![\"Tip\"](\"https://www.business.com/images/content/605/118c59c658ab3018b4567/75_-75-\")
Tip: Creating a sales process will not only improve your business's bottom line, but also help your employees succeed individually.Every business goes through a similar process and series of steps to make a sale. Understanding how the sales process works will help you maintain a consistent approach to turning leads into customers.
\r\nThe sales process – also known as a sales cycle – is the method your company follows to sell your product or service to customers. It involves a series of steps, from initial contact with a lead to the final sale.
\r\nThe sales process is similar to developing a relationship with someone new. When you first meet, you get to know each other, learn what they like, and determine their goals. Along the way, you decide if you can work together and whether you are a match. If this is the case, the relationship can proceed and grow.
\r\nThese are some benefits of building a sales process for your business:
\r\n
There are seven stages in the sales process:
\r\nThe first step is to prospect for customers, which requires some research. This stage has three components.
\r\nAfter identifying the ideal prospect, reach out to contact them. This step has two parts:
\r\nAlthough you have already done your research to qualify the prospect before making contact, you still need to determine if they would make an ideal customer. This can only happen in a direct conversation with the prospect (either over the phone or in person).
\r\nTo qualify the prospect, learn more about them. Ask about their goals, budget, challenges and other issues that will help you to make your decision. Make sure that the person you are speaking with has the power to make decisions on doing business with you. When speaking with the prospect, identify opportunities to provide value.
\r\nQualifying the prospect involves confirming whether they meet the criteria of a good customer. If they are not a good fit, tell the prospect why. If they are still interested, determine why.
\r\nOnce you have qualified the prospect, demonstrate the relevance of your solution to them. This typically involves answering questions about your unique offer, the benefits you provide, and the problems you solve.
\r\nWhen answering the prospect's questions and learning about their needs, you have to nurture them along the process of making a decision. This involves:
\r\nSome prospects may be both interested in your offering and qualified, but might not be ready or able to become a customer at this time. To nurture this type of prospect, stay in touch going forward and demonstrate your ability to help. This will help to keep you top of mind when they are ready to buy.
\r\n![\"Did](\"https://www.business.com/images/content/605/1211c5a215e6d348b4567/75_-75-\")
Use the information you have collected to this point to present the prospect with your best possible offer. Make the offer personalized, targeted and relevant to your prospect's needs. Craft the offer to address their challenges, budget and goals.
\r\nWhile the content of your offer is very important, how you present the offer can be the difference between success and failure. Consider your audience and the situation when deciding how to present your offer. Creativity can be very effective, but you should also focus on what works best for you given the experience of previous presentations.
\r\nYou've made the best possible offer – now it's up to the prospect to make the next move. The most common response is some type of objection to your offer, such as:
\r\nIdeally, you addressed the common objections during the nurturing phase or when creating the offer. However, you cannot always address every objection before the prospect makes it.
\r\nTo overcome or address objections:
\r\nOnce you have overcome all objections, you can close the deal to make the sale.
\r\nFirst, work on sealing the deal. The goal is to confirm the prospect's engagement and work toward the next steps. The key is to make it easier for the prospect to say yes to the deal. Prime the prospect by reminding them how they will achieve a specific goal in purchasing your product or service. To close the deal:
\r\nWhen the prospect has committed to the purchase, answer any additional questions they have and give them details on the next steps. Provide a written agreement and summary of the conversation so that their supervisor or other stakeholders can review it for accuracy.
\r\nIf the prospect still responds with \"not yet\" or \"not now\" for reasons beyond your control (or theirs), then return the prospect to the nurturing stage. Stay in touch and follow up with prospects who are not ready to purchase.
\r\n![\"FYI\"](\"https://www.business.com/images/content/605/102ad9c658add338b4567/75-75-\")
Consider the following approach to implement the sales process in your organization.
