Telecommunication broadly refers to the techniques used for transmitting information across long distances. Communication technology has come a long way from the traditional landlines to the current internet-based systems that extend coverage to a global scale. Nowadays, you can have a business phone system with a range of advanced capabilities such as conferencing, instant messaging, and VoIP.
The industry has snowballed over the last decade with the advent of smartphones and readily accessible online services. Global telecom spending is expected to reach $1,655 billion by 2023.
Carriers or telecom providers supply telecommunication services that are often packaged to meet specific business communications requirements. Telecom systems are integral to facilitating workplace collaboration, productivity, data collection, and connecting with customers. But what does it take to integrate and fully utilize these systems?
What you should expect from an enterprise telecom system
Most telecom solutions are built upon the business phone system, with added features to satisfy a variety of modern communication demands. But, choosing the right phone system can be challenging for many organizations, let alone a comprehensive telecom suite. Here are some of the key features and qualities that make a good telecom system.
- Readily scalable
- Easy to implement and manage
- User-friendly
- Cost-efficient
- Secure and reliable
- Customizable
- Mobile integration capabilities
- Compatible with both legacy and new generation systems
Given the importance of high-performance communications medium in a business environment, it is not too much to ask for all these attributes from a telecom service. An excellent business phone system should deliver all the sophisticated modern features and serve its basic functions efficiently.
Consider this when implementing a telecom system
An enterprise telecom solution should eliminate any external or internal communication barriers to pave the way for unhindered and timely circulation of information. However, as crucial as that is, many entrepreneurs barely deliberate over selecting a business phone system. The fact is, your business can only fully utilize a telecom system that happens to be the perfect fit. Here are three criteria for choosing the best telecom solution for your business.
1) Your business needs
First, you need to identify all the communication gaps and requirements in your enterprise. Find out what is lacking in your communication infrastructure, and develop some ideas on how that might be solved. Doing so will help you visualize the sort of telecom solution that your business needs. Note down the key features and details of your business’s ideal telecom system and match them to the ones available.
Communication demands vary between businesses, and carriers understand this. Off-the-shelf products and services may not fit your description, but most telecom service providers can tailor custom solutions based on specific requirements.
2) The cost
Telecom systems vary in prices depending on their features, functionality, quality, and type. Communication tools can cost over $28,000 per employee annually — there is no benchmark for the price. Run a long-term cost analysis for your ideal telecom system that includes:
- Initial cost of installation
- Cost of the supporting infrastructure
- Sum of recurring service fees
- Maintenance and repair expenses
- Cost of scaling and upgrading
From there, you can estimate and compare the budgets for using various telecom solutions and pick a manageable price point. When considering cost, remember that the cheapest option is not necessarily the best value. Strike a reasonable balance between price and worth.
3) The service provider matters
In most cases, the telecom system is only as good as the service provider behind it. Choose a vendor with a solid reputation for quality services and products, exceptional customer support, and reliability. Crucially, vet providers based on experience, what they have to offer, and their compatibility with your organization. The vendor should also provide value-added services such as uptime support, useful add-on features, and consultancy, along with the business phone system.
A telecom system is a substantial but necessary business investment. Naturally, you would want to get the most out of it and preserve the ROI. The system’s cost-efficiency and functionality will determine its utilization and the benefits it brings to the enterprise.