A virtual PBX system provides a professional image necessary in todays online marketplace
A virtual PBX system is a virtual phone system that works like a traditional business phone system but it doesn't require any hardware or additional phone lines. A virtual pbx typically answers incoming calls automatically with an IVR (interactive voice response) menu such as, "Thank you for calling ABC Company. Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support, 3 for Billing." Multiple extensions are used for different departments or employees giving caller's the impression an organization is well established. Other advanced features include on-hold music, call transfer, call queuing, and more.
While virtual PBX systems act like a traditional phone system that you might find in a Fortune 500 company, there are a few major ways where it behaves differently - lack of hardware, cost efficiency, advanced features for flexibility. It is these differences that make a virtual PBX a perfect phone solution for start up and small businesses.
A virtual pbx system is one of the most cost effective small business phone solutions.
A virtual PBX integrates quickly and easily with already existing phone lines and hardware or can be used in conjunction with cell or VoIP phones. It therefore does not require any additional hardware installation. All of the PBX hardware is supported and maintained at the provider's location. The elimination of hardware also eliminates the costs associated with the installation and maintenance of a PBX. This is a huge advantage for start up and small businesses. They are still able to get all of the benefits of a big business phone system but within a small business budget. Ongoing costs can also be kept in check by scaling the virtual PBX system to the size of the business and upgrading as they grow.A virtual pbx system allows small businesses to stay flexible without losing efficiency.
Flexibility is vital for small and start up businesses. A virtual PBX has advanced features that will help small businesses gain the flexibility they need to succeed. One such feature is follow me call forwarding. With this feature a small business can establish call forwarding rules that will tell the virtual pbx system try multiple numbers at one time to deliver a call. This allows employees and small business owners the flexibility to be mobile, attending to other responsibilities without having to worry about missing calls. Huge increases in efficiency are seen when workers are no longer tied to a landline phone for fear of missing a call.Flexible call forwarding rules also allow for disperse work forces. Many start ups and small businesses are establishing virtual businesses to save money, take advantage of a larger talent pool, and reduce their negative environmental impact. A virtual PBX phone system can unite employees in multiple locations under one phone system. All employees can still be reached by dialing the company's one phone number and calls can be transferred from within the system as well.
Access to important voice and fax messages is also vital to the ability to stay mobile and flexible. All messages coming into virtual PBX phone system can be retrieved by email, online or over the phone. So if for some reason a call is missed, users are notified immediately and are able to respond quickly.
A virtual PBX enhances a small business's professional image.
Image is something start up and small businesses can struggle with. It is important to project a professional and established image. Customers need to feel confident in the business's ability to provide a quality service/product as well as feel confident that they will be around long enough to support that service. A virtual PBX system in combination with toll free numbers can help project a reliable and established image for a business as soon as it is implemented. It does this in a number of ways. First, a professional automated attendant greets the callers professionally and consistently every time. Next, getting the caller to the exact person that can help them with what they need shows the customer that a business is organized and reliable. Studies have shown that people see a company with a toll free number as more established. So integrating toll free numbers with a virtual PBX system even furthers that professional image for the start up or small business.
Additional enhanced features of a virtual PBX system often include:
- The recording of all incoming calls. This feature can be used for recording calls for training purposes, ensuring proper order processing, tracking customer complaints, etc.
- Call reporting allows small businesses to track the call volume and usage on their virtual PBX phone system.
- A name and address capture feature can be used for identifying callers for marketing purposes.
- Virtual fax integration allows a business to have just one number for phone and fax and the ability to retrieve those faxes anywhere there is an Internet connection.
- Recordable extensions can be used to record marketing or informational extensions that callers can listen to. These can be used for marketing or promotional messages, frequently asked question boxes, or any other information you want to make available to your callers.
- With its low implementation and ongoing costs, plus features that boost image and encourage flexibility, a virtual PBX system is a great start up and small business phone solution.