\r\nThe sales process begins with the buyer. To implement an effective sales process, you must understand the buyer and then design your sales process to address their goals, motivations, and needs. This requires identifying and then answering their \"why\" question. For instance, why is the buyer looking for a solution? Why are they looking to you for the solution?
\r\nBuild a sales process to help your salespeople find the answer to the key question. Conduct interviews with buyers and salespeople and perform industry research to find the answers to include in the process.
\r\nOnce you've defined the stages of your sales process, establish the key steps and milestones within those stages. A milestone could be identifying where the buyer is in the sales process or engaging with stakeholders within a certain time period. Score each milestone to determine how many resources to invest into that part of the sales process.
\r\nWhen you set a milestone for each stage, train salespeople to meet that milestone at the assigned stage. This will prevent them from skipping steps or taking the wrong approach at the wrong time (such as talking about the price too soon). Instructing salespeople on when and how to do handoffs will also help correct problems in the sales process. This simplifies the process of helping buyers move from one stage to the next.
\r\nBuild skills, resources and activities into the sales process to help your salespeople move to the next milestone. Resources could include brochures, case studies and whitepapers for a salesperson to share with customers. Provide your salespeople with specific training for particular milestones or have them engage in activities for other milestones.
\r\nA sales process is not static; it should be refined and improved over time. Get feedback from salespeople, measure buyer behavior, and track and analyze sales data to evaluate the effectiveness of your sales process. Use the results to solidify the successful activities and resources within the sales process, implement activities and processes to prevent negative outcomes, and remove activities and resources that do not advance the sales process. This will keep the sales process relevant, actionable and efficient.
\r\nBy constantly iterating and improving your sales process, you will:
\r\nIt's important to equip your salespeople with technology (such as CRM software) that enables them to perform each step of the sales process efficiently. However, software tools alone won't make salespeople more effective or encourage them to follow best practices. You need to combine the technology with supportive systems, guidance and resources.
\r\nProvide technology that streamlines the sales process, collects and organizes information on customers, and lists the required activities for salespeople to follow. Create systems and resources to support the sales team's use of the technology during the sales process, such as these:
\r\nRingCentral is our choice for the best business phone service because it is the complete package for unified communications. It can handle all of your communication needs, regardless of how small or large your business is. The system is extremely reliable, offers multiple price points to fit your budget, and has nearly every calling, collaboration and mobile feature businesses could want from a phone system. While several phone systems excel in some of these areas, RingCentral nails them all.
\r\nRingCentral is also our choice for the best conference calling service within a phone system because it's easy to use and allows every user to host calls with up to 1,000 participants.
\r\n\r\n
View all our recommendations for business phone systems and conference call services on our best picks pages.
\r\nRingCentral offers four service plans that vary in price and features to fit the budgets and needs of a wide range of businesses. While most systems have multiple price points, few offer as many options as RingCentral does. This flexibility gives many businesses the opportunity to use the service, regardless of their budgets. All of the plans include unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada, unlimited business text messaging, a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, HD voice, visual voicemail, voicemail-to-email, file sharing, team messaging, and call logs.
\r\nRingCentral offers both monthly and annual subscription pricing options for each of its service plans. Here is a breakdown of how each plan differs from the others:
\r\nRingCentral does not have a free plan, but it offers all users a 30-day risk-free trial.
\r\nWhile each plan comes with one local or-toll-free number, there is an additional cost if you want more numbers. Toll-free numbers and local numbers are $4.99 per month, and vanity numbers are available for a one-time $30 fee.
\r\nBusinesses have the option to buy or rent desk phones from RingCentral. You can purchase desk phones for $80 to $400 each or rent them for $5 to $21 per month.
\r\nRingCentral Office is loaded with features. It has over 50 calling, collaboration, and mobile features, including caller ID control, one-touch calling, call recording, call flip, call park, call screening, intercoms, paging, call logs, message alerts, missed-call notifications, auto-attendants, multilevel IVRs, call reports, on-hold music, answering rules, extensions, and the ability to forward calls to multiple devices.
