Upgrading Your Phone System (Seamlessly)

Upgrading your phone system to a hosted voice solution offers numerous benefits, including enhanced features, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. By choosing the right provider and actively participating in the installation process, businesses can ensure a smooth transition to a more efficient and reliable phone system.  Listen in to find out how to upgrade your phone system (seamlessly). 

Welcome to Technology Simplified, where we break down complex tech topics into easy-to-understand discussions. I'm Will Slappey, CEO of IT Voice, and today, I'm joined by Matt Rice, one of our lead voice engineers, to address your questions about upgrading your phone system. Making this switch can seem daunting, with concerns about compatibility and internal change processes. However, fear not; today's podcast aims to give you the confidence to embrace the technology needed to enhance your business operations.

Reasons to Upgrade Your Phone System

Matt Rice, our lead voice engineer, delves into the primary reasons for upgrading your phone system. He stresses the importance of staying current with technological advancements to better serve customers and improve business efficiency. By reassessing your business's current position compared to 5 or 10 years ago, you can determine the necessary upgrades to meet present and future needs.

Typical Hosted Voice Solution Installation Process

Explaining the installation process for a hosted voice solution, Matt assures that it's not difficult. A project manager or engineer will gather essential information about your business and begin building the system without waiting for parts or licenses, leading to a faster installation compared to on-premise solutions.

Benefits of Hosted Voice Installation vs. On-Premise Installation

Matt highlights the benefits of a hosted voice installation, such as redundancy and prolonged customer connection. He also emphasizes the flexibility and ease of remote updates, which reduce downtime and ensure efficient call handling, particularly beneficial for businesses offering 24-hour support.

Top Features of Hosted Solution vs. Legacy System

Discussing the enhanced features of a hosted solution, Matt mentions the ability to control call handling, set up hunt groups, and manage calls based on specific business needs. He points out the convenience of controlling these features as an end-user, providing greater flexibility in managing call flow.

Customer Control Over the Installation Process

Matt stresses the importance of customer involvement in the installation process, allowing for feedback to ensure the system meets specific business requirements. He also mentions the option for self-installation, where phones can be shipped directly to the customer for easy setup.

Overcoming Obstacles During Hosted Voice Installation

Addressing the main obstacle of ensuring the customer network supports the hosted voice solution, Matt emphasizes the importance of prioritizing voice traffic and ensuring good call quality. He recommends considering a managed IT service from the same provider for seamless integration between phone and data networks.

Cost Comparison: Hosted Solution vs. On-Premise Solution

Matt explains the cost advantages of a hosted solution, where customers pay per seat, resulting in lower costs and faster deployment compared to on-premise solutions. He highlights the economy of scale and providers' ability to offer cost-effective solutions with added reliability.

Choosing the Right Provider

In the final segment, Matt provides suggestions for choosing the right provider, emphasizing trust and partnership. He recommends selecting a provider offering multiple lines of service and encourages customer involvement in the decision-making process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, upgrading your phone system to a hosted voice solution offers numerous benefits, including enhanced features, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. By choosing the right provider and actively participating in the installation process, businesses can ensure a smooth transition to a more efficient and reliable phone system.

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Technology Simplified. We hope you found the discussion valuable and gained the confidence to make informed decisions about your business phone system. Don't forget to subscribe for more insightful discussions on technology. Have a great week!