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6 Questions to Ask When Choosing a VoIP Provider

Business owner making sure she is asking the right questions to her VoIP Provider on a call

Choosing who you do business with is of the utmost importance. These are expensive and not easily changed decisions that can change the success of your organization.  

You basically need to enter a courtship period before moving forward. Don’t let the wow and dazzle of a website fool you into making a rash decision. Take it slow, ask for a demo, then if that feels right, ask for a system compatibility check to make sure what you currently have will suffice, then maybe a sandbox account to take it for a spin, and after all the questions asking and testing, make the call.

From Salesforce, 73 percent of customers expect companies to understand their unique needs. You can be confident that Complete Computers won’t sell you a bill of goods. We stand with you throughout the buying process and make sure you are set up for success for years to come. 

  

Essential Questions to Ask BEFORE Signing a Contract

You may be a well-researched person or, on the opposite side of the spectrum, a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type. Regardless of how you typically make decisions, remember these six essential questions that will remove most of the uncertainty and doubt from the equation when choosing a VoIP provider. 

1. What type of support do you provide?

According to Zendesk, more than half of consumers will switch to a competitor after only one bad experience. Inadequate support and training can cause the best-formed partnerships with incredible service to fall apart. Consider asking these to clarify even more information before deciding: 

  • Do you have a local presence for installation and ongoing needs? 
  • What are your support hours of operations? 
  • What happens if my retail store goes down over the weekend? 
  • Do you provide training to my admins and users? 

Using cloud-based services reduces downtime by 57 percent! Knowing how to set up for success and where to turn for help if something pops up will get this partnership started on solid footing. 

  

2. Do you offer third-party integrations?

Your VoIP provider isn’t usually the central technology you think of when setting up a business, but it is as essential as anything else you choose. Ensuring you have the proper integration abilities to lessen software switching will drive productivity with your staff. 

  

3. How scalable is the platform?

Your business is constantly in flux, whether a Fortune 100 or a small business with five employees; having contingencies built in with your VoIP provider will save you headaches over the long term.

  • How easy is it to offer remote connectivity? 
  • Since my business is seasonal, how can I add and subtract users when needed? 
  • What does that process look like if I need to change the features or options? 

A recent Upwork study states that by 2025, 36.2 million workers will be remote, and that number could grow. Building a process around potential changes in business needs can save you untold time and money down the road. 

 

4. Are the configuration settings easy to change on the fly?

Depending on the day’s needs, you may have people who wear multiple hats and need to change locations or call queues. Should you call the VoIP provider to make these changes, or is the system intuitive enough for you to make changes as needed? You shouldn’t need a degree to manage the possible day-to-day changes to the system; it should be straightforward and uncomplicated. 

 

 5. What are the contract terms?

You’ve been here before, where the monthly costs look great, but when you read the fine print, the terms are a bit scary. It’s a six-year term with discounts dropping off after two years, and the rates rise 40 percent. There is no early termination clause if you need to cancel for unforeseen reasons. It’s just a mess with potential legal worries down the road. The contract must fit both parties; if it’s clearly one-sided, that is a giant red flag. 

 

6. What are my complete upfront and ongoing costs?  

The dreaded “What will this cost me?” discussion doesn’t need to be scary. You have business budgets to consider, so knowing what is coming couldn’t be any more sensible.

  • What will my initial investment cost? 
  • What will my invoice look like three months from now? 
  • How will the number of users affect my invoice if I need to adjust it? 
  • Do you offer tiered or per-user pricing?  

By moving to an advanced VoIP provider, you can save as much as 90 percent in upfront costs and 50 percent in ongoing costs. Be completely in the know, and you will be happier for it. 

Be Curious Upfront to Choose the Right VoIP Provider

Complete Computers is here to ensure you get the right product and service that fits your needs—nothing more and nothing less. We stand with you in your business, and you can trust that we have your best interests in mind when you partner with us. For more information, contact us, and let us prove we are the right VoIP provider for you. 

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