Having a good communication system is the key to success in the modern business world. It’s vital you have the best possible small business phone system available so you can adequately meet the needs of your customers verbally. The first contact most people have with a business when searching for a product or service is online. Because of the restrictions imposed on us all by the pandemic, restrictions that are likely to remain in some form as the new norm sets in are not dealing with people in person or face to face, rather it will be via phone or video. Having an IP based small business phone system is not a luxury, it’s now a necessity if you want your business to survive.
The five top features that will help you are:
1. Auto Attendant
This is an extension of the well known voice mail function. It allows you to offer callers prerecorded messages or music. This serves several functions, it assures the caller they are still active in your system and can give them vital and relevant information.
It can be programmed to answer incoming calls and direct it to the right department or person on your team. It can give the caller a number of different options so they can reach the right place quickly. Often in small business one person may control more than one department so this option can suggest to callers that your business is larger than it is.
2. Find Me, Follow Me function
With this function, no matter where your team members are your network is in constant contact with them and callers will be directed to them on request so it appears they are still in their workstation. Even if they are at home or on the road, giving continuity to your business by keeping the lines of communication open. It can be programmed to ring on any one of their phones or all phones at once. Calls can be routed to any number required quickly and smoothly so your customers don’t get frustrated having to talk to voice mail when they required fast individual attention.
3. Presence
This function can be programmed to track down a team member based on their network log ins, so extrapolate to where they are likely to be and use a phone on your network in that area to find you. It can also make sure you don’t get called in restricted areas such as when in the bosses office, in a meeting or place such as a library or movie theater.
4. Conferencing
Hi fidelity audio and video conferencing on a small business phone system help you include multiple parties in important meetings or conversations and conduct good business dealing quickly with the parties involved in a virtual face to face meeting.
5. Convergence
Having a small business phone system that is compatible with all other relevant technologies means no matter where you are, you can stay in touch with customers and team members