Five ways to tell if your
business communications solution is cost-effective
Is your communications system making you money, saving you money—or
is it causing you to lose money in the form of lost productivity and higher operating
costs? Unfortunately, the chances are high that it’s the latter. This is true
even if you have recently upgraded to a new communications solution for your
business. In fact, some solutions that say they offer the latest, cutting-edge
communications may end up being the most expensive to own and operate.
Here are five things to look for in a solution that’s truly
going to save you money:
Hybrid, not IP only:
The Internet Protocol (IP) is the basis for most new communications
systems. It offers lots of advantages,
but you shouldn’t be forced to use it right away unless it’s the right choice
for you now. A smart way to save money
is to get a hybrid system: one that supports IP as well as older communications
protocols. If you have older analog lines, the hybrid system works just fine
and you are ready when the time comes to put in T1 and/or SIP trunks. You can
convert to IP when it works for you—on your schedule and your budget.
Single, Stackable,
Scalable: What if your business suddenly experiences a growth spurt that
requires you to increase the capacity of your communications? Should you be
forced into a forklift upgrade: swapping out hardware, adding new (and
potentially expensive software) and renegotiating your maintenance? No—that’s a money sinkhole. A smart choice is
a solution that lets you grow without having to change the basic system box—a
single solution that is stackable and scalable.
Works with existing
wiring: Does your office or building
have a room with what looks like miles of spaghetti? Are there old wires
snaking between floors and behind walls? Instead of pulling out all of this wire
and replacing it with new cable (an expensive and potentially very disruptive
proposition) you should still be able to upgrade, get the latest communications
AND keep using your existing wiring. That can save thousands.
Works with existing
phones: It used to be when you got a new office phone system, you automatically
replaced all your phones. Some manufacturers still require that—and you may
want to anyway—but it shouldn’t be necessary. Phones can account for as much as
60% of the cost of a new system and many of the ones you have now may be just
fine. You should be able to keep using them and bank the savings.
Hidden Costs:
What
options come with your communications system?
What system resources are required for each device you connect? What
are your maintenance options? What options do you have for upgrading
software: if you do not have the most recent version and want to
upgrade, will
you be forced to pay an extra premium? These are nitty gritty details,
but the
costs can quickly add up if you don’t look at them.
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