amount of extensions you require and features your telephone system needs to have installed.
KSU-Less systems
KSU-Less systems are usually more suited to companies that typically have less than ten employees, or require less than ten extensions. That isn’t to say that all companies requiring less than ten phone extensions can make do with a KSU-Less system. It may be that you require more features which are only available through either a PBX or Key phone system.
Requiring a far lower initial investment than other types of business phone systems, KSU-Less phones are specifically designed to include many of features usually only available through implementation of a full small business phone system.
KSU-Less systems can be easily unplugged and relocated, because they are not permanently wired into your office. This portability allows you to treat a KSU-Less phone system, much same as any business machine, rather than a lost permanent investment.
You will need to ensure that any KSU-Less system you choose is compatible not only with type of wiring you have in your office, but also with any accessories you may already have, such as: headsets, answering & fax machines and modems. Because KSU-Less phone systems are relatively inexpensive, they are not usually sold, installed, or maintained by telecoms vendors.
All of this means, you have to go out there and do not only shopping yourself but, also installation and support. This is one of two major drawbacks of KSU-Less systems. The last thing any business needs is to be concerned with reliability and maintenance of its phone system. Another drawback of KSU-Less systems is that they are more prone to something known as “crosstalk”. This is where separate conversations may blend into each other. With PBX, Key systems and Hybrid systems falling in price, it sometimes makes more sense to invest in a full business phone system, rather than become susceptible to risks of a KSU-Less system.
Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems
If your business typically requires more than forty extensions, or your needs dictate you need advanced functions from your business phone system, then PBX systems are often solution. PBX systems used to be extremely expensive and only affordable by huge corporations with hundreds of extensions. Though this is still case for larger installations, development of technology required has progressed to point where a powerful, fully functional PBX office phone system for a small business is able to fit on top of a desk.
Nearly all these compact PBX phone systems come with all features you might want as standard. You pay a premium for programmability and flexibility that a PBX offers, but in most cases price difference is not as much as you may imagine between that of a less flexible phone system.
Key Systems
Key phone systems are more typical in businesses that require five to forty extensions. This type of phone system uses a central control unit called Key System Unit (KSU) to provide features and functions that are not available using ordinary phones. An example of this is: key systems using a KSU allow one extension to call another in house extension, and prevents any other users from picking up a line that is already in use. Key systems usually come as standard with most features any business would expect, but in some cases they are often less flexible than a PBX phone system.
PBX & Key Systems (hybrids)
Though Key and PBX systems have some different technical features, these differences have become somewhat blurred over past couple of years. Many Key systems now offer features that were once only available to those who chose to install a full PBX phone system. Some systems also operate internally as either a PBX or Key system depending on software installed. Sometime these systems are often referred to as “Hybrid” phone systems.
Installation & maintenance of PBX and Key phone systems
PBX and Key phone systems require installation by fully trained and qualified telecoms engineers. All outside and inside lines must connect to PBX or KSU cabinet. The installation and maintenance of one of these types of phone system can be just as expensive as phone system itself. In many cases you may be able to use existing phone lines available in your office, but unless phones you have been using are relatively new, they may not be compatible with your new system, requiring you to purchase new handsets as well as system itself.
