What to Look For in a Virtual Business Phone System
A virtual business phone system is a great way to simplify communication. Not only do they cost less than traditional phone systems, they also give businesses more flexibility. This means employees can work anywhere, from home to the office. It also helps keep business and personal calls separate. They can reduce the amount of robocalls in your business and increase productivity.
When considering a virtual business phone system, think about how many people will be using it and what kind of functionality it will need. You may find that you need more advanced features than you anticipated. However, you can always adjust your plan as your needs change. If you have a small team, you will most likely find that a basic phone service will suffice. On the other hand, if you have a larger team, you might want to look at an enterprise-level solution.
Virtual business phone systems come in many shapes and sizes. You can choose from local, toll free, and toll-free numbers, as well as a number of other features. Each has its own pros and cons. For example, the toll-free feature can save you money, but you will have to pay for the phone service each month.
If you have employees who are not in the office, you need a service that can forward their calls to them while they are away. With a virtual phone system, you can set up a multi-ring function, so all of your employees can receive business calls on multiple devices at the same time. The phone system can also provide an automated attendant, which is helpful for companies with a high volume of phone calls.
Another important function of a virtual business phone is call tracking. The phone system can monitor calls and report on them automatically. Additionally, it can block spam calls before they even ring. By tracking which calls are spam, you can avoid a lot of unproductive phone time.
You can also get hold music and customized messages from providers. Some offer vanity numbers, which are helpful if you want to advertise your business. Other providers will integrate with other business software, such as CRM systems.
Nextiva is one of the most popular and comprehensive business phone systems available today. It’s easy to sign up and setup, and it can support voice and video calls, as well as basic texting. But, you’ll need to upgrade to the Enterprise plan to enjoy many of its more advanced features.
RingCentral has been around almost as long as Vonage, but its pricing structure is a bit confusing. There are basic plans for up to 20 users, and higher tiers for larger teams. And while the basic plan has some nice features, such as hold music and call recording, its top-of-the-line capabilities are locked behind the higher tiers.
Grasshopper is another good option for businesses that need a reliable phone service, but don’t have the budget for a high-end system. As a bonus, it offers a seven-day free trial.