How do I get an IP PBX system?

An IP Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system is a cost-effective solution for a business that is upgrading an old telephone system. The decision to migrate to an IP PBX system is governed primarily by the nature of the organization and the number of branch offices. Sales teams and call centers rely largely on telephone for their business, making IP PBX a wise choice for these types of organizations, as well as any small and medium sized organization. IP PBX systems can be built in-house or can be outsourced to a managed or hosted service provider.

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 IP PBX 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 IP PBX systems in a single step. Based on the number of users and business conditions, it is also possible to work with legacy and IP PBX 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.

It is estimated that the cost associated with international calls, employee moves and changes will reduce by more than 50%, by the use of an IP PBX system. If power conservation is a major factor of the business, replacing power hungry TDM PBX systems with a server-based IP PBX system is a good alternative.

If the existing network infrastructure of the company is robust enough to handle an IP PBX system, an in-house IP PBX system can be considered. A highly skilled network administrator, capable of implementing and managing the solution is required. This entails high initial investment cost, but lesser operational costs. Another alternative is to employ the services of a third-party hosting provider, to migrate to an in-house IP PBX system. Redundancy solutions must also be considered.

An IP PBX system 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 IP PBX manufacturers profit from the sale of IP handsets, to enhance the functionality of the IP PBX. In reality, IP phones need not replace every digital handset. A soft phone can be used as an alternative. Employee productivity decreases, which occur as a result of migration to soft phones, must be addressed as well.

An IP PBX system delivers a wide range of functionalities and features, many of which come standard with the system. In purchasing an IP PBX system, it is important to consider apples-to-apples comparisons, and purchase a system that has the features that are most relevant.

Migration from legacy systems to IP 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 role out.

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