What Type of Telephone Can Handle Multiple Calls at Once?
Small business owners have a lot on their plates. Their phone systems shouldn’t be an additional task to have to sort through. Luckily, a multi-line phone system, especially Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), can make communicating with customers and other team members easy for small businesses. This article explains how.
How Do You Handle Multiple Calls at Once?
Your small-business phone system shouldn’t be a hassle. Yet figuring out how to handle multiple phone calls at once can leave both employees and customers frustrated. Luckily, multi-line phone systems for your small business can help solve that problem.
What is a multi-line phone system? It’s a setup that sends calls to and receives calls from different circuits. Not only will your business be able to handle multiple calls at once, but each employee will be able to as well. Multiple lines can be connected to one extension with a multi-line phone system. So even if a customer calls in while another customer is on the phone with an employee, they won’t get a busy signal or be sent directly to voicemail, which can significantly improve the overall customer experience.
Another perk of using a multi-line phone system for your business is that you can use the same phone number, voice mailbox, and extension for all your registered phones at no additional cost. This capability is important for small businesses because it ensures that customers’ calls are being answered even when one of your employees is out. All of this means customers will receive quicker responses and be more satisfied with your business.
What Are the Different Types of Telephone Systems?
There are three main types of multi-line phone systems that a small business can use:
Key Service Utility System (KSU): This system has to be manually connected to each phone line to work. And with this system, you have a set number of phone lines your business can use, which doesn’t allow for easy scalability over time. This system is the most outdated of the three. Think of that “closet full of wires” on premises — that’s what key service utility systems are.
Private Branch Exchanges (PBX): This system does what a KSU system cannot in that it allows for voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID. In addition to allowing employees to make external calls, it also lets employees make internal calls for free. A PBX can split physical phone lines into several lines so that your business can have more handsets connected to it. Most PBX systems nowadays are powered by VoIP, but it differs from VoIP in that you will still need physical desktop phones, which often isn’t practical for hybrid environments.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): This system is broadly used by businesses that have employees who work remotely or at different job sites. It relies on an internet connection to work, not physical phone lines. Because it’s cloud-based, employees don’t need a traditional phone to make and receive calls. They only need a device that can connect to the internet, such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
For businesses that want an even more effective way to communicate, unified communications as a service (UCaaS) works well. Not only can you use VoIP with UCaaS, but you can also take advantage of other means of communication in one system, such as text messaging, video conferencing, and email. Plus, you’ll have access to other features as well, such as performance statistics, an admin portal, and an auto attendant that can route calls where they need to go.
A UCaaS provider like Vonage can make your business’s communications more effective and efficient.
How Do I Set Up a Small Business Phone System?
If you want to make and receive multiple calls at the same time, turn to Vonage. We are an all-in-one communications platform that helps drive employee and customer satisfaction. Employees can easily switch between customers’ preferred channels in a single app. Plus, with features like Never Miss a Call and Call Queue, you won’t have to worry about missing a customer call anymore. And if your business grows, our platform will easily grow to continue to meet all your communication needs.
To learn more about the multi-line phone system experience that Vonage has to offer, check out these reasons why other small businesses have started using our solution. Or, if you’re ready to purchase one, you can do so through our website.
