Subscribe

Gated Community Intercom and PBX

By Innovo Networks
Cape Town, 26 Feb 2016

1. Gated Community PBX

Gated Community PBX is a service where the call platform and PBX features are hosted at the service provider location. The business end users connect via IP to the provider for voice service. A business hosted PBX phone system can reduce your monthly phone bill tremendously compared to a traditional business phone system. As is characteristic of a hosted PBX system, the PBX is hosted offsite at the provider's facilities.

A residential hosted PBX phone system can reduce your monthly phone bill tremendously as well when compared to plain old telephone service. As is characteristic of a hosted PBX system, the PBX is hosted offsite at the provider's facilities.

2. Features and benefits of Gated Community PBX

If you own a business with fewer than 300 lines, hosted PBX can provide you with a multitude of features and benefits. For starters, a hosted PBX system is much less expensive than a traditional on-site system. With hosted PBX, there is no need to buy expensive hardware and software, pay for installation, and manage the system. You simply pay a monthly fee and enjoy all of the benefits of the service.

While less costly than standard on-site PBX systems, hosted PBX solutions are packed with valuable features, such as on-hold music, call waiting, call routing, transfers, and more. Moreover, as the popularity of hosted PBX continues to grow, additional features like auto attendants, extension dialling, and ACD queues are being introduced.

A hosted PBX can also be deployed immediately. In fact, most business owners are able to have their hosted PBX setup and running in under a day. Best of all, newer and more flexible hosted PBX applications are being deployed as well. Adding these applications and features can typically be done with a simple download or click of the mouse.

The ability to add new features as they roll out is just one example of the scalability of hosted PBX. Additional lines, phones, and even an entire new department can effortlessly be added, which would be much more complex with a traditional on-site PBX.

When you opt for a hosted PBX and outsource all the techie stuff, you will find your stress levels lowering as well. With a hosted PBX, a mountain of responsibility will be taken off your shoulders, allowing you to focus your attention on more important matters, like improving your bottom line.

3. Gated Community PBX tips and considerations

Hosted PBX systems are incredibly easy to setup and utilise, but there are a few things you need to do when opting for one of these modern business phone solutions, such as:

Make Phone Number Arrangements - A temporary phone number is necessary for the porting process, but if you already have an existing number to port over, you must remain with your current provider until the number is ported to your new PBX provider. If you are getting a new number, it's important to update others and let them know of the change through an e-mail blast or similar means. While brief, all calls can be conveniently routed to cellphones during the transition period. Just remember, if you cancel your service with your previous carrier prior to porting your number, the number will no longer be yours to keep.

Arrange Your Dial Plan - When switching over to a hosted PBX, organising the routing of your calls is one of the first things that must be done. In order to do so, you'll need to define various rules for your calls, including:

* The buttons used to activate voicemail and other features;
* The hours of operation for your desk phones;
* Setting up your directory;
* The handling of faxes;
* Sequential and simultaneous ringing;
* How off-hour calls are handled; and
* Configure your emergency settings.

4. Review your bill

This is done on the first month so that one can ensure that they are receiving and utilising all of the services that they are paying for. Depending on how your service providers work, the first month's bill may or may not reflect activation fees, setup fees, and number porting fees. The second month's bill should be a typical bill without added charges for the setup process. By this point, you'll be well on your way to enjoying one of the most streamlined and hassle-free business phone systems available for small and medium-sized business owners.

Share

Editorial contacts

Damian Michael
Innovo Networks
(021) 811 3333
damian@innovonet.co.za