Business phone systems are used by companies to manage their inbound and outbound calls. Being able to handle multiple calls at once and transfer calls within the organization are the major differences of business phone systems compared to residential phone systems.
The most popular and usual features that you can expect from business phone systems are:
- Having multiple lines for the employees allowing them to switch between calls.
- An option to have an auto attendant to greet callers and guide them to the right person or department within your organization.
- Transcribed voicemail that will be sent directly to your email or text message.
- Hosting conference calls with multiple participants. Ideal for organizations with remote employees.
- Calls may be forwarded to another number or to an email address.
- Put calls on hold and record callers or play music over the line while they are on hold.
- The phone system should be compatible with wired and wireless headsets.
The features mentioned above should be considered when you choose which system you will be using. To lessen your problems and issues, work with phone providers within Sydney as they can help you with this based on the needs of your business. In addition to that, they will also help you determine how big your business phone system should be based on the size of your organization.
There are three basic types of business telephone systems: KSU, PBX, and VoIP which can be installed in a hosted or non-hosted version.
Key System Units (KSU)
This is the most basic phone system which is suitable for small businesses that have less than 40 employees assigned on phone operations.
This kind of system is not complicated, in fact it is relatively similar to our home telephone system. KSU still has the basic features that you need but lacks portability and flexibility in terms of system set up. This system is also not sold commercially so you will need to work with phone providers. It is perfect for small businesses who don’t intend to expand its workforce because it can only accommodate 10 phone operators at the same time.
Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
This is a more advanced system compared to the KSU system because of the additional features and it allows automatic routing of incoming calls.
Unlike the KSU system, you can use this system if your company has over 40 employees because it is more automated. One of the advantages of the PBX system is having an uninterruptible power supply so your business won’t have any problems even without electricity.
In addition to this, PBX systems are hosted by telephone providers rather than having installed which can be an additional cost for installation and maintenance.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
This system is the most advanced by far. It allows intercountry communication that runs with the internet and a computer. However, this is the most costly system, as the cost will be determined by the number of employees who will need the system. This is the kind of system that you will see in call center companies that service international clients.
Similar to the PBX system, VoIP can also be hosted by phone providers, with less installation and maintenance involved for the business using it, as the service provider hosts the main telephone system. With the introduction of the different phone systems, we highly encourage you to adapt it for your business to make your operations smoother. If you’re unsure with what kind of system you will be needing for your business, you may reach out to CMSIT, a phone provider in Sydney.
