Proper communication between employees, clients, and many other people is required in an organisation or company.
Even for small businesses, a telephone system helps the business manage calls, voicemail, and all the other forms of communication.
However, with time, the telephone system has advanced, and modern technology can help small businesses immensely with its services.
That’s why this article contains the 5 best telephone systems for small businesses and startups in the UK.
What is a Telephone System for Small Businesses and Startups?
A Telephone system for small businesses is a method through which the company can maintain internal and external communication using calls and voice mails and utilise all the additional features like call forwarding, auto attachment, etc.
Now the thing is most modern telephone systems for small businesses are cloud base. As we know cloud-based systems are operated over the internet and make it easier to manage the data.
The telephone systems for small businesses to make and receive calls are operated by VoIP technology.
With the help of this, the company can avoid expensive traditional phone lines avoid complicated hardware management, and take advantage of a flexible and easy-to-use communication system.
Top 5 Best Telephone Systems for Small Business
Ring Central
It is one of the most reliable telephone services in the UK as well as worldwide.
Through Ring Central’s advanced AI technology telephone service, you can call, message, video meetings, online fax, business SMS and utilise all the other services.
As well as the AI assistant and virtual agent make things simpler for small businesses and improve productivity.
Pros:
- All in one platform: It allows you to combine phone video and messaging in one platform
- User-friendly interface: The system is easy to adopt without extensive training.
- Mobile app: the mobile app provided by the company is easy to use and highly functional.
- Reliability: Take advantage of strong performance with minimal downtime.
Cons:
- Expensive: The average cost of Ring Central telephone services is a bit expensive for small businesses
- Customer support: Issues: there are some complaints regarding delayed customer support service, which could be better
GoTo Connect
GoTo is known for its all-in-one business communication software.
Its cloud-based phone system and customer engagement software can make communication easy to engage with proper customer satisfaction.
With the help of its software, you can connect with customers over SMS with chat email video and mode.
As well as it’s easy-to-use and simple phone system setup made it one of the high-ranked budget telephone system services in the market.
Pros:
- Affordable: The service is particularly created for small to size businesses as well as it offers a free trial.
- Reliable: The software’s cloud-based architecture ensures 99.999% uptime for flawless services
- Stop notch security: It has enterprise-grade security that features standards like GDPR and SOC2 type II making the data safe from any danger.
- Reliable customer service: Known for responsive and helpful services.
Cons:
- Lack of Advanced Tools: This service doesn’t have many advanced AI-powered tools as well as the update comes pretty late.
- Limited integration: GoTO Connect has fewer integrations than most of the competitors in the market.
8×8
If you want to create a customised customer centre communication solution based on your business needs then 8×8 is the best telephone system service for you.
This is one of the newest telephone services in the UK.
This globally reliable telephone service will help you contact and communicate using advanced integrations that leverage persistent data and a flawless blend.
Pros:
- Features: 8×8 possesses great features that include unlimited calling video and audio conferences. As well as you can take advantage of team messaging.
- Multi-level features: It has features to which you can transfer and forward calls also ring groups, caller ID and call parking.
- Reliability: This telephone network ensures 99.999% uptime SLA with multiple public and private data centres.
- Easy to use: the easy infrastructure makes it simple to make calls and share screens.
Cons:
- Confusing plans: The pricing of the 8×8 plants is expensive making it difficult for small businesses also with no pricing transparency.
- Learning Curve issues: This telephone service possesses moderate learning which makes the interface complicated and clunky
Vonage
Then on our list is Vonage. This telephone service provides cloud-based communication focusing on flexibility and easy accessibility.
The advanced communication API delivers a high-quality voice experience through the carrier-grade Vonage network.
Not only that it reaches and engages customers across message, video verifying and many other categories.
Pros:
- High-quality app: Vonage provides a VBC desktop app and BBC mobile app for iOS and Android devices, making it simple to communicate with customers.
- Scalability: You can easily add or remove lines as needed without installing extra equipment.
- Call Quality: The video call and voice call quality of Vonage is great and ensures clear communication.
- Simple user interface: The service is known for its clean and intuitive interface.
Cons:
- Fees Structure: Plan fees are great for small businesses however excessive add-on fees make it difficult.
- Customer support issues: many customers face issues communicating with a real person or professional for support.
Dialpad
The Dialpad is an affordable cloud-based business phone system that integrates AI technology. It’s perfect for making communication, sales and customer service easier and faster.
The AI services like the ID recap for autopilot AI, AI chatbot for a virtual assistant, AI agent Assist for speed up boarding and AI coaching hub for data-driven decisions help small businesses a lot even with other useful features.
Pros:
- Affordable: This telephone service provides one of the most affordable VoIP phone systems that is suitable for small businesses.
- Multi-device uses: The service can be used on multiple devices through phones, mobile, desktops etc.
- Trial period: provides 14 days trial period
- Domestic call: By using the Diapad service you can take advantage of unlimited domestic calling.
Cons:
- Limited customisation: The standard as well as the pro plans has limited customisation options.
- Customer support: It’s difficult to get actual customer support services through phone calls and the 24/7 support lacks updates.
Conclusion
In the end, you can understand how useful and effective advanced and modern telephone systems can be for small businesses.
It makes the work we must do simple and allows the employee to handle all the communication services through one telephone service. It system has unique advantages depending on your business need.
So, think and utilise the best telephone service for your small business and startup in the UK.
