How to Find the Best Phone System for Multiple Locations

Every business owner remembers the day they opened their first office. And, if they're fortunate, they'll remember the day they open their second and third offices as well.  While such expansion is a measure of success, it also comes with its own set of challenges: taking on a new lease, dividing your time between multiple locations, hiring more staff, and investing in more communication infrastructure.  

If you're struggling to find the best phone system for your growing business, we'd like to help! Keep reading to find a brief list of questions you can ask to find the best phone system for your multiple locations.  

Questions to Ask to Find the Best Phone System for Multiple Locations

If you are on the hunt for the best phone system for multiple locations, there are a few topics you should be aware of. The following three questions should be at the top of your list for research purposes.

Can you transfer calls efficiently and well between locations?

This is crucial for businesses to have this capability, not just because it's convenient for them, but also because it's convenient for their customers. Let's look at an example. Say a customer is looking to connect with a specific representative and can't remember where they're based. They're most likely going to call the main location and ask to be transferred.

If the IVR, or the receptionist, cannot transfer them to the right location, that leads to a great deal of frustration for the customer – who only wanted a fifteen-minute conversation, not an hour of online digging.  

Not only does it lead to customer frustration, but it also leads to less revenue. That might seem like a stretch but think about it. What if the customer was looking to make a purchase from that location and couldn't reach the right person? Sure, they may call back. But they're just as likely to go somewhere else. After all, more than half of American consumers have abandoned a planned purchase because of inferior customer service.  

Connecting the customer to the right location or the right representative is an underrated, yet key, step in closing a sale. The best phone system for multiple locations will be able to transfer calls.  

Are your managers established in one location or do they rotate between locations?  

Sometimes, especially when you're first starting out, managers "float" between locations. If you're in that situation, it's important to have a phone system that "floats" alongside them. What does that mean? It means you'll be wanting a system that has a mobile application – giving your managers the ability to answer calls from their cell phones, laptops, or tablets.  

Another feature that the best phone system for multiple locations would have is something called "hotelling." It allows users to log into any phone and transform it into a personal extension. While traditional phone systems are often locked to specific locations, VoIP phone systems allow users to access their contacts, voicemail, and other features, from any location or VoIP-based phone system.

On-demand rollover options for remote office locations can also be a big game changer. The rollover is triggered when the main office location is busy with another customer’s call. This ensures that the customer’s call will be answered in a timely manner.

How much back-end control do you want to have over the system?

Many phone systems can be complicated, especially if you're not familiar with the inner workings of telecommunications. So, it's important that you find a system that allows your team to manage features and functions quickly and easily via an online portal.  

No more long, arduous calls to the phone company to ask for additional users, reroute calls in the event of an emergency, or update device settings. Now IT administrators can update all these things – and more - across multiple locations in a matter of minutes.  

Our Recommendation: Consider Choosing a VoIP Phone System

If you're looking for a system that's easily customizable, gives you full control on the backend, supports rotating managers, and more, we'd suggest choosing a VoIP-based phone system. It works anywhere with an internet connection and doesn't require multiple modules or expensive equipment leases to set up.  

A VoIP phone system is the best phone system for multiple locations because users can just point, click, and go! You can find more information about the benefits of a VoIP phone system in our last blog post.

Tierzero – The Perfect System for a Growing Business

We know how hard it is to set up effective communications, especially during a growing period. That's why Tierzero's goal is to give you the best phone system for multiple locations available with the best service possible. Our phone systems are equipped with the latest and greatest features, powered by a trusted network, and supported by local customer service representatives. Not only that, but we allow you to pick and choose which features you'd like to implement – no more paying for what you won't need or use!  

Want to learn more? Reach out to one of our product experts for a free quote or demonstration.

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