How do I get a Hosted PBX system?
A Private Branch Exchange (PBX) hosted system is a cost-effective solution for a business that is upgrading an old telephone system. If the call volume, growth, scalability and usage pattern of the company is not predictable, a PBX hosted system is worth migrating to. Hosted solutions are best suited for small businesses with less than 50 employees. It is essential to remember that a PBX hosted system is cheaper to operate, but as the usage and number of users increase, the cost advantages of PBX hosted systems begin dipping.
Before opting for a PBX hosted system, it is essential to understand the business issues and requirements such as strategies for improvement in services offered, cost-cutting, equipment upgrade and replacement, human resource availability, number of office locations, mobility of employees across office locations, etc.
Every employee who is likely to be an end-user in the organization must be polled for their telecommunication needs and usage statistics. Based on the poll, the extent of requirement of the PBX hosted system in the organization must be calculated. A smooth migration can be achieved in multiple ways. It is possible to migrate all existing systems to PBX hosted systems in a single step. Based on the number of users and business conditions, it is also possible to work with legacy and PBX hosted systems in parallel, by migrating a few of the legacy equipment to the new solution. The rest of the legacy system can be migrated in various stages over a period of time, as and when required.
To select the right PBX hosted system vendor, it is essential to make a detailed and thorough list of needs. A vendor that is experienced, stable and capable of delivering a complete solution must be approached. The technologies used by the vendor must be state-of-the-art. The solution must encompass all required business grade telephony applications, phone number provisioning, connectivity, durable hardware and telephone equipment, complete project management and administration. Some vendors of PBX hosted systems rent equipment, some include the rental in the monthly fee and others require companies to purchase equipment.
The end-user must be made fully aware of the features, functionalities and capabilities of the PBX hosted system, quality of voice communication and the resilience of the platform. Assess the possible concerns of end-users and arrive at a consensus on the functionalities required; then select only the functionalities and features of the PBX hosted system that are relevant to the business. A clear technical and functional design of the PBX hosted system must be made. Certain applications and features necessitate complex deployments and training to the end user. For instance, voice mail, hunt group applications and call-center deployments are more complex. Some capabilities of PBX hosted systems require more complex administration.
Migration from legacy systems to hosted PBX systems needs to be closely monitored. The success of deployment at each site must be evaluated. The findings can be used to improve future deployments in case of multi-site rollout.
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