Is your business looking to upgrade your phone system and save money while gaining more flexibility? If so, then a cloud-based VoIP telephone system may be the right choice for your business.
Many companies are ditching their bloated and expensive landline phone systems for VoIP alternatives that are more affordable and offer customizable features.
There are many important questions to consider when switching to a cloud-based VoIP telephone system. By doing your research and carefully weighing the pros and cons of different options, you can ensure that your business gains all the benefits of this cutting-edge technology without any unwanted surprises down the road.
To make sure that you’re prepared and can start working effectively from day one, here are 20 VoIP setup-related questions:
Questions About Your VoIP Setup Goals
Asking yourself these questions will help you make better decisions and figure out what features your team needs.
- How many employees do we have at this time (or by the time we want the VoIP phone system to be in place), and how many of them will need to make external or internal calls on VoIP phones?
- What are our current landline and mobile phone plans?
- Do we frequently call people in other countries?
- Do your employees work in different time zones?
- Do employees need to call each other on a regular basis?
Questions You May Have About Setting Up VoIP for Your Business
By asking yourself these questions, you will get a better understanding of your telephone system requirements. Doing this research will help ensure you find a VoIP Solutions Provider that will deliver everything you need and expect.
- Which VoIP solution will be used most often to make calls? (e.g. sales, technical support, etc.)
- How many employees need to make calls at the same time?
- How many extensions will be needed?
- Do we need to support hybrid workers?
- What features do you and your employees feel are essential for your business’ phone system? This may include an auto attendant, voicemail-to-email notifications, music-on-hold, the ability to transfer live calls, and more. Involving those who will be using the system on a daily basis can help narrow down which options best fit your needs.
How Will Your Business Infrastructure Questions Affect Your VoIP Setup?
A VoIP phone system uses your existing data network, eliminating the need for a separate voice network. This means that your IT team will need to take a look at how the phone system will affect their day-to-day operations.
VoIP allows your organization to use the same data network for both internet and telephone calls, saving money in the process. In addition, VoIP provides advantages such as video conferencing, chat messaging, shared calendars, and more.
The following VoIP setup-related questions will help you understand where changes in your organization’s infrastructure may be needed or beneficial to support VoIP telecommunications and Unified Communications:
Before increasing the number of internet-connected devices in our office, we need to consider if our current connection is stable and fast enough. We also need to think about whether we’ll need to increase the bandwidth capacity. It’s worth noting that cloud-based apps (e.g. Google Workspace, Salesforce, etc.) will be using the same connection when they’re running too.
- Will we need a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)?
- Is it necessary to have a VoIP-compatible router? These give preferential treatment to VoIP data as opposed to other types of network traffic (e.g. file transfers).
- Will a jitter buffer be necessary? This device helps call quality by steadying the release of data packets that it previously collected.
- How many IP phones do we need? These are special phones that work best with VoIP. They plug into the server directly, using RJ11 connectors instead of traditional landline phone jacks.
- Make sure to consult with your VoIP Solutions Provider about all of these questions related to setting up VoIP. They should be able to help you answer questions specific to your organization’s infrastructure.
What to Ask Before You Hire a VoIP Solutions Provider
The following questions will help you determine which VoIP Solutions Provider is the best fit for you and your organization, ensuring that your implementation experience and investment are rewarding in the long run:
- Do you have a VoIP phone system that has many enterprise-level features as well as video conferencing?
- It is crucial to know all of the costs upfront before you commit to a VoIP provider. Many providers try to hide additional fees, so be sure to ask about them!
- Are you only VoIP phone systems experts, and have you been in this industry for a long time?
- What are your local services and will you be available when we need you in the future?
- How can you make sure your website is dependable and secure?
A quality VoIP Solutions Provider will answer any questions you may have and provide customer testimonials upon request. They are not only interested in making a sale, but also forming a lasting partnership with their clients — because your success is indicative of their own business practices.
If you are looking to upgrade your outdated telephone system to a modern, cloud-based VoIP system, it is important to do your research and ask the right questions before making a decision.
Some of the key considerations include determining whether or not your business infrastructure is ready for a VoIP setup, what type of features you will need from a VoIP provider, and what questions to ask when hiring a VoIP Solutions Provider. By taking the time to do your due diligence and consult with industry experts, you can ensure that your transition to a cloud-based phone system will be a smooth and successful one. So why wait? Start exploring your options today!