How to Rate Business Phone Systems

Compare and rate phone systems before choosing one for your business.

When you are choosing a phone system for a business, you need to rate it and compare it to other options on the market. There are various types of phone systems on the market, so you need to choose one that suits your needs, not necessarily the newest selection available. When you rate business phone systems, you need to have a list of requirements that your business needs from a phone system in order to succeed.

Instructions

1. Make a list of requirements that your business has. For example, you may need internal calling, international calling and department extensions. Some phone systems are designed for larger companies, while others are designed for smaller companies with fewer employees. Having a list of criteria will give you a template to rate from.

2. Make a checklist based on the requirements and needs. When you research and analyze each phone system, rate them either by percentages or by a number between one and five to determine their usability. Ensure you write down whether one means the best phone system or the worst.

3. Look at the phone system's capabilities in terms of extensions and adjusting. If a phone system cannot be easily upgraded using extensions, then it may not be as suitable to growing businesses. If a phone system can easily be upgraded and altered to suit a business' needs, then a small business is more likely to keep the same phone system despite growing in size and system needs.

4. Test the phone systems to see which system handles phone traffic better. Larger businesses often deal with hundreds of phone calls daily, which can be both local and international calls. Rate the phone system in terms of calls, traffic and volume by testing the phone systems' capabilities and reliability during heavy volume hours. Look at the system's specifications to see how much volume the system can handle at any given point in time.

5. Rate the phone system in terms of personal extensions or department numbers. Large international companies often have individual extensions, so colleagues can get a hold of a specific individual within minutes despite time zones. Smaller, low-budget companies may only have one number per department. Rate the phone system in terms of capabilities for specific business needs, and categorize what phone system works better in different scenarios.

6. Make a list of the phone system's features. When rating a phone system, features and additions for personal preference are important. A phone system that can offer a large variety of features, such as voicemail, hold, call display, various ringtones, and second caller notifications can suit a larger variety of companies.

References

• Bennet Communication: Office Phone Systems
• Phone- System: Phone System