3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR BUSINESS TELECOMMUNICATION VENDOR

If it's time to invest in an entirely new business telecommunication system, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of voice and data vendors in the market these days. It is important that you take the time to ask a few hard questions of each potential vendor until you find the one that works best for you. Here are three big questions that will have a big impact on how much you pay and what you get.

WHO ARE THEY WORKING FOR?

First things first, your vendor needs to be your partner. Their role in your business should be to assist you in overcoming all of your voice and data barriers going forward. They should be working on your behalf to find solutions that fit your business instead of trying to convert your business to services it can't or won't effectively use. Make sure you choose a vendor who is going to represent your best interests and form a lasting relationship with you as your business expands, adding new technology down the road.

WHAT OPTIONS DO THEY OFFER?

Business telecommunication systems are not one-size-fits-all. Ask potential vendors about the types of products and services they offer. Do all of their products come from the same company? Do they have ongoing contracts with multiple carriers so that you can shop for rates and packages from multiple sources? Are they capable of giving you a complete voice and data solution, or will you have to hire multiple vendors to round out your telecom setup? This is also a good time to ask why they have partnered with particular device manufacturers and carriers and if they have any recommendations based on their experience. You will likely consult and quote with multiple vendors before you make a decision, so learning about any common likes and dislikes in the industry can give you a good idea of what to steer away from.

WHAT IS THEIR SERVICE POLICY?

Uptime is everything when it comes to telecommunication. You need a vendor who not only claims to have great service, but one who takes their service seriously enough to track and measure it. Ask about their current stock of parts, how they handle service calls, and what you can expect if your system does go down for any reason. Get an idea of which parts fail frequently and what they keep on-hand versus parts that may need to be ordered and shipped overnight for service the next day. If you fail to ask about the service policy and measurements up front, you will almost certainly be frustrated when something goes wrong and you end up in a bind.

The world of business telecommunications is quickly expanding and new vendors are entering the market each and every day, offering a variety of data and voice solutions. Before you choose a vendor for your business, ask plenty of questions about how they can help you implement a strong telecommunications infrastructure and which options will best fit the needs of your growing business. After you have an idea of the solutions they have to offer and which options come highly recommended by industry experts, learn about service options and what to expect as you continue to work with them long term.

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