Are you interested in getting started with VoIP for your local business? There are many great reasons why you should keep things close to home with a local VoIP provider, too. While you may be tempted by a national or international carrier or brand, opting for a nearby solution may actually prove to be more beneficial for you in the long run.
Looking for a VoIP phone systems UK business to rely on day after day? Here are a few fantastic reasons why working with a local VoIP team is your best shot at staying connected to the people that matter.
You’ll get priority care
Signing up with a national or worldwide VoIP firm risks your business getting forgotten. As the bigger companies care for so many different brands and businesses at any one time, queue lengths are likely to be enormous. That means if you’re having serious trouble connecting through your VoIP setup, you won’t necessarily have the chance to get the fixes you need when you need them.
When you partner with a local VoIP firm, you’ll get the chance to leap to the front of the queue. A local brand will give you the chance to book a quick, long-lasting fix within a matter of minutes. What’s more, if you need help on demand, you’ll have more chances to troubleshoot your problems quicker than ever.
You’ll benefit from the personal touch
One of the foremost benefits of partnering with a local VoIP team lies in the personal touch. When you partner up with local business owners, you can always expect a real sense of closeness and friendliness. There’s less chance of this closeness and friendly appeal if you work with a faceless organisation that’s much bigger than your own!
What’s more, national firms are more likely to operate through remote installations. This means that you won’t benefit from the hands-on approach that you can expect from local companies. A local VoIP provider can attend your office and get you set up with a physical solution that suits your budget, timescales, and ongoing needs.
This all means, too, that you can offer input and ask questions while your local provider and installer get you set up for the first time. It also likely means that you can rely on the same team and service should you need aftercare months or even years down the line.
You’ll get a great deal
While you may find that you get offered cut-price deals from larger VoIP providers, there’s no guarantee that what you’re receiving will be the best value for your money. As such, it’s worth digging deeper into the costs. Will that ‘too good to be true’ deal provide you with all the support you need for your new VoIP hookup, day or night? What if you don’t get any kind of aftercare – and you’re left at the back of a long queue waiting to speak to someone who can support you?
When you trade with a local VoIP company, you can be sure you’re getting a fair deal that’s in tune with your needs. You’ll have access to a cloud solution that’s tailored to your precise business scaling, adjusted based on a close setup and analysis of what you need. The closer your VoIP provider is, the more likely it is you’ll receive a better deal based on what you’ll actually use.
You’ll receive a complete solution
There’s a misconception that the smaller or more localised the company, the more restricted the services may be. This really isn’t the case! A local VoIP team can provide you with the same scalability, the same network support and the same cross-hardware functionality you’d expect from larger brands and services. In many cases, smaller providers will go beyond matching the services you can expect from larger-scale businesses.
Ultimately, you never really know until you call and compare. While national VoIP firms and larger corporations may have enticing marketing and deals, it’s always worth reaching out to local providers to see what’s on the table. Most of the time, you’ll get a great value setup and aftercare package that lets you scale up and down however you wish.
What should you be looking for in the best local VoIP providers?
Of course, not all local VoIP experts and providers are the same. That’s why it’s good to plan ahead and look carefully at what sets even the smallest companies apart. As leading experts in local VoIP, here’s what we suggest you should prioritise above all else:
Scalable features
Even local VoIP brands will offer services and apps that you can scale and deploy across multiple devices and systems. Are there mobile options available? Is there the ability to pull back devices or add more as you go on?
In the post-COVID age, near unlimited scalability for your VoIP is a must – and it’s not necessarily something that’s restricted to the bigger names in the industry, either.
Integration potential
It’s always prudent to check with your local provider that you can integrate your VoIP with other services and programs. For example, can you adapt your CRM and communications system with your new VoIP?
Things you should likely keep in mind include email marketing, differences in API, and conferencing features. In many cases, you may find some features arrive with your new VoIP setup as standard. However, it’s a great idea to check if you can simply move your existing systems and services across.
Call costs
A reputable VoIP provider, local or otherwise, should always be upfront on what you can expect from call costs, whether local or international. International costs, of course, are likely to set you back further financially than national or local fees – in which case, make sure your prospective provider has all costs laid out for you as clearly as possible.
In some cases, you may find your VoIP provider has packages set up to accommodate for international data calling. In which case, it’s worth asking to see the full tariff before you put any money down.
Available features
It’s also crucial to check out your VoIP setup inside and out. Again, it’s a misconception that the smaller the company, the fewer the features may be available. Therefore, take your time to ask about what arrives with your VoIP connectivity and compare them between different quotes and packages you may have lined up elsewhere.
Company standards
Finally, always make sure your VoIP connectivity is going to weather your needs – come rain or shine. Can you test drive the connectivity? Does your chosen provider have customer support available around the clock? Always check what’s available to you, and never make assumptions where you can absolutely help it!
Why Planet Telecom is your number one choice for local VoIP
Planet Telecom is a leading name in local VoIP. We’ve been in the local business longer than most, and we know what businesses are looking for when it comes to functional, scalable, reliable connections and solutions.
Don’t just set up with a national or international brand for the sake of it. Take a look at our local benefits and start making connections smoother for your business and your customers alike!