\r\nThere are several voicemail options as well: traditional voicemail, voicemail-to-email, visual voicemail and voicemail transcription to text. Among the collaboration tools are audio and HD video conferencing as well as team messaging.
\r\nThe RingCentral mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, lets employees make and receive calls from their business lines on their mobile phones. The RingCentral app also lets users send and receive faxes and texts, set up and join conference calls, check voicemail, change their individual settings, and receive notifications.
\r\nRingCentral also offers a softphone. This lets your employees make and receive calls from their computers, whether from desktops in the office or internet-connected laptops outside the office. To use the softphone, all you need to do is plug in a headset or use the computer's speakers and microphone.
\r\nFor businesses that want to connect with colleagues or customers overseas, RingCentral offers a number of international calling options, including full-service coverage in 40 countries and international inbound virtual numbers in more than 100 countries.
\r\nIn addition to being the best business phone system, RingCentral tops our list of the best conference calling services within a phone system.
\r\nEach user has access to their own conference bridge. This means that each employee can host unlimited conference calls with up to 1,000 participants at a time. You don't have to worry about limiting your guest list or running out of minutes. The 1,000-caller limit is significantly higher than the thresholds of the other phone systems we reviewed. Multiple employees can host conference calls at the same time.
\r\nRingCentral's conferencing service is reservationless, which means you can begin calls instantly. While you can still schedule conferences in advance, this gives you the option to host an impromptu meeting when the need arises.
\r\nWhen you set up your conferencing preferences, you can select \"enable join before host,\" which lets the call begin and continue without you or another host being present. You can also enable settings that lock the call once it has started and everyone has joined so no one else will be able to enter your call. The lecture mode lets you mute all the attendees' lines; your guests can still hear you, but no one can hear them. This is a useful feature for large meetings where there could be a lot of background noise.
\r\nYou can send conference invites via Microsoft Outlook or your email provider. You simply click \"invite with email,\" and RingCentral generates an email with the dial-in number and the participant access codes.
\r\nIf you are hosting a call with participants outside the U.S., they can dial in using local numbers. RingCentral offers local numbers in more than 50 countries.
\r\nWhen you are hosting a call, you can record your conference free of charge and listen to it later. You can also share your recordings with anyone who was unable to attend the conference.
\r\nRingCentral makes it easy for hosts and meeting participants to join conference calls from mobile devices, typically by tapping a button or link. This saves you the hassle of entering the dial-in number and access code.
\r\nThe biggest feature missing from RingCentral's conference calling service is operator-assisted calls. With this option, you'd have a representative from the service to set the call's itinerary, greet callers and take down their contact information, moderate Q&A sessions, and provide transcripts. If your company hosts large meetings that need this type of dedicated attention, you will need to find a provider that specializes in operator-assisted calling services.
\r\nRingCentral is a cloud-hosted system that doesn't require any special equipment or wiring. All you need is a high-speed internet connection with enough bandwidth to handle the number of calls your small business makes. RingCentral recommends that you use a high-speed DSL, cable, or fiber optic connection with dedicated upload and download bandwidth for voice of at least 90Kbps for each voice line. You don't need a dedicated IT team to maintain this system; RingCentral handles all of the maintenance and upgrades.
\r\nPart of what makes RingCentral such a solid business phone solution is its reliability. It boasts a 99.999% uptime, the highest possible for cloud-hosted phone systems. This means the service is down for just a few minutes each year.
\r\nRingCentral has numerous data centers worldwide. Should one center shut down or have a problem, clients will have no loss of service, because the data will instantly transfer to one of the other centers. Each data center is monitored 24/7 and staffed by onsite engineering specialists and security guards.
\r\nRingCentral allows number porting. This means businesses with an established phone number can transfer their number over to RingCentral after signing up for the service. When transferring your number, you'll choose a temporary number to use until the porting process is complete, which is typically in 2-4 weeks.
