What Telephone System Do You Need?

It is virtually impossible to image an enterprise without a robust telephone system. An efficient telephone system is required not only to reach out to the thousands of the customers, but also to communicate between the office members as a part of a meeting or conference, or to facilitate the routine communication between the mangers and the work force. In short, the more robust the telephone system in a business, the better and efficient would be the work coordination and hence the overall performance of its employees. This article discusses a few telephone systems that are usually associated with businesses.

Telephone systems in enterprises can be classified into three types – KSU less phones, preferably for small businesses, Key systems for mid sized enterprises, and the more elaborate Private Branch Exchange (PBX) for larger corporations.

KSU less phone systems are meant for businesses that do not need more than ten extensions. If there is another plus with such small business phone systems, then it is its installation and maintenance cost, which are relatively very low, and yes, the monthly expense in terms of phone tariffs. Also, since KSU less phone systems are temporary connections, moving it to a new location, such as in the case of an office shift, is not a big deal. Simply unplug the telephone system and plug it back in the new office. If yours is a small business or a start up, installing a KSU less telephone system would be the ideal choice. You can upgrade it to a more complex telephone system as the enterprise grows.

As mentioned, Key systems and Private Branch Exchange (PBX) are required for larger businesses. PBX is essential if the employee strength is more than 40 and frequent communication with more than member at a time – conferencing – and enhanced call management is a necessity. By call management, it implies the different communication modes such as call forwarding, call waiting, voice mail and fax, and the telephone system’s much needed compatibility with other electronic devices such as the printers, PC, and the web. PBX definitely costs more than the KSU less telephone systems, but, then the phone companies offer different communication packages depending upon the client requirements, and its prices vary with the features that each package includes.
If your business wants a feature filled service, you may have to shell out more money.

Key system, on the other hand, is tailor made for medium sized enterprises whose employee strength falls between 10 and 40. The PBX and Key systems are usually installed and maintained by the service provider himself unlike the KSU less ones.

Finally, before choosing a business telephone system, take into consideration, the current size of the company, its future expansion plans, and also the different phone systems available in the market and their costs. Compare the capabilities and features of the telephone systems in the market, its price, and quality of customer support, before making the final call. It is also advisable to seek professional advice in that regard. To know more about telephone systems in vogue, search the World Wide Web.