BEST STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING BUSINESS TELEPHONE AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY


The way you approach your phone technology for business is just as important as the type of equipment you actually use. In order to make the most out of your communications system, you must have a clear-cut strategy for solving problems and achieving results. Whether you choose to try a DIY approach or you contact a professional consultant, here are a few things to keep in mind.

CHOOSE A CHAMPION

Trying to update your phone technology for business without having a plan in place can be costly. It often leads to buying too much or too little hardware, or even buying the wrong hardware altogether. The very first thing you need to do is appoint someone to lead the project. They need to have a set of guidelines and objectives to work toward, and they will be in charge of learning the ins and outs of the system, working with contractors to get things done and keeping management informed of the progress. Having a single point of contact to lead this project will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that information isn't getting lost between multiple parties.

GATHERING INTEL

Once you've selected a strong leader for your phone upgrade, it is time to set your goals. You may already have a good idea of which new features you want to have available, or you may be overwhelmed looking at the dozens of options on the market. If you are unsure of which direction you should be heading in, spend some time gathering intel about your competitors and the communications technologies they are using. You can even call them directly and see how easy it is to navigate their phone system as compared to your own. Visit them online and see how their chat support works. Take notes of how well they deliver to their customers and what you would change to make it better, and then implement those plans at your company.

DIY VS. CONSULTANT

Now it is time to decide whether or not you want to stake your phone technology for business on a DIY approach or hire a professional to help you out. The allure of DIY installation is the idea that you can save money on the install and buy components from discount sites. However, it is important to note that phone technology for business comes in many different types, some of which are not compatible with one another. Even products that claim they support the same protocols may only work with other products from the same manufacturer. Whoever is in charge of leading your project will need to do a significant amount of research to learn how each piece of the puzzle fits with the others.

On the other hand, hiring a professional consultant can save you time and money thanks to the expertise they bring to the table. A consultant can also point you in the direction of smaller brands on the market, which may have better pricing but less recognizable names. They can also help you identify any features that you may be missing that would put you ahead of your competitor.

Whatever you do, when it comes time to invest in phone technology for business, you should always make sure that your project has a committed leader who is looking out for the best interests of the company. Next, you will want to do some research on your own to get an idea of what you are looking for and what you've been missing. Last, you will have to decide whether or not to take on the install on your own.

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