What’s The Best VoIP Phone System For Small Businesses?

The PSTN switch-off is set to be the biggest game changer business communications has seen in a long time.

If you don’t know, British Telecom is planning to switch off the copper-wired phone lines that have sustained phones in the UK for decades, meaning those still using traditional phone systems will need to switch to digital alternatives.

That’s why a lot of people are talking about VoIP phone systems right now. VoIP (voice over internet protocol) converts the voice signals from a phone into digital signals that can be transferred across the internet.

Not only do VoIP systems protect individuals and businesses from the PSTN switch-off, but it also opens up a whole host of exciting features that weren’t available to those still using the old phone lines.

Nobody is safe from the switch-off, though. Businesses both large and small will need to move to a VoIP service provider if they want their communications to stay uninterrupted. 

There are a few options on the market for small businesses to choose from. But, for us, there are three that stand out above the rest.

If you own a small business and are seeking a replacement for your analogue phone system before it’s too late, here are three of the best VoIP phone systems for small businesses.

Business VoIP providers

MiVoice Business from Mitel

8X8 X-Series

Gamma Horizon

MiVoice Business from Mitel

A leading business communications and VoIP provider, Mitel has been serving customers with business VoIP services for collaboration and connectivity in over 100 countries while pulling in over 2 million new customers annually.

Mitel’s MiVoice Business service is more than just a phone system – it’s a fully-fledged communications hub that brings together voice, email and conferencing to keep all users connected to the business at all times.

Business flexibility

Whether you want to host your new VoIP phone system on-site or on the cloud, MiVoice Business works around the way you want your business to operate.

This counts for the way you want to pay, too. Mitel offers businesses the option to purchase the license outright, for one easy, no-fuss payment, or to pay on a monthly subscription for smaller, more affordable payments.

And if your business continues to grow at pace, Mitel will work with you to ensure your VoIP phone system can handle any sudden jumps in users or calls.

Excellent remote connectivity

Work from anywhere, with anyone, in any way you see fit with the MiVoice Micollab platform. You get the best of both worlds, with audio and video conferencing options, along with plenty of tools to make sure everyone in your meetings is informed to the fullest.

Easy document and application sharing mean nobody will be left twiddling their thumbs. And adding new members to meetings is a breeze – all they need is an internet connection and access to the MiVoice platform and you can collaborate with people thousands of miles away or in the office next door.

This is all while remaining connected to your central business hub, so you can continue serving customers from wherever you are.

Perfect for call centres

Ideal for those receiving customer calls in a call centre environment, the MiContact Center Business boosts agent productivity by using simple, easy-to-operate tech like AI-powered chatbots and agent assist, so they can be as prepared as humanly possible to serve your customers.

There’s no complicated installation needed, either. With MiContact, everything is run through a single interface via PC, meaning you can be up and running in minutes, not days.

8X8 X-Series

Another major player in the business communications realm, 8X8 always find itself atop the best VoIP system lists thanks to its feature-rich service and experience in the field.

Boasting the “first of its kind XCaas (Experience Communications as a Service) platform,” the 8X8 X-Series tears down the boundary between unified communications and contact centre solutions, bringing customer and employee communications closer together under one all-encompassing format.

Omnichannel communications

In today’s world, there are more ways for customers to reach you than ever, so don’t limit yourself to the phone. 8X8 gives you the means to go beyond the standard phone call, letting customers reach you via SMS, voice, chat apps or even video calling. Giving customers these alternatives will not only raise the number of enquiries and orders you’ll receive but also opens you up, presenting you as an approachable modern business.

Microsoft Teams integration

Microsoft Teams has been an integral part of business comms for a while now, so it pays to be able to work with the tech rather than dismissing it. 8X8 allows customers to overlay Microsoft Teams meetings atop the 8X8 platform, instead of forcing you to replace it entirely, for greater accessibility no matter how you like to communicate with your customers or each other.

24/7 customer support

If you run into an issue or just need a helping hand, 8X8 customers have access to global, 24/7 support from 8X8 experts, as well as access to the company’s online Knowledge Base – a dedicated library of 8X8 technical knowledge, to get you back up and running while limiting downtime as much as possible. 

Gamma Horizon

Gamma focuses on offering simple yet effective solutions for businesses seeking to improve their comms efforts and the Gamma Horizon platform is a testament to their success. A no-nonsense, straightforward solution that brings all your business communications together via one easy-to-access web portal.

Ultra-easy user interface

The more difficulty you remove for employees, the more efficient you can expect them to be. Gamma Horizon’s user interface is recognised as one of the easiest to operate, allowing employees to get on with their work without fear of struggling to find certain applications or files. This won’t just boost productivity, but company morale too.

Exceptional call time

Despite all the impressive extra features, a business phone system still needs to deliver exceptional phone calls above all else. You’ll get those in spades with Gamma Horizon, which provides users with a whopping 4000 minutes of call time per user, per month. This is head and shoulders above a lot of the competition, who only offer limited minutes and expect you to pay more to top them up.

Professional call queuing 

Nobody likes being on hold, but you can make the experience a little easier to manage with Gamma’s professional call queuing. Create customized messages for your audience to hear while they wait, letting them know their call is valued while offering them whatever interesting, educational or entertaining messaging you like. This presents you as a professional yet personable company. Plus, Gamma’s AI-powered queuing will make sure calls are transferred in rapid time, limiting the number of callers on hold.

Want to know more about VoIP service providers? Speak to Elite.

At Elite Group, we have decades of combined experience in helping businesses like yours make the most of their communications, both internal and external. So if you’re looking for the best VoIP provider for your business, we’d like to help.

Get in touch with Elite today to find out how we could help you move forward in the post-PSTN era with a business VoIP service to suit you.