Negotiating a Phone System Deal? Here are 8 Questions to Ask

CompareBusinessProducts

Negotiating a Phone
System Deal?
Here are 8 Questions to Ask


By: Kristen Stanton

Phone Systems: 8 Questions to Ask Negotiating a phone system deal? Here are 8 Questions to Ask The process of determining which is the best phone system for your organization's needs can be a time consuming process. Yet, it demands your due diligence because if you choose the wrong system, it can be not only a costly mistake, but one with long term consequences if your team is stuck with a system that doesn't fulfill your business needs. That's why Compare Business Products provides business product buyers with a variety of tools, including white papers, comparison guides, and other resources, to give you every advantage when it comes to making the best decision for your business. In addition, the sales person who is selling you the phone system should be accountable for making you comfortable with your purchase. They should answer every question you have and provide business terms that you feel comfortable with. Here are 8 questions to ask phone system vendors before you agree to purchase. Question 1: Due Diligence Why is your phone system better than the competition's? You may be researching a variety of phone system vendors, but be sure to ask the sales rep to tell you in their own words why their system is better, more cost effective, more suitable for your needs, etc. than any other service out there. You may have noted certain differences and similarities. See if they can highlight others, or if they can't really differentiate at all. They're probably more familiar with their competitors than you are and it's up to them to differentiate. Question 2: Features Does this phone system have (specific features) and is there an extra cost associated with getting those feature? You'll want to have a clear understanding of the features you want in your phone system before you begin talking to a vendor. They may suggest ones you hadn't thought of that can be useful as well. Once you identify all the key features, determine what, if any, the extra costs will be. Vendors vary greatly when it comes to what's including in the package and what's considered an add-on to the service. For instance, some providers offer a variety of different phone types that are considered add-ons to the service. You may end up being able to get the same phones somewhere else for less. In addition, certain features, such as voice mail, might seem like they would be included, but are actually considered add-ons and come at an extra cost.
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Negotiating a phone system deal? Here are 8 Questions to Ask Question 3: Compatibility Is this system SIP-based (Session Initiation Protocol) and is it compatible with other technologies? SIP is a signaling protocol used for establishing sessions in an IP network, and it is now the protocol of choice among VoIP users. SIP works very well with Internet applications, and with an SIP-based system, you have access to a host of innovative services, including: voice-enriched e-commerce; click-to-call on Web pages; instant messaging with buddy lists; collaborative, multi-party, multimedia conference calls; and more. Ensuring that your phone system is SIP-based can save you a lot of headaches over the long term. In addition, you want to ensure that your phone system can be integrated with the other technologies you use, such as Microsoft Outlook for email and sharing calendars. Tell your sales rep about the other technologies you use, both in your office and remotely, and have them explain compatibilities and issues. Question 4: Scalability Can this phone system scale as my business grows, and will there be extra costs when we do expand? If you are planning to grow your business, open new locations, or otherwise make changes, make sure your phone system is going to be flexible enough to make those changes with you, without adding on a lot of extra costs and hassles. For example, do your employees change desks or move locations frequently? Are the phone lines and phone numbers easily transferable? Ask your sales rep to share examples with you about how other clients' business needs changed over time and how their particular phone system performed amidst t... [download for more]