But not every phone system is the same. The phone system you use at home probably wouldn’t do very well in a busy office building taking customer calls, and the phone system used at your workplace would be a bit too much for a regular New Zealand home.
What’s the difference between the two? Why should you pay attention to getting a phone system that’s good for business when upgrading your workplace’s communication capabilities?
The Main Differences Between Phone Systems Used For Businesses And Phone Systems Used At Home
If you don’t think about it in depth, a business phone system and a home phone system might not seem that different. They can both take and make calls, so they’re the same, right?
Well, when you look at the details, both phone systems are very different. Yes, they’re both phones and very useful, but one is best used at the office, and the other is ideal for home.
The main things that separate business and home phones are:
Cost. Perhaps the main thing you will notice when shopping for either type of phone system is that business systems tend to be far more expensive than home systems. Many business systems are 75% to 120% more expensive than traditional residential phone systems that you could find in most homes.
At first, you might think, ‘if home phones are cheaper, can I purchase one of them and use it at the office to save money?’ But it would be best to remember that business phone systems are more expensive for a reason.
Phone systems meant for businesses are more expensive because they are specially designed with features and equipment that suit companies that frequently make and take calls. You most likely don’t need to use your phone as much at home as you would at work, so your home phone system is designed for casual usage.
Usage. As mentioned above, phone systems are needed much more frequently in businesses than at home. So, business systems are used much more than home phone systems.
At home, you’re most likely calling friends and family and occasionally calling businesses or other important people you need to contact. However, at the office, business people must communicate with valued customers, hardworking employees, important business partners, essential vendors and more. This high demand requires a business phone system that can handle it easily.
Equipment. A home phone system definitely won’t need the extra equipment and plans that a business system needs. The specific additional equipment you need for your business system will vary depending on the particular plan you purchase and the extra features you need.
For example, if you are smartly investing in SIP trunking technology or a 3CX phone system for your business, you may need to buy some extra hardware for your office. This extra equipment can boost your business’s capabilities. A home phone system most likely won’t need any of these extra things.
Features. A significant difference between business phone systems and residential phone systems is the features that they have. There are plenty of phone features that business people use every day that you’d probably never use in your personal life from your home phone.
For example, business systems often have:
- Call Forwarding. This is the process of forwarding a caller’s call to someone who can currently take the call. If the phone that the caller is calling is busy, they can find someone available to help them.
- Conference Calls. Conference calls are crucial to businesses because they allow important meetings to take place remotely.
- Multiple Lines. Adding multiple lines, through adding SIP trunks or otherwise, can help a business service more callers. Busier offices often need more lines for their business phone systems.
On the other hand, residential systems often have:
- Caller ID. Caller ID will let you know who’s calling you.
- Voicemail Messages. Call forwarding is used for businesses because most businesses don’t want to leave their callers waiting, but when you’re at home, answering immediately usually isn’t as important. Voicemail allows your caller to leave a message if you miss their call.
- Call Waiting. Call waiting on residential phone systems means that you have another caller waiting for you after you finish your current call.
Call Us At Aatrox Communications If You Need A Fantastic Phone System For Your Business
As you can see, a business phone system can be a significant help to your company. Aatrox Communications is your go-to source for excellent SIP trunking plans and 3CX systems that’ll really help you out.
If you’d like to know more about enhancing your business’s phone system, give us a call at 09 242 0880. Or you can visit our contact page.
Communication is vital in any business. Make sure you communicate well with Aatrox Communications.
