Establishing effective channels of communication is pivotal for businesses, especially for small businesses growing their customer base.
A virtual phone system, which is a cloud-based phone system that can handle incoming and outgoing business phone calls, voicemail messages, text messages, and more, is a great option. Use this guide to evaluate and pick the best virtual phone system for your business.
Key Features of Great Virtual Business Phone Service Providers
Use the following criteria to evaluate virtual business phone service providers.
Reliability and Uptime
A reliable virtual phone system ensures that businesses remain accessible to customers and business partners round the clock. Downtime can lead to missed opportunities and erode customer trust, so look for a provider with guaranteed uptime and reliability.
Scalability
As businesses grow, their communication infrastructure must also. A scalable phone system allows for seamless expansion, ensuring that businesses can accommodate increased call volumes and new features without disruption.
Integration with Other Business Tools
Integration with existing tools such as CRM systems and collaboration platforms streamlines workflows and enhances productivity. A virtual phone system that seamlessly integrates with other business applications facilitates smoother operations and data management.
Transparent Pricing
In addition to upfront costs, businesses must consider hidden and sunken costs associated with their phone system, including maintenance fees, additional features, or overage charges. The best virtual phone service providers will have clear, transparent, and affordable pricing.
The Best Virtual Phone Systems for Small Businesses
If you’re ready to implement a virtual phone system for your small business, use this list to kick off your search.
1. Podium
Podium offers a comprehensive virtual phone system tailored specifically to small businesses. With features like call recording, call analytics, and voicemail transcription, strong data security, and seamless integration with other Podium products like Podium Inbox, it provides a holistic communication solution for small businesses.
With Podium Phones, your small business will be better equipped to handle business calls in addition to the emails, texts, and other messages you already handle via Podium.
2. RingCentral
Renowned for its versatility, RingCentral caters to businesses of all sizes with customizable plans and advanced features like video conferencing and team messaging. Due to its extensive feature set, its pricing leans towards the higher end, but its reliability makes it an excellent choice for small businesses.
3. Nextiva
Nextiva stands out for its user-friendly interface and robust feature set, including call analytics, voicemail-to-email transcription, and mobile app integration. With competitive pricing and stellar customer service, it’s popular among small businesses seeking a reliable communication solution.
4. Grasshopper
Ideal for startups and solopreneurs, Grasshopper offers a virtual phone system with features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and customizable greetings. While lacking some advanced features, its simplicity and affordability make it an attractive option for small businesses.
5. Dialpad
Dialpad combines VoIP calling with AI-powered features like real-time transcription and sentiment analysis. With flexible pricing and integration capabilities, it’s a popular choice for modern businesses looking to optimize communication.
6. Ooma
Ooma provides a cost-effective virtual phone system with essential features like virtual receptionist and call blocking. While lacking some advanced functionalities, its straightforward pricing and reliable service make it a solid choice for small businesses.
7. Vonage
Known for its wide range of features and flexible pricing plans, Vonage offers businesses scalable communication solutions with features like call recording, CRM integration, and virtual numbers. Despite occasional customer service issues, its feature-rich offerings make it a contender for small businesses.
8. Zoom
While primarily known for video conferencing, Zoom also offers a virtual phone system with features like voicemail transcription and call routing. With competitive pricing and seamless integration with its conferencing platform, it’s a convenient option for businesses already utilizing Zoom’s services.
9. 8×8
8×8 stands out for its comprehensive communication suite, including voice, video, chat, and contact center solutions. With advanced features like AI-driven analytics and omnichannel support, it caters to businesses seeking a fully integrated communication platform.
10. CallHippo
CallHippo offers a virtual phone system with features like call forwarding, IVR, and call analytics, empowering businesses with enhanced communication capabilities. With affordable pricing and easy setup, it’s a popular choice for startups and small businesses.
Benefits of Having a Business Phone
Having a business phone offers a wide range of benefits. We’ll dive into some key ones below.
Efficiency and Productivity
Business phone systems offer a range of advanced features like voicemail transcription, call recording, and conference calling, empowering businesses with tools to streamline operations and enhance productivity.
Streamlines Communication Flow
A dedicated business phone system centralizes communication channels, making it easier to manage and coordinate interactions with customers, partners, and employees.
Tracks and Manages Calls
A business phone’s advanced call tracking and management features enable businesses to monitor call volumes, track performance metrics, and improve customer service quality.
Increases Interaction Speed
Instant connectivity through business phones allows for quicker responses to inquiries, leading to improved customer satisfaction and retention.
Improves Sales Potential
The call analytics and CRM integration that a business phone offers enable businesses to identify sales opportunities, track leads, and nurture customer relationships effectively.
Improves Company Image
A professional business phone system with features like auto-attendant and call routing enhances the perception of professionalism and reliability, bolstering the company’s reputation.
How to Choose the Right Business Phone System
Choosing the right business phone system depends on factors such as business size, communication needs, budget constraints, and future scalability. Organizations should assess their requirements, evaluate available options, and prioritize features that align with their goals and objectives.
Seeking recommendations, reading reviews, and exploring trial versions can provide valuable insights into which phone system is best for your business.
Business Phone System: Tips for Implementation and Optimization
Use the tips below to implement and optimize your business phone system.
1. Integrate with Collaboration and Communication Tools
Integrations with existing tools and workflows can help optimize your business phone system. Businesses should leverage APIs and integration platforms to connect their phone system with their CRM, helpdesk, and collaboration tools for enhanced productivity and efficiency.
2. Train Your Employees
Employee training is critical to driving adoption of the business phone system and unlocking its full potential. Providing comprehensive training programs tailored to different user levels, roles, and responsibilities ensures that employees are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage the system effectively. Training sessions should cover basic functionalities such as making and receiving calls, transferring calls, setting up voicemail, as well as more advanced features like call forwarding, conference calling, and voicemail transcription.
Hands-on training sessions, supplemented by user manuals, video tutorials, and interactive online resources, can help reinforce learning and empower employees to explore the various capabilities of the phone system.
3. Conduct Regular Performance Assessments
Regular performance assessments are essential for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the business phone system over time. Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) such as call volume, call duration, response times, and customer satisfaction ratings allows businesses to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize system performance.
Looking for a new small business phone system that will help you connect with leads faster? Try Podium Phones.