\r\nThe system is controlled entirely from an online portal. From this portal, administrators can assign employees numbers and extensions and create ring groups. Employees can also log in to change their personal settings and make calls from their computers using a softphone.
\r\nUsers are encouraged to set their mobile phone as a forwarding number. If you and your team do this, you won't miss any calls should your business lose power or its internet connection. All calls will automatically be forwarded to the appropriate staff member's mobile phone in those situations.
\r\nOne potential downside of RingCentral is that the Essentials plan doesn't include any audio or video conferencing. If those are communication tools you need, you will either have to upgrade to another service plan or go purchase separate conferencing calling and video conferencing solutions.
\r\nOne area of concern is the number of complaints filed against RingCentral with the Better Business Bureau. As of July 2020, 301 complaints had been filed against the company over the past three years. That number is higher than we saw with some of RingCentral's competitors. Despite the complaints, RingCentral is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating on the site. Such a high rating means that the company is addressing all of these complaints. While RingCentral might not be able to provide everyone the solution they demand, it is at least attempting to resolve issues to everyone's satisfaction.
\r\nThe customer support we've received from RingCentral has been mostly positive. During our research, we contacted the company numerous times by phone, email and live chat, posing as a business owner interested in phone service. While most of our interactions have gone well, we did have a couple of calls and chats that were less than helpful. Our most recent interactions with the company were significant improvements over our first calls and chats.
\r\nIn our recent interactions with RingCentral, all of the representatives we dealt with were extremely helpful. They took our calls immediately and provided in-depth answers to all our questions. They also highlighted points we hadn't thought to ask about. By the end of our calls, we had a clear understanding of how RingCentral works, the features it offers and its price points.
\r\nThe RingCentral website offers an array of valuable information, such as FAQs, videos, case studies, webinars and whitepapers. The company provides phone and chat support 24/7.
"},"url":"https://www.ringcentral.com/","docType":"service","title":"RingCentral","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5de96c9d9c658a7a718b4569/ringcentral.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate","widgetId":null,"widget":null,"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=102&aff_id=1000&source=business-phone-systems&aff_sub4=revenue|QT&aff_sub3=deal|RingCentral&url_id=1","name":"HasOffers/Tune"}}}},{"fullTitle":"Featured Sponsor","bullets":["Easy to install and operate","Controlled from an online portal","Unlimited calling"],"isFeaturedBestPick":true,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Featured Sponsor","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":true,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/ooma/","review":{"fullReview":"Thanks to its simplicity, flexibility and affordability, Ooma Office is our choice as the best phone system for very small businesses. The system is built with small businesses specifically in mind. Unlike many of today's business phone systems, Ooma provides flexibility in how the system is run and the types of phones it can work with. You have the choice of installing some equipment – which you can do on your own, without IT experience, and using analog phone you may already own – or you can use IP phones with a traditional cloud-hosted setup. These aren't options most business phone system providers offer.
\r\nWhile the system doesn't have all the features some of its larger competitors do, it offers some of the most valuable ones, like auto-attendants, voicemail and call forwarding. The system is extremely affordable and offers round-the-clock support.
\r\n\r\n
View all our recommendations for business phone systems on our best picks page.
\r\nThe pricing structure for Ooma Office depends on what type of phones your business uses. If you use IP phones, all you have to pay are per-user monthly fees. If you want to use analog phones with the system, there are also some one-time equipment fees to consider.
\r\nWhether you use IP or analog phones, you have a choice of two service plans: Ooma Office or Ooma Office Pro. Ooma Office is $19.95 per user per month, while Ooma Office Pro is $24.95 per user per month. Ooma Office Pro is a relatively new offering. We like that it increases the number of features and tools and the likelihood of businesses sticking with the solution as their needs grow. Instead of having to switch providers altogether, you can pay an additional $5 a month per user for that increased functionality.
