VoIP is increasingly gaining popularity among households and businesses—small, medium or large. Of course, this has everything to do with its array of benefits, the most important of which are reduced costs, flexibility and multi-functionality. But knowing these benefits is just the first step. The real difficulty lies in choosing the perfect VoIP provider.
For households, this can be simple as there are little or no variables to consider. However, this decision is a complex one for businesses—small or large since they have many more variables to consider. So, with hundreds of VoIP companies to choose from, how does a business choose the one that is perfect for them?
The following steps should solve this dilemma for you!
- Identify what you need
Choosing a VoIP provider can be a tough process. But this process can be made easier by first identifying the gaps that you need to fill. If you are seeking to replace an existing telecommunications system, it is important that you identify what problems plague your current system. These problems might stem from an increase in your workforce, a desire to reduce costs associated with telecommunication, or the sheer desire to improve productivity. If you are a start-up, looking at what role communication plays in your business’ core activities should be of paramount concern. You might also want to look at your budget for a telecom system.
Identifying these needs is a vital first step towards choosing the perfect VoIP provider. Understanding these needs will allow you to discover what features and functionalities your business needs, which in turn helps you choose the perfect VoIP system for your business. After all, it is a waste of time searching for something when you don’t know what you need.
- Carry out research on Providers, Plans and Pricing
After identifying your business needs and choosing your VoIP system type, the next thing you should do is carry out appropriate research on the different providers of VoIP services as well as the different plans available to you. Start looking around for VoIP providers that offer plans with the features that your business needs. Check and compare the plans of several companies in order to choose the one that offers you the best value for your money. Make sure you read client reviews of providers you are interested in and go through their terms and conditions. When reading reviews, make sure you pay close attention to criticisms that relate to service quality, sound quality and customer service.
Seek recommendations from those you know who have used or currently use a VoIP system. This will give you all the information you need to make a well-informed decision.
- Make your decision
After identifying your business or household needs and carrying out your research, you are now prepared to choose your VoIP provider. There is no single criteria or method to choose a VoIP provider, simply because perfect for one company is almost never perfect for another. Because needs vary according to business, the perfect solution to these needs will also vary from business to business. Cost may mean a lot to one company—especially start-ups, while quality may mean everything to another company with little consideration for price. Required features may also differ among companies based on their key operations. So, in making this decision, consider the needs of your organization and choose a provider from your list that will meet these needs at a reasonable price.
In making your decision however, one very important thing you should consider is the quality of customer support. While at first, it may seem irrelevant, it would be prudent to remember that customer support is what you will need if something goes wrong with your system.
Choose wisely!