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Does Your Business Need a Bespoke Telephone System?

Published on 21 October 13

Jamie 2

Business phone systems can be almost infinitely variable, accommodating companies of different sizes and with different communications needs. Of course it may be more affordable to take the most basic route and pick a one size fits all system with off-the-shelf hardware. But what type of business will benefit from a bespoke phone system which is sensitively designed to meet requirements? Here is a look at the benefits of a bespoke phone system and the size and type of company that should consider adopting one.

Size Assessments

In the past the size of a business played a significant role in determining the appropriateness of choosing a bespoke telephone system. Bigger firms with larger numbers of employees and greater resources to harness were in a better position to justify investment in this type of solution. But times and technology have moved on and now there are fewer restrictions on the size of a business that can harness a bespoke phone system. With less emphasis being placed on internal infrastructure and most of the hardware and software hosted remotely, it is simpler to bite the bullet and take the bespoke route even if your firm is on the small side.

Industry Focus

While size may be less relevant today, the industry and primary function of your firm could still be influential in guiding your procurement of a phone system. Large offices and administrative organisations, along with dedicated call centres and other firms in which telephone communication is still essential for everyday operations will benefit from a bespoke set-up.

Of course manufacturing firms also need to handle inbound and outgoing communications, even if it is on a less significant scale than similar sized companies in other areas. It is necessary to take the decision over your phone system upgrade path on an individual basis, although with lower prices available for bespoke solutions than ever before, there is less reason to settle for a generic approach.

If you are unsure of how to progress, seeking the assistance of third party experts and even telecoms providers themselves is worthwhile, since this will help you to overcome any obstacles which may be hindering adoption or complicating the planning process.

Fresh Start

For businesses that are starting from scratch and procuring a telephone system for a new location, it may be sensible to use a bespoke model because of the ease with which such a set-up can be created if there are no pre-existing features to work around. Whether you are a start-up entering your first office space or an established business expanding into new territory, working with a provider to get the right type of system for today, with an eye on tomorrow, is manageable and affordable. There will always be certain factors that can alter the type of solution you choose, but you have the best opportunity to get things right if you are not restricted by legacy hardware.

Sensitive Integration

The majority of businesses, small and large alike, will probably need to adopt a phone system which offers a degree of compatibility with any older equipment and infrastructural elements. Using a bespoke approach can be very advantageous if this is the case, because a provider will be able to let you know about the available services that will slot into your current set-up without causing too much disruption or requiring additional upfront expenditure. No matter what your circumstances, being able to migrate to a bespoke business phone system while still keeping current equipment in use is the most efficient and cost effective asset.

VoIP Flexibility

In the digital age it is much easier to adopt new services thanks to the fact that providers can host everything off-site and leave individual businesses in a better position, reducing the need for expensive PBX equipment and reducing costs for maintenance. VoIP is being chosen by businesses that want a supremely flexible and scalable phone system which is not reliant on internal components and can help to reduce calling costs in one fell swoop.

Meanwhile SIP trunking is available to help businesses with legacy systems use them to access IP-based telephony without having to completely tear out everything which came before.

With VoIP you can easily create and manage a bespoke phone system which is not tied to a specific physical location and is accessible from dedicated landlines, computer workstations, mobile devices and even remote connections. This means that when your needs change further down the line, adding more extensions, changing to a new office or opening up in a different part of the country or the world will not lead to a break in continuity or an increase in inter-office communication.

Bespoke Benefits

The decision to adopt a bespoke telephone system is often talked about from the point of view of need, which creates the idea that it is also possible to stick with a pre-fabricated and inflexible solution as an alternative to adopting something that is specifically designed for your business.

This is perhaps the wrong way to go about it, particularly for companies that are already of a significant size and are projected to continue growth over the coming months and years. If you will be hiring more employees and acquiring more customers, the only way to make real growth possible is to ensure that your phone system is up to the task as well. Otherwise you could find that there are limits to what you can achieve, most of which are artificially enforced by technical aspects of your telecoms infrastructure rather than real elements of your business.

The benefits of adopting a bespoke phone system, providing such a set-up is suitable for your business, will easily be able to outweigh any upfront expense and lead to lower costs for communication as well as a range of other advantages. This includes things like improved productivity and the ability to promote flexible and remote working, which modern employees will value at all levels of the business.

In addition it will be far easier to manage a bespoke system, particularly if it is based on VoIP as opposed to traditional analogue connectivity. Being able to control calls, forward them to the right recipient and ensure that every customer is answered promptly and effectively will not only boost sales, but also enhance the reputation of your company, which has its own value.

It is not sensible to rush into choosing a business phone system, with bespoke solutions requiring even more care and attention to detail while plans are being laid. But with the right system in place, a company is free to capitalise on its capabilities.

This blog is listed under Telecommunications Community

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