\r\nOoma Office offers more than 35 features, including a virtual receptionist, music on hold, extension dialing, voicemail and call blocking. Ooma Office Pro adds features like call recording, a desktop app and voicemail transcription.
\r\nIf you have analog phones you want to continue using, you will need a few pieces of equipment. The basic equipment package starts at $129.97. It includes the base station, which is the system's main component, and two Linx devices, which are used to connect analog phones to the system. IP phones can be plugged directly into an Ethernet port and don't need any special connection. Since each base station supports five analog phones, you may need additional base stations, which are $100 each. If you don't have analog phones you need to use, none of this equipment is necessary.
\r\nAnother cost to consider is desk phones. Unlike with other business phone solutions that require IP phones, you can use analog phones with Ooma Office. However, you can add more users to the system if you use IP phones. Ooma offers several different Yealink and Cisco phones, ranging from $70 to $400.
\r\nThere are no contracts with Ooma Office. You make all payments on a month-to-month basis. The company offers a 30-day, risk-free trial.
\r\nWhile it doesn't have the wide selection of features that some other phone systems offer, Ooma Office does have the calling and mobile tools very small businesses need most. Although it sounds nice to have all the accessories today's phone systems offer, most would go unused by very small businesses. Ooma keeps its prices down by only providing the features very small businesses need most.
\r\nOoma Office's features include unlimited local and long-distance calling, a virtual receptionist, voicemail, call transfers, call logs, daytime and after-hours modes, ring groups, music on hold, call forwarding, and online faxing.
\r\nOoma Office Pro offers even more features and tools. For the extra $5 a month per user, you have access to a desktop app, which lets each user check out the company directory, manage calls and set up ring groups. Other features in the upgraded plan include call recording, enhanced call blocking, voicemail transcription and overhead paging. Ooma Office Pro also includes video conferencing services for up to 25 participants at one time.
\r\nOoma has a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices that lets employees make and receive calls using their business lines. When you make an outgoing call from the app, the person you call will see your business phone number on their caller ID, not your personal mobile number. With the mobile app, you can also transfer calls to other employees, listen to and manage your voicemails, and easily access co-workers' extensions.
\r\nEven someone without any phone system expertise can install the Ooma Office on-premises VoIP system in less than 20 minutes. While the system only supports up to 20 analog phones, it can support up to 200 IP phones.
\r\nIf you use IP phones, you can set up the system quickly. All you need to do is plug the phones into your LAN. Once plugged in and powered up, they are ready to make and receive calls.
\r\nIf you use analog phones, you need to set up your base station and Linx devices to get the system working. The base station serves as a full router, prioritizing voice data on your internet connection. This helps ensure solid reception on each call. The other main component is the Linx device. The option to use analog phones you already have, without having to purchase new IP phones, can be a big cost-saver for very small businesses and a nice benefit of this service.
\r\nYou first connect the base station to your high-speed internet connection. You then plug the base station's AC adapter into an electrical outlet. For the best service, Ooma recommends that you have at least 256Kbps upstream and downstream for each simultaneous call during peak usage times. Once the base station is connected, you then plug an analog phone into the unit.
\r\nOnce everything is up and running, you control the system via Ooma's online portal. The portal, which is easy to use and navigate, is where system administrators assign employees extensions and phone numbers, set up the automated attendant, and create ring groups.
\r\nOoma doesn't offer all of the features that some of its competitors do. So, if you are looking for a solution that offers every possible feature and tool, this system might not be a perfect fit.
\r\nAnother potential downside is the conference calling participant restrictions. If you only get the Ooma Office plan, you are limited to 10 callers at a time. The good news is that Ooma has upped those limits with the recent introduction of the Office Pro plan.
\r\nWe were pleased with the customer support we received from Ooma. To test the level of service, we contacted the company numerous times by phone, email and live chat, posing as a microbusiness owner interested in its phone system.
