A Business Telephone Systems is one that allows the line to be accessible from many stations or telephones in the system.
The use of a switchboard is needed where calls using the same line are answered and redirected. A business of any kind, small or a large organization needs to be accessible at all times and the use of a switchboard is inevitable.
The older versions of business telephone systems with switchboards are connected using many wires running from one phone to another. Today there are modern business phone systems that are electronic and use less wiring. They are replaced by electronic shared control system that uses less cabling. They also have additional features including;
- Answering machine functions
- Remote supervision of the entire system
- Automatic call accounting
- Speed dialing
- Caller ID
- Station-specific limitations (such as no long distance access or no paging)
- Selection of signaling sounds
More features can be added by using software because such modern telephone systems use the same systems like computers where with the right memory and capacity you can continue to add more and more features.
The modern phones have almost taken over the job that was normally done by switchboards. With the availability of internet phone calls, business systems are now incorporating this in their business telephone systems. They are using less electronic equipments to perform multi functions. There is also the option of using cordless telephones. They come with a rooter and they have batteries that take care of power ups. The wireless telephones are very handy in a business environment because of its flexibility. You don’t have to sit at a desk to answer or make phone calls. It allows you to multi task.
With competition getting tougher everyday, the manufacturer’s are increasing the features that are in business phone systems. You will find modern phones with Common capabilities include (manufacturers may have a different name for each capability):
- Auto attendant
- Auto dialing
- Automatic call distributor
- Automated directory services (where callers can be routed to a given employee by keying or speaking the letters of the employee’s name)
- Automatic ring back
- Call accounting
- Call blocking
- Call forwarding on busy or absence
- Call park
- Call pick-up
- Call transfer
- Call waiting
- Camp-on
- Conference call
- Custom greetings
- Customised Abbreviated dialing (Speed Dialing)
- Busy Override
- Direct Inward Dialing
- Direct Inward System Access (DISA) (the ability to access internal features from an outside telephone line)
- Do not disturb (DND)
- Follow-me, also known as find-me: Determines the routing of incoming calls. The exchange is configured with a list of numbers for a person. When a call is received for that person, the exchange routes it to each number on the list in turn until either the call is answered or the list is exhausted (at which point the call may be routed to a voice mail system).
- Interactive voice response
- Music on hold
- Night service
- Public address voice paging
- Shared message boxes (where a department can have a shared voicemail box)
- Voice mail
- Voice message broadcasting
- Welcome Message
Business phone systems are only useful and worth buying if they can perform many functions effectively. They are supposed to be cost effective because after the initial investment of buying and installing them, they should save the business money in terms of workforce. You will need less people on the switchboard and in the reception. They are also able to take calls and record messages after the normal working hours so your business becomes accessible around the clock. Businesses now transact with others who will at times be on different time zones. Instead of having a person working around the clock, you can now install a modern business telephone system that will take care of communication even while you are away. Mobile phones are also used in business today. They allow someone to be connected to the office even when they are away from it. The business telephone system will divert calls straight to the mobile phone and the caller will not know the difference.