Life is full of false economies, but while buying cheap items for your home can leave you with a burst bin liner or prematurely broken light bulb, in the world of business the cost of making procurement decisions based on price rather than appropriateness can be much higher.
This means that cheap phone systems can end up being more expensive than you bargained for, but if you invest a little more time and money in securing the right set-up for your company you could actually make cost savings in the long run.
The first problem with cheap phone systems is that you may end up with a set-up that does not meet the requirements of your company. For example, if you have 30 employees, all of whom need phone access and you choose a system that is at maximum capacity when this many people are using it, with no room for expansion, any growth you experience might be stifled.
Being unable to add extensions and accommodate new users can be a bit of a nightmare, particularly if you only need the extra capacity on a short-term basis and are left with no room to manoeuvre.
In this way a phone system that seemed cheap at the time will require additional upgrades in order to bring it up to scratch, which means you are going to pay more than you originally bargained for.
You also have to factor in the idea that any limitations that are put on your business’ ability to operate by a cheap phone system will result in lost custom. If you cannot make and answer calls or handle telephone traffic adequately you may end up putting off potential clients and handing business to your better prepared competitors. From this point of view, a cheap and poorly chosen phone system can be a costly burden in more ways than one.
The important point to remember is that there is a major distinction between a phone system that is cheap and one which offers value for money. You need to find the solution that is the best value for your business, not the one that will make as small a dent on your budget as possible.
In order to achieve this, it is necessary to ascertain exactly what it is that your company will actually require from a phone system. This not only includes the ability to meet your current needs with whatever set-up you choose, but also whether there is enough flexibility to allow for the subsequent growth of your business.
Armed with this information, you will be able to select a phone system and a service provider that are fit for purpose, rather than companies that offer tantalisingly low prices.
A good provider will be able to help you establish what solution will be best for your business and then deliver this at a price that is competitive; the provider should deliver value rather than corner-cutting cheapness.
Although modern forms of communication such as e-mail have in some ways replaced traditional phone services, most companies still value the ability to carry out voice conversations with clients, colleagues and potential customers. This makes the process of choosing a phone system just as important today as it was 30 years ago.
If you want to avoid being burdened with the unseen costs of choosing a cheap phone system, take the time to work out what your business requires and then join forces with a provider that will be sensitive to your needs rather than keen to get you signed up no matter what the cost.
Daisy Group PLC have a range of business telephone systems suitable for any sized organisation. visit their website to find out more.