Business Telephone Systems Bedford Bedfordshire (MK40): Offering a lot more than simply a way of receiving and making calls to and from customers, modern telephone systems for businesses these days boast a whole host of extra features. Whatever size business you might have in Bedford, you should be capable of making conference calls, video calls, and have real time monitoring and interactive voice response messaging in your communications armoury. In relation to choosing which telephone system service to sign up for and which integrated phone system to opt for, things can get a whole lot more complicated.
Conventional phone systems that can easily be matched to your business requirements are simple and effective. A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) that is made possible through an on-site telephony system will enable your personnel to easily communicate with one another internally, and with customers and suppliers externally.
Internal phone calls are totally free to make through a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), while external phone calls will be routed over analogue lines rented from a telephone company (Public Switched Telephone Network - PSTN), via a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Gateway, or ASDN/ISDN.
If you only have a small business with a minimal workforce, a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) would perhaps not be the your most cost efficient solution. However, a hosted, virtual PBX solution could be a better option, making full use of cloud based technology. Sometimes small businesses are even able to acquire a "free" version of a virtual PBX, which some communication companies are willing to offer. But be aware, because such free options are often just for a short trial period and may only offer restricted functionality.
You should beware of any companies offering you a free virtual PBX, but with paid hosting, given that in this case you will pay more as you send more traffic through it. You're much better to choose a paid professional provider which will provide your business in Bedford with a fully functioning package, and when needed the possibility to extend the service.
Obviously, if you've got an unlimited internet connection at your office or premises in Bedford, you'll be able to go for VoIP, which is the least expensive of all.
What Does VoIP Stand For? - VoIP is a technology that was introduced by a company called VocalTec in the late 1990s, and stands for "Voice Over Internet Protocol", which was chiefly developed to save on the expense of making long distance, mobile and international phone calls.
A VoIP communication solution makes use of your internet data connection to make voice and video calls. VoIP systems can be enhanced using hardware and software to provide your business in Bedford with;
- Recording and monitoring of calls
- IM (Instant Messaging)
- Call queuing
- Call forwarding
- Multi-user or conferencing video calls
- Message and voicemail retrieval
- Live website communication
A stable VoIP system allows staff working remotely to integrate seamlessly and freely with other personnel, no matter where they happen to be based in the world. All that's needed is a broadband connection, a PC or laptop and a microphone headset. Customers can also call you instantly and directly tariff free, providing that they have access to a web connection at the time. With an optimised VoIP phone system installed your company's computers become your communications hub.
Business related features that are generally charged as extras by telecommunication providers may also be included in VoIP software programs. Some examples of these are caller ID, automatic call forwarding and auto redial, which on most VoIP business packages come included. The ability to add phone lines at no extra cost as your employee numbers grow is also of great benefit, along with being able to integrate with pre-existing telecommunication and IT devices via relatively cheap routers.
VoIP has some disadvantages however. The quality of some calls can be negatively impacted if your Bedford business is within a slow data speed location, or has an inadequate internet connection. In business terms it's wise to utilise a dedicated data connection for any VoIP communications. Standalone VoIP systems have also been found to be susceptible to DDOS (Dedicated Denial of Service) cyber attacks. Criminals have held some larger companies to ransom by inundating their VoIP communications with calls and messages, overwhelming the system and causing authentic customer communications to break down. With this in mind, it is advisable to have an extra method of communication for your business in Bedford on top of VoIP, although there are some superb security packages on offer to prevent such incidents from happening.
Using a Dedicated Bedford Telephone Services Company
Innovations in digital communications have over the last few years opened up the door for professional telephone and communication suppliers to offer businesses of all sizes with inexpensive telephone systems. From a sole trader start-up to a huge conglomerate, there's a business telephony system just for you.
A hosted service, where an external company takes calls from your clients and passes any messages on to your via email, phone or SMS, can be of great benefit to smaller businesses in Bedford. These services allow you to concentrate your main attention on the nuts and bolts of your business and not have the distraction of constantly answering phone calls that disrupt the flow of your work. Hosted services also means there's somebody to answer your company phone during normal working hours, or twenty four hours a day if that's a service you require. Then wherever you are, from the workshop to the pub, vital calls and messages can be forwarded instantly to your own phone using a hosted phone service.
Large and medium sized businesses in Bedford can hire a professional communications company to put together a first class messaging service and telephone system in-house. Creating a communications solution that suits your needs, they'll seamlessly combine the new system with your current infrastructure. You could go for call forwarding established for different individuals or departments based on what the needs of the caller are, or maybe voicemails and faxes being delivered directly to your e-mail inbox. A professional telephony company will also create an IVR (Individual Voice Response) service for callers to your main switchboard, so that their key presses or responses connect them with the correct department for their enquiry. The advantage of IVR is that it's a terrific way to get your company message across while a caller is patiently waiting for an answer.
Having the ability to assess the productivity of staff is vital for most companies in Bedford, and if your business includes a customer service office or call centre, worthwhile insights can be offered by call reporting. Call reporting is also a useful tool in educating your workforce on the most beneficial ways to use the communications technology within their grasp. It can give real time data and metrics to help your team to offer a top quality service to your clients.
When Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is connected to an effective communication and phone service, everything can really come together to improve customer relationships, increase profits and drive sales. When appropriately integrated with your company's telephone and communication systems, CRM software can generate an extensive overview of each customer by collating customer's contact details, recent orders or enquiries and social media interactions. This information can be used for follow-up telephone calls, specific ad campaigns and helps you to build a better relationship between you, and your customers.
To Conclude
To meet all of your business's communication needs, a trustworthy telephone system company in Bedford will offer you all the best advice possible. The communication solutions on offer should provide ways to help any business boost productivity, and should fit a wide array of budgets. Training should also be offered to your personnel and a 24 hour help desk should be available for any queries you have or issues you may encounter.
When you're enquiring about a new telephone system in Bedford, you should also try to get information on future upgrades, as communication technology is advancing rapidly. Older equipment may be less expensive right now, however if it can't be integrated with newer telephone systems it is going to cost you a lot more if you've got to change it in a few years.
Be it traditional or cloud based hosting, or whichever phone system your business demands, there is a solution that will make sure that your company in Bedford is at the very forefront of telecommunications technology as it continues to grow.
Coming Next:
Unified messaging - article 213.
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More Bedford Business Services
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Telephone Systems Near Bedford
Also find: Brickhill telephone systems, South End telephone systems, Harrowden telephone systems, Fenlake telephone systems, Stagsden telephone systems, Elstow telephone systems, Cardington telephone systems, Cotton End telephone systems, Goldington telephone systems, Biddenham telephone systems, Wixams telephone systems, Stevington telephone systems, Cople telephone systems, Shortstown telephone systems and more. All of these locations are serviced by companies who install telephone systems. Bedford householders can get price quotes by clicking here.
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