Articles

Browse Articles » Technology » What Features to Look For In All Types of...

What Features to Look For In All Types of Office Phone Systems?

by Andrew Lope Business promotion

A whole plethora of phone systems is available in the markets for businesses to choose, use and churn profits. However, intelligent buying decisions have to be made depending on the business type and size, as not every phone system may be compatible with your business. An essential part of the buying process is understanding the top phone systems and their benefits and disadvantages. Experts recommend that keeping the benefits aside, you should ensure that the downsides are not ignored because they are the most significant elements to impact business operations negatively.

At the same time, it is mandatory to go through the range of features of these telephone systems to understand their benefits for your business. Here is an article that tells you about the top features to look for in these systems and the type to choose.

What Features To Look For In Telephone Systems For Your Business?

Core Calling Features

The core call features should be present in all telephone systems, including the most basic ones, as they will also help businesses a lot. The most common features are –

• Call Transfer

• Call Forwarding

• Call Conference

• Line Hunt Groups

• Call Waiting And So On

Sequential and simultaneous ringing is another feature of telephone systems, but it doesn't find its place in basic phone systems.

Voicemail to Email

Phone systems should also have this feature of voicemail to email. Remember, voicemail is essential, but in some cases, people also want voicemail to email conversion that allows them to receive these voicemails wherever they are, and they can also be archived for future reference.

Auto Receptionist

This 'auto receptionist' feature in business phone systems can eliminate the need for a dedicated receptionist at an office. It allows you to automate the process, as the customers will choose from the predefined options and get directed to the right person or department they want.

Softphone Computer or Mobile App

This is nothing better than the feature of soft computer or mobile apps in business telephone systems, as they allow users to make and take calls from their laptop, computer or mobile phone. This means regardless of the location; they will take the calls coming on the physical handset present at their office. Another exciting feature is that these softphone computers and mobile apps can be used in conjunction with handsets.

Music on Hold

Business phone systems should also have this feature of music-on-hold that allows business owners to play any music for callers while on hold. They can also make them hear a custom announcement, promotional message, or sale-related information regarding the products and services. This is another innovative feature that businesses expect in the telephone systems designed for them.

Text to Email

With this feature in telephone systems, the incoming mail will be converted into a soft copy/PDF file and diverted straight towards the dedicated email inbox. The benefit is that this email can be read anywhere, anytime, and it will also eliminate the use of additional papers.

Online Portal for System Management And Reports

This feature must be included in business telephone systems as it allows businesses to manage specific features and access various reports online/offline.

Phone systems equipped with these features are ideal for your business. There are some other features as well that you should focus on. A small list of essential elements is present here.

• Announcements (Greetings)

• Auto Attendant

• Busy Lamp Status

• Call Forwarding

• Call Parking

• Call Logs

• Call Queues

• Call Recording

• Conference Calls

• Desk Phones

• Direct Inward Dialling (DID)

• Find Me/Follow Me

• HD Voice

• Hold music

• Internal/External Call Transfer

• International Calling

• Instant Messaging

• IP PBX

• Line Extensions

• Managed Caller ID

• Multi-Device Support

• Multiple Lines

• Paging/Group Announcements

• Phone Directory

• Real-Time Analytics

• Ring Groups

• Softphone Support

• SMS/Text Messaging

• Toll-Free Phone Numbers

• Unified Communications

• Virtual Office Phone

• Voice Service Permissions

• Virtual Setup & Provisioning

• Voice Bridges

• Voicemail

• Voicemail-To-Email

• VoIP Phones

• Web-Based Administration

• Wireless Headsets

Considering these features, you can focus on the following business phone systems.

Legacy Pstn or Public Switch Telephone Network

This is the oldest phone system used in our homes and offices. Experts say that the PSTN system has been in use since the late 18th century. It uses underground copper wires to connect phone calls and is commonly given the name of landline phones.

Pbx Or Private Branch Exchange

This is another traditional phone system used at homes and offices, and it allows businesses to switch between various landlines. The benefit is that it is significantly more economical than the PSTN system, as the need for individual lines for different desks is eliminated completely.

Voice over Internet Protocol or Voip

This is the most modern system, and it doesn't use wires to connect calls. Communication is made by transmitting data through the Internet connection, and a significant advantage of VoIP office phone systems is the significantly lower calling cost. There is also a substantial positive impact on audio quality, as solid bandwidth makes call quality better than traditional phone systems. VoIP is more customisable based on your business type due to limited hardware requirements. No expensive solutions are required to make Internet-based calls. You just need a mobile phone with an Internet connection and a compatible app to get started.