Gone are the days when we were limited to traditional land lines for business, and when they were still the best option! With so many dramatic improvements since the digitalisation of telephony, there are a few things to consider before you pick up the phone to order a fixed line for your new business.
If you are starting a new business, it is important you explore your communication options to make sure the telephone system you install is right for you. Just as you would plan for business growth, expansion and flexibility, you should do the same for your communication systems.
What is the right phone system for your business?
When you’re busy getting ready for the launch of your new business, you may not have committed much time to finding out what phone technology is available or what it can do for your business.
Some business owners simply order fixed phone lines without thinking about what they really need, or what restrictions fixed lines might have as a business grows. Unfortunately, traditional analogue phone lines are based on aging technology that lets you make and receive calls but not much else. To make the right choice for your business, you should consider what impact your phone system will have on your business as a whole, not only today, but also in the future.
Traditional landline setups
A traditional fixed-line solution may work just fine if you plan on having a receptionist to answer and direct your calls. However, you’ll most likely need a particular type of handset if you want to utilise a virtual receptionist because it isn’t typically a standard feature. This may also be the case with other system integrations and accessories you might need, either now or in the future.
Other physical disadvantages of an analogue telephone line include issues with call quality which are usually caused by damaged or faulty wiring. It may also be quite expensive to expand the capacity of a landline system as your business grows because it will require the physical installation of additional telephone lines.
That being said, a fixed telephone line is the only phone system which does not require a reliable and stable internet connection. As a result, a landline setup might be the best option for a business located in a remote location that does not have access to high-speed fibre or broadband.
It is important to be aware however that fixed-line systems are steadily being phased out. In the United Kingdom, BT Openreach is already working towards replacing the traditional analogue phone network (or PTSN – the Public Switched Telephone Network) to newer digital telecommunication technologies by December 2025. No doubt Ireland will follow suit, with traditional copper wire systems likely to be a thing of the past by 2030.
SIP trunking setups
SIP trunking or Session Initiation Protocol is an IP-based solution which provides high-quality calls with no physical infrastructure required. While a high-speed broadband connection is required for this option to work for your business, there are a variety of advantages over other options. For example, it’s easy to set it up to receive calls on a mobile phone diverted from a landline number if remote work is required.
SIP trunking also allows a range of multimedia file formats to be sent and received without a mobile device or a physical computer, providing many data-sharing possibilities that other audio systems are unable to deliver. It also enhances accessibility making it easy to send and receive live or recorded video files.
VoIP setups
Similar to SIP trunking, Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP for shot) also relies on a broadband connection to handle calls instead of traditional landlines. VoIP systems share the same flexibility as well as consistently higher audio quality compared to a fixed landline thanks to enhanced digital encoding.
When it comes to features, VoIP has a variety of options that are easy to implement, such as direct-dial numbers, call recordings, and voicemail or voicemail-to-email. Plus, it’s also incredibly easy to change a range of settings via an online dashboard.
Many providers have a variety of data packages on offer that bundle broadband with VoIP services. This greatly streamlines and simplifies most communication requirements. That being said, while VoIP integrates well with business systems such as CRMs, it is only intended for audio communication and not for other multimedia content.
Call us before you order your phone system
Don’t get caught out with the wrong telephone system for your business simply because you didn’t know what was available. Ashbourne Communications is here to help with honest advice and recommendations, so get in touch today for help deciding which phone system is going to work best for you and your new business.