Your business telephone system is one of your most important tools, so it’s imperative to pick the best system for your business that can grow as your business grows.  Before getting mesmerized (or confused) by all the features, first you need to make sure you have the basics covered. Then you will be able to distinguish between the differences with the unusual or advanced features. Let’s look at 10 key features to look for in a phone system for your business.

The following are 10 basic phone features that most businesses use on an ongoing basis:

1. Automated Attendant
An auto attendant makes sure that your inbound calls are always responded to whether it’s off hours or your staff is too busy to answer the phone.  Auto attendants give your business the ability to offer callers touch-tone options that route to specific people or extensions (through an automated directory), or different messages, including business hours and directions.

2. Hunt Group
A hunt group is useful for important inbound calls that you do not want to go to voicemail. Hunt groups can be configured so that a group of local extensions ring in unison for inbound calls, or the incoming call is automatically routed to the first available extension in the group. And if that extension does not answer, the call is quickly routed to next free extension until the call is answered. Hunt groups are essential to any business for sales inquiries.

3. Voice Mail
Voice mail features come with pretty much every phone system on the market today, but there are some variations on features.  Make sure your phone system has the right features for you business.

4. Conferencing
Phone conferencing features enable multiple extensions to connect for a multi-person discussion.

5. Hold Music or Hold Message
Hold music or hold messages are essential to keeping your customers engaged while waiting for a live person to talk to.  If there is simply silence while on hold your customer will probably get bored or distracted and hang up.

6. Caller ID
Busy business people do not have the time to answer every inbound call or solicitation that comes in, which is why caller ID is en essential phone system feature.

7. Microphone Muting
The ability to mute your phone is important for a variety of reasons, including privacy in a conference call setting or simple to cut out background noise for the people who are not speaking but are participating in group calls. The mute button should be obvious and easy to access.

8. Headset-Enabled
Business phones should also be equipped to work with a standard hands-free head set.

9. Speed Dial and Redial
Speed dialing is a basic feature that should be used regularly. Redial is essential in cases of disconnection.  This way you can get back to the customer quickly.

10. Call Forwarding
Call forwarding enables inbound calls to be forwarded to another phone, including a mobile phone, home phone, a co-worker’s phone or an assistant’s.

Absolute VOICE can provide all these features an many more advanced features.  Click here to find out more about Absolute VOICE business phone system!