It’s no secret that installing a new Business Phone System can prove challenging. Whether you’re a new business or a large company trying to set up a new office, headaches from your phone system is the last thing you want. Part of the burden is simply choosing through the myriad of phone system options. However, in nearly all cases the first thing you have to decide is whether to have your system on-site or hosted. Selecting one or the other is determined by your specific business. Below, we’ve listed some of the ways to figure out which one you should go with.
What’s the Difference?
The main difference between the two is that an on-site solution requires hardware that stays at your physical location. If you go this route you will require a server and additional equipment to establish your system’s infrastructure. Furthermore, you will have the responsibility of maintaining this equipment.
On the other hand, a hosted system necessitates only the phones and network switch to stay at your office. Hosted systems are cloud based, meaning that most of the equipment is located offsite by the hosting company.
What Infrastructure Do You Have?
So how do you pick between the two? One of the best ways to choose is to take an inventory of what items you already have at your office. If you already have all of the equipment you need for an on-site system and your IT department knows how to maintain it, you probably could accommodate an on-site system without too much hassle. However, if you are starting from the ground up, it may make sense to opt for a hosted solution.
What is Your Budget?
Price is a major factor is choosing between an on-site or hosted system. On-site solutions necessitate a large upfront investment. However, one of the advantages of an on-site system is that once you pay that upfront cost, your expenses are quite low. Hosted Systems are just the opposite; it doesn’t cost a lot to set up, but you do need to pay a monthly or annual fee to subscribe to the hosting service.
If you have any questions regarding Business Phone Systems, please contact Advanced Communication Systems today at 800-750-3624. Please feel free to also follow us on Facebook.
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