How to choose a switchboard for your company ?

With the rise of technological progress and the digital transformation of our work environments, the choice of corporate telephony becomes a strategic issue. More and more, business professionals need not only to communicate with each other, but also to stay in touch with customers in order to improve their performance. To this extent, the switchboard is the ideal solution for both start-ups and large companies for a successful marketing strategy.

However, the ultimate question that probably never ceases to be asked is how to successfully choose this switchboard. With you, we will review in this article the different criteria to take into account when choosing a switchboard for your company.

The switchboard: what is it ?

The switchboard is a essential tool for communication in a company. Traditionally called PABX, the switchboard is used to connect internal telephone lines to the external telephone network in order to manage calls. In fact, it is the reflection of the company, because it allows to assign to each position a certain number of functions for example a personalized telephone reception, redirecting external and internal company calls to one or more predefined, etc. It also ensures the management of VoIP, internet telephony. Faced with the impending role of communication in a company, it is important to ask yourself: Which of the switchboards will best meet your company’s expectations ?

What are the aspects to take into account when choosing your telephone switchboard ?

Today the switchboard is of paramount importance for the achievement of the objectives of a company. However, when it comes to corporate telephony, it is essential that your choice reflects the ambitions you have set for yourself. Thus, several criteria must be taken into account in the choice of your switchboard.

Internal or outsourced switchboard

The first difficulty you will face when choosing your business telephone system is the type of installation. Indeed, the switchboard can be internal to the company or outsourced. The internal switchboard is a type of switchboard physically installed in your premises the company’s card in order to manually manage communications.

In this case, it is imperative to agree at the beginning an important investment to buy the material and to fit out the premises. To this must also be added the maintenance costs of the equipment.

On the other hand, in the case where the telephone switchboard is outsourced, it is hosted by an external service company. The latter provides the company with its equipment and skills. There is therefore no heavy investment to make. In addition, the installation, configuration and start-up of your switchboard are done in record time.

This is called an outsourced call center (centrex) and payment is made on the basis of a monthly subscription depending on the number of dedicated lines.

The definition of the appropriate technology

Regarding the appropriate technology, two solutions are possible:

• the switchboard can be connected to a traditional telephone network by a switchboardprivate telephone. This standard designated by the acronym PABX (Private Automatic Branch eXchange) involves a Switched telephone network (PSTN) SOLUTION.

• the standard by voice over IP (VoIP) This type of standard designates a all systems using high speed internet (ADSL, Fiber, etc.).) and internet to pass the information by the voice. Many more economical than PSTN, This type of technology allows the implementation of multiple functionalities which are not less important for a good digital communication.

In other words, if the choice between a centerx and an internal switchboard depends on the investment capacities and the needs of the company, it is however clear that the IP voice solution is preferable to the analog one.