As the world continues to adapt and embrace remote working, it has become increasingly crucial for businesses to have reliable communication systems.
One of the critical components of this is a robust phone system that can keep employees connected with clients and colleagues from anywhere in the world.
However, with many available options, choosing the right phone system for your remote team can take time and effort. In this article, we’ll explore the characteristics of a good phone system for remote working, examine some of the top options available, and provide tips on choosing the best system for your needs.
Whether you’re a small business owner looking to upgrade your phone system or an IT manager tasked with finding a solution for a large remote team, this article will help you make an informed decision.
So let’s dive in and explore the best phone systems for remote working!
Characteristics of a good phone system for remote working
When evaluating phone systems for remote working, there are several characteristics you should look for. A good phone system should be:
- Flexible: Remote working often means that employees are only sometimes at their desks, so the system should adapt to various devices and locations. This could mean having a mobile app or web interface that allows employees to make and receive calls from their smartphones or laptops, simultaneously communicating with an office phone system and desk phone.
- Integrated with other communication tools: The phone system should work seamlessly with other communication tools like video conference calling software, instant messaging, and email. This integration will help ensure that employees can communicate effectively and efficiently.
- User-friendly interface: A good system for your remote workforce should be easy to use and navigate. This will help employees quickly access the features they need without wasting time learning how to use the system.
- Advanced features: It should offer advanced features like call forwarding, call recording, and voicemail transcription. These features will help employees manage their calls effectively and stay on top of their work.
Evaluate the phone systems available and choose the one best suited for your remote team. If you need help figuring out where to start, you can always ask a phone service provider for advice.
The best phone systems for your remote workers
With the right remote office phone system, remote workers can collaborate seamlessly, stay productive, and maintain clear lines of communication with clients and customers.
Regarding remote phone systems, businesses have a range of options. Here are some of the top options available on the market:
- Virtual phone systems: These are cloud-based systems that allow remote workers to make and receive calls from their computers or mobile devices using an internet connection. Examples of virtual phone systems include Mobex and RingCentral.
- VoIP phone systems: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems use the internet to transmit voice calls, allowing remote workers to make and receive calls from anywhere in the world. Examples of VoIP phone systems include Microsoft Teams and Mobex.
- Unified communication platforms: These platforms offer a range of communication tools, including voice calling, video conferencing, team messaging, and file sharing. Unified communication platforms can help remote teams collaborate seamlessly and stay connected in real time. Examples of unified communication platforms include Zoom and Cisco Webex.
Comparing cloud phone systems and virtual phone systems
As a phone service provider for VoIP phone systems, we spend a lot of time talking about business communications, especially surrounding business phone systems for remote employees.
We know you want the best telephone system to enable your employees to work from home. We’ve detailed a couple of popular business phone solutions we recommend.
System #1: Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based phone system offering various features, including video conferencing, team messaging, and file sharing.
Its user-friendly mobile app integrates seamlessly with popular productivity tools like Microsoft 365 and G Suite. The system offers multiple pricing plans starting at 7.50 for voice plans.
A voice plan is the Microsoft interface between a VoIP system and Teams interface, or you can invest in a higher price plan, like E3. This is regrettably on top of the extension price. However, the advantage is that it is familiar to many users and seamless with other tools. Teams will only work with a VoIP service, it won’t work with a copper or ISDN service.
What we like:
- Wide range of features
- User-friendly mobile app
- Seamless integration with other productivity tools
- Affordable pricing plans
System #2: Mobex
Mobex is a virtual phone system that allows users to make and receive calls from their existing mobile (iPhone or Android device) using a softphone app. This can also be used on an iPad or a web app that will work on any laptop or PC.
It offers features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and call recording. The system is easy to set up and use, making it a good option for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs.
The Mobex service interface is £3.50 plus the rental of the extension at £12.99. It is one of the best-priced systems as it is fully supported by the provider, whereas some other softphones are not.
What we like:
- Easy to set up and use
- It can be used with existing mobile or devices using a softphone app.
- Affordable pricing
- Suitable for smaller businesses
Factors to consider when choosing a phone system for remote work
When evaluating different phone systems for your remote team, it’s essential to consider a range of factors to ensure that you choose the right option for your business.
We recommend considering:
- What features does the phone system offer? Does it have the ability to make and receive calls, video conferencing, team messaging, call recording, and other essential features?
- Is the phone system user-friendly and easy to navigate? Can your remote workers quickly and easily set up and use the system?
- Will it create a seamless customer experience? The caller doesn’t need to know if the staff member is in the office or working remotely.
- Does the phone system integrate with your remote team’s other productivity tools and software, such as email clients and project management tools?
- Will the phone system be able to grow and scale with your business as it expands? Can you easily add new users or features as needed?
- What is the pricing structure for the phone system? Is it affordable and within your budget? Are there any additional fees for features or users?
Get the best telephone system for your remote team
With the right phone system in place, you can enable your employees to work productively from anywhere and build a thriving remote team prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future of work.
At Kingstar Services, we pride ourselves on offering the best flexible phone systems. We’ll be happy to help you choose the right telephone system for your remote team, even if it’s not through us!
Talk to us today about your business telephone system and see how we can help.
Article authored by Laura Bean Creative Little World