If you’re in the market for new office phone systems, there are some important things to keep in mind as you go through the research and evaluation process. We’re going to highlight three big ones as a kind of kick start to push you in the right direction so you can be sure you’re asking the right questions. Every company is different, so remember to think about what’s best for your specific company and staff.

1.  Current Company Needs

Start by identifying the specific issues and challenges you have with your current office phone systems. Maybe your business has multiple locations and it’s time they were all connected by a central answering position. Maybe you only have one location, but it would be much more efficient to have an auto-attendant and direct extensions for each department instead of routing everything through the receptionist. Clearly define your needs versus your wants. Sure, it would be a nice gesture to provide your service team with a mobility option, but since they are talking to people all over the world, troubleshooting questions on how different pieces of software work, they’re able do that work from the comfort of their desk and don’t have a need to travel out into the field.

For most businesses, without a good sales team there would be no business. A good sales staff is always improving their skills and abilities to convert a new customer or get that referral. Sometimes the sales staff is hard to pin down for formal training. When you get new office phone systems, training your sales staff may be a new challenge. But remember, salespeople like challenges.

The end of year was good to you and this quarter is going even better. That long list of upgrades for your technology is becoming a reality. You sat down and prioritized what you need the most to grow your business. The next logical step for a major purchase is a new business VoIP system. You are not sure if you have the budget for it. Let’s look at the major pricing items that affect a capital purchase like this.

If you're moving from your office or starting a new business, now is a prime time to buy an office phone system. Still sometimes though there is no good reason to buy an office phone system. Let’s face it, buying a new phone system will cost you time, money, and a small headache as you try and help your staff adjust and explain to your CPA what you just bought. So if you are trying to justify NOT buying, let me help you out.

There are many reasons why you might be considering new office phone systems. Your old system is slow and inefficient. Your business is growing and your receptionist is overloaded trying to keep up with calls. Your employees are out in the field more often and are missing important calls. Just to name a few big ones. There are also many, many, things to think about when you decide it’s time for new office phones systems at your business. But before you decide on the features you want and have to choose the features you actually need, pause for a few moments and consider these key components.

Recently, I have been reading about how the incoming millennials are changing up the workplace. When it comes to business communication solutions, some articles suggest the desk phone is going away, others think voicemail is going away, and each opinion is different.

The truth of the matter is, the millennials are changing the workplace, but just how is still to be seen. Take the modernization of the computer. When it became common place, there were many who left or took early retirement because they could not change with the times. So here are some of my thoughts on the millennials and the workplace.

Small business owners have special needs and wants. Most small businesses don't have a full time IT person or department, and most outsource some of the business functions, such as payroll.

When it comes to buying a new phone system, small business owners are often left wondering what they should do. Phone systems for small business are what NEC is all about. Below is how NEC offers business communications solutions for your small business.