As your business grows, you may need to consider an upgrade in your office telecommunications system. Whether you deal with clients on a local level or conduct business with other companies on the other side of the country, you need quality connectivity during peak work hours, as well as the ability to communicate with others when emergencies arrive. When you meet with potential telecommunications companies that work with B2B companies and provide everything from Internet access to VOIP phone systems, be prepared to thoroughly examine what the business offers you.
How do you find the ideal telecommunications company? Ask the questions most pertinent to your line of work, and compare potential firms. Just a few questions that may come to mind include:
1) Which brands of phone systems do you offer? You may not mind if your equipment comes from Samsung or Toshiba or any number of popular brands, but if the company you interview is an authorized dealer of a specific brand it is good to know how knowledgeable the technicians and sales representatives are of the equipment they want to install.
2) Are phone and Internet offered in packages? Typically telecommunications bundle all aspects of office connectivity, and you should confirm what is available and suitable for the scope of your business. You may not require a server in your office beyond what is needed to run the Internet, so it's important that a sales representative doesn't convince you to buy features you do not need.
3) How many phone lines can be set up? Do you need five, fifteen, or fifty separate phones lines for your office? Find out if extra charges are applied as you add on multi-lines.
4) What mobile options are available? For companies that rely upon mobile communication to reach workers in the field, you may require unique features -- applications that forward voice mail messages to e-mail, for example. Ask the potential provider what is unique about their services that would convince you to hire them.
5) How are emergencies handled? Telecommunications companies often offer emergency services, but how is a blackout at your office handled? How quickly does the company respond, and how much is charged to get you back online?
It is also helpful to ask colleagues and other businesses close to you which company they use. With the information you gain from meeting with potential telephony businesses and other referrals, you should be able to make a uniformed decision about the phone and Internet system you will use.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Hampton Roads IT services and Virginia Beach IT consulting.
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