Questions to ask potential VOIP providers
Phone service is essential for a company’s sales and support. Switching to VOIP often presents businesses with an opportunity to save money. Yet like with any other vendor decision, you’ll want to make sure that you’re signing up for a good deal. Here are some considerations for choosing your VOIP provider.
What is the quality of service?
Simply put, does this provider’s service work? Do reviews show that people are generally happy with this provider? You may find out that there are plenty of reviews online mentioning poor sound quality or dropped calls. You don’t want to consistently deal with quality issues.
What kind of customer support can you expect?
When phones are essential to running your business, getting technical support is of the utmost importance. Being unable to get help if your phone system malfunctions is not a good deal. Ask potential providers about the hours they offer customer service. Find out if there is an extra charge for support, and get a sense of how easy the support process is.
How flexible are the services?
Ideally, a VOIP provider should be able to provide the solution that best fits your business. For example, if you only have five employees using the phone, you may only need two lines instead of one line per person. That would save you money, but not every VOIP provider will be that flexible. Try to gauge how personalized a provider’s service will be for your business needs.
Do you have to purchase new equipment to use the VOIP service?
Some VOIP systems require you to use specific phones to sign up for their services. Others have a bring-your-own-device policy. More equipment requires more expense on your end, so you’ll want to factor that in when you’re deciding on a provider.
What taxes and fees are involved?
You may fall in love with a vendor’s prices, only to find out that it is only an introductory offer or that other fees apply. Do some digging to figure out what the actual cost of VOIP service is so that you don’t sign a contract to pay more money than you thought you’d be paying.
Finding the answers to these questions before you decide on a VOIP provider may help you prevent a frustrating situation in the future. What other things do you look for in a VOIP provider? Let us know in the comments.