Whether they’re SMBs or enterprises, more and more businesses are moving away from traditional, on-premise systems, which means finding a cloud or hybrid solution is becoming increasingly important. Whether replacing an established on-prem system, like NEC, or creating a new communications environment entirely from scratch, it’s critical to make the right decision. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this shift, so you can find the best communication system for your business.

Determine Your Needs

Prior to evaluating a specific system, you need to put together a technology roadmap to ascertain your current and future communication needs. Take your business operations into consideration and decide which features are “must-haves.” Once you’ve made this determination, you can choose a system that will meet your current needs and your long-term objectives. 

Scalability and Flexibility

One of the most important factors when selecting a new system is its ability to scale and adapt to the growth of your organization - the best solution will ensure best-in-class communications immediately upon installation and won’t need to be replaced within five or even 10 years. You need a flexible system you can scale as you grow, one that can also adapt to changes in your operations and strategy. Whether you are migrating from an existing system, such as NEC, or from another provider, make sure the new system will grow with your business.

Cost-Effectiveness 

The right communication system should contribute to your bottom line. Make sure you understand the cost of ownership - not just the cost of installation, but the overall cost of the system (maintenance, support, upgrades, etc.). A flexible, robust solution should drive significant ROI (Return-On-Investment) for your business by reducing your operational costs and increasing your productivity. When evaluating new systems, look for transparent pricing structures, ones without any “hidden” expenditures that force you through a funnel of increasing expenses. A system that offers every feature you need without driving up your costs. 

Assess Features and Integration

What features are you looking for? Which ones will support both your current and future business processes with ease? Most systems will give you the core features just about any business needs: conferencing, mobile support, next-gen call management and voicemail. Additionally, your new system will have to seamlessly integrate with all of the other tools and applications already in use by your organization - this includes business software and CRMs, among other platforms. These integrations are crucial to maintaining efficiency and increasing the overall effectiveness and efficiency of your operations. 

Assess User Experience and Training

User experience is key to the adoption of any new system - an intuitive and user-friendly interface shortens the amount of time it takes to get your team up to speed. It’s very important to assess the quality of the support and training each vendor offers, since you’ll need to make a fast and uncomplicated transition between systems. A vendor offering a wide range of training options and white-glove support is a sure sign your system implementation will be a success, one without significant pain points and complex bottlenecks that slow your operations.  

Ensure Security and Compliance

A system with robust security features that conform to industrial standards is a must. Your new system must include stringent security measures that protect sensitive data with access control and encryption: it must be in compliance with all relative laws and regulations, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and System and Organization Control (SOC) 2.

Consider Vendor Reputation and Support

Vendor reliability and the quality of support are also critical factors - purchasing a new phone system means you are beginning a long-term partnership with your vendor. You should research the vendor’s credibility to make sure you’ve found a reliable partner: read reviews online, see what kind of organizations they work with, and what size, and be sure to request references. Finding a vendor renowned for providing excellent customer support can take you through your transition to a new system and beyond. 

Why the Vodia B2B Communication System is Your Best Choice

When considering a new on-premises communication system, Vodia is your best option: 

• Comprehensive Feature Set: Vodia's on-prem PBX is the most feature-rich in the marketplace - we give you a robust suite of business telephony features, including advanced call management, voicemail and conferencing. You’ll have all the tools you need to enhance your communications and increase your productivity.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Vodia is designed to grow with your business. The flexibility of our phone system means we can meet all of your B2B communication needs, both now and as you grow.  
• Cost-effective Solutions:  Vodia offers a competitive pricing structure with no hidden fees - we give you excellent value for your investment. By choosing Vodia, you purchase the highest-quality phone system available, one that aligns with your budget while guaranteeing increased efficiency and cost savings.
• User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive design of Vodia’s system minimizes the learning curve for your team - with our easy-to-navigate interface, employees can quickly get up to speed, minimizing the disruption of your operations and enhancing your organization’s overall productivity.
• Robust Customer Support: Vodia is renowned for its exceptional customer support - we see our customer relationships as long-term partnerships. We give you comprehensive assistance throughout the transition process and beyond, and we resolve issues as they arise. 

For more information about deploying the Vodia phone system and how it can satisfy the communication demands and needs of your business, please contact us via email, sales@vodia.com, or by phone, +1 (617) 861-3490. Our expert team is ready to help you navigate the shift! .

About Vodia

Vodia Networks, Inc. is a pioneering provider of B2B Cloud Communications Solutions catering to enterprises, contact centers and service providers. Vodia's PBX software boasts an extensive suite of business telephony features for on-premise and cloud-based systems and operates seamlessly across Windows, Linux or Mac platforms. Fully compliant with SIP industry standards, the Vodia phone system integrates effortlessly with a wide range of SIP-based devices and trunking providers, granting ultimate freedom in telephony. Vodia’s multi-tenancy platforms are compatible with an unprecedented number of technologies, including desk phones, softphones and APIs, for myriad third-party software and CRM systems. Our mission is to empower our partners and end-users with the world's best cloud PBX and personalized support to ensure their success at every turn. Visit Vodia on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.