Small businesses take a lot of calls each day. How many? They get approximately 400 million per day.
Historically, growing small businesses turned to PBX or private branch exchange systems. In recent years, however, small businesses chose wireless business phone systems. So, what is a wireless phone system and how does it compare with traditional PBX systems?
Traditional PBX
A PBX system basically works like a switchboard. It allows internal users to call one another on local extensions. It also routes external calls through a set number of external lines or numbers.
Some businesses inherit old PBX systems that prove entirely analog when they buy or lease a building. These systems will disappear over time as PBX service providers switch over to digital technology to route calls.
PBX solutions were deisgned for single location businesses in which all workers come into the office every day to work.
Wireless Systems
AÂ wireless phone system performs the same essential routing tasks as a PBX system but does it without the pesky hardware. Instead, wireless systems use a cloud-based system that centralizes all of the call routing. Instead of all your calls getting routed around by on-site, analog or digital switches, the routing happens on a server at a data center.
Wireless System Benefits
Wireless systems offer a wide range of potential benefits, many that you can’t get through a PBX system or only for a fee.
The switch to a modern, cloud-based system makes a bunch of exciting features available. Video conferencing tops the list. With businesses relying on remote workers, video conferencing helps maintain team unity. Many providers bundle this feature in a standard part of their service package.
You can also take advantage of call recording services, which lets you monitor customer service calls. That lets you coach your team when they fall away from best practices. You can also record client meetings to keep track of orders or new service contract particulars.
Service providers may also offer integration with your CRM system. This helps keep your customer records up-to-date whenever you get a call.
Standard features you get with wireless systems include:
- Talk and text
- Computer-based calling
- Multiple extensions
- Video chat
Of course, no system lacks flaws. So, let’s move on to the pitfalls.
Wireless System Pitfalls
As with all other cloud-based applications, a wireless phone system depends on a stable broadband connection. If your broadband service is sketchy, the quality of your calls will end up equally sketchy. You could expect fade-outs, distorted speech, or dropped calls.
The good news is that broadband quality and reliability has come a very long way in the last few years and most people can count on having sufficient bandwidth to support calls that are indistinguishable from land-line calls.
PBX System Pitfalls
PBX systems create several pitfalls.
You’ll pay a hefty fee for the hardware and installation. That’s before you even get into the cost for the service and lines. Since cloud-based systems have no hardware, you pay no hardware or installation fees.
Each individual line you get from the service provider costs money (they are usually purchased in groups of 23) and you’ll pay an additional per minute rate for each call. By comparison, wireless systems typically charge a small fee for each number and either a low, per minute rate for domestic calls or an unlimited calling plan.
Picking Between the Options
For many businesses, a wireless system makes a lot of sense.
You get a wide range of additional features you can’t get with PBX. You avoid steep hardware and installation costs. You can even dodge long-distance fees with a little bit of effort.
For any business with access to good broadband, it’s something of a no-brainer.
Parting Thoughts on Wireless Business Phone Systems
Wireless business phone systems can offer your business a lot of advantages and extra features. They can prove especially helpful for businesses that rely on remote workers or operate without a central business location.
Phone.com offers wireless phone systems for solopreneurs, small businesses, and even enterprise-level concerns. Ready to switch or just want to know more, contact Phone.com today.