\r\nMost of our interactions with the company were positive. Representatives immediately answered most of our calls. There were a couple of times, however, when our calls weren't immediately answered – or were picked up, but no one was on the other end of the line.
\r\nOverall, the representatives we spoke to gave detailed answers to our questions about how the system works, the available features, the mobile app and pricing. There were a few times the responses didn't provide as much detail as we wanted, though, and we then had to contact Ooma again for further information. Each time we followed up with a representative over email, they immediately responded.
\r\nWe also found the live chat service helpful. With some providers' live chat services, it took a long time for a customer service representative to answer our questions, but we got prompt responses from the Ooma team.
\r\nOoma provides 24/7 phone, email and live chat support.
\r\n\r\n
Nextiva is our choice as the best business phone system for businesses with multiple locations. Nextiva is a cloud-based VoIP system that can be spread across several offices and stores yet still be managed from one central platform.
\r\nView all our recommendations for business phone systems on our best picks page.
\r\nBusinesses with more than one location need a system that can support all of their sites. Rather than piecing your phone service together with a different system or provider for each store or office, you need a solution that connects systems in multiple places and can be controlled from one central location. Nextiva fits that bill.
\r\nThe system is simple to get up and running, and the online portal is easy to navigate. The phone system is extremely reliable, offers several service plans and includes top-notch customer support. Nextiva also has a wealth of valuable calling, collaboration, and mobile features and tools. All of Nextiva's service plans have integrated CRM features that allow you greater insight into the customers you speak with.
\r\nNextiva's business communication suite is available in three service plans – Basic, Pro and Enterprise – that differ in price and features. Each plan's price varies by the number of employees using the system and whether you sign a 12-, 24- or 36-month contract. Monthly per-user prices range from $20 to $55.
\r\nNextiva doesn't require businesses to sign long-term contracts. You can sign up for month-to-month service and cancel at any time, but prices drop when you agree to a contract. There are no setup fees or hidden charges.
\r\nEach of the three service plans includes unlimited calling, free local and toll-free numbers, online faxing, music on hold, and an auto attendant. Here's how the plans differ.
\r\nIn addition to the calling features, this plan includes a number of CRM features, such as call pops, contact management tools, call logs, sales pipeline management, workflow automation, email case routing, account alerts, standard reports and a customer database. These are the costs for this plan:
\r\nThe Pro plan includes everything in the Basic plan, plus text messaging, mobile app access, professionally recorded greetings and conference calling. Added CRM features include custom reports, the ability to create surveys, and data on usage and team performance. These are the costs for this plan:
\r\nThis plan includes everything in the Pro plan, plus call recording, voicemail-to-text, voice analytics, live chat, survey scheduling and custom dashboards. These are the costs for this plan:
\r\nIn addition to the preset plans, Nextiva allows you to purchase features and tools on an a la carte basis.
\r\nNextiva offers a wide selection of desk and conference phones that range from $70 to $625. Phone rentals are also an option.
\r\nThe Nextiva Business Communication Suite is a cloud-hosted VoIP phone system that doesn't require any equipment or hardware. All it needs is a high-speed internet connection and IP phones. Since this is a cloud-hosted system, you don't need an IT team to install or maintain it; Nextiva handles all maintenance and upgrades.
\r\nThe entire system is run and configured through Nextiva's online portal. This portal lets you add employees to the system, assign phone numbers and user IDs, record automated greetings, create call-queue routes and priorities, and designate which features each employee can access.
\r\nEmployees can also access the system online. They can log in to set their preferences, change settings, conduct video conferences with screen sharing and chat with co-workers.
\r\nIf you are an established business and want to keep your current phone numbers, you have that option with Nextiva. For an extra fee, you can transfer local or toll-free numbers over to Nextiva after you sign up for the service. This process typically takes two to four weeks.
\r\nNextiva is an extremely reliable phone service. The company has a reported uptime of 99.999%. It has several fully redundant data centers worldwide to ensure customers never lose service.
\r\nNextiva Office offers just about every calling, collaboration, and mobile feature and tool a small business needs in a phone system. Calling features include unlimited local and long-distance calling, unlimited online faxing, an automated attendant, music on hold, HD call connections, and the option to receive voicemails via email and text messages.
\r\nBusinesses with multiple locations will appreciate the shared call appearance. This feature allows you to assign the same line to several phones. Employees can make and receive calls on their own lines from more than one location.
\r\nThe Nextiva Anywhere feature is a valuable tool for staff members who often work outside the office. They can have calls to their business lines ring not only their desktop phones but any other phones of their choosing, such as their mobile or home phones.
\r\nNextiva's mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, lets employees make and receive phone calls on their business lines, make video calls, chat via instant message with co-workers, access the company directory, and update and modify call settings. In addition, you can start calls on a desk phone and move them to a mobile phone, and vice versa.
\r\nAnother nice feature is the softphone. This allows you to make and receive calls from your desktop computer or laptop. To use this tool, all you have to do is plug headphones into your computer or use the microphone and speakers to make and receive calls.
\r\nNextiva has conference calling built into its phone system. With the conference bridge feature, which is included at no extra charge, each employee can hold their own conference call with up to nine callers.
\r\nIf your company is looking to host conference calls with more people than this, you will need to use a conference calling service. These services allow for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people on each call. You can find more information on these services on our conference call services best picks page.
\r\nWe were impressed with the customer service from Nextiva. To determine the level of support a typical customer would receive, we contacted the company multiple times by phone, email and live chat, posing as a new business owner interested in phone systems.
\r\nDuring our interactions, the Nextiva representatives could not have given us a clearer understanding of what the company offers. They spent as much time as we needed explaining how the system works and its features, uptime stats, and pricing. In some instances, representatives took the time to demonstrate the different features. For example, one rep toggled back and forth between a regular connection and an HD connection to show us how much clearer the sound was, and put us on hold so we could hear the on-hold music and announcements.
\r\nWe especially liked that the representatives didn't pressure us to make a quick decision on purchasing the service. They were always respectful of our needs and timelines. We didn't always receive that level of respect from other services we investigated.
\r\nAfter some of our calls, we followed up by email to see the type of response we'd get. Each time, a rep promptly responded with detailed answers to our questions and an offer for another call if we needed additional information.
\r\nWe also tested the live chat on several occasions, and it was just as helpful. When we had quick questions, they were answered within seconds. Many of the other providers we considered don't offer this support option, or weren't nearly as responsive with it as Nextiva was.
\r\nThe entire support team is U.S.-based and available by phone, email and live chat. In addition, the Nextiva website is filled with helpful support materials.
\r\nNextiva is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. As of November 2019, there had been 94 closed complaints against the company.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for the right business phone system for your company? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
\r\n"},"url":"https://www.nextiva.com/products/voip-phone-system.html","docType":"service","title":"Nextiva","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5de969cc5a215ec0708b456b/nextiva.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate","widgetId":null,"widget":null,"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=87&aff_id=1000&source=business-phone-systems&aff_sub3=deal|Ooma&aff_sub4=revenue|QT&url_id=1","name":"HasOffers/Tune"}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best Business Phone System for Features and Tools","bullets":["More than 80 features and tools","Phone, email and live chat support","No PBX equipment to install"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Best Features and Tools","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/gotoconnect/","review":{"fullReview":"Offering a complete unified communications system that combines Jive's business phone service with GoToMeeting's audio and video conferencing services, GoToConnect is our choice as the best business phone system for features and tools.
\r\nThe system has every feature a business is looking for in a unified communication system, including attendants, call recording, voicemail transcription, call queuing and conference calling. The service efficiently supports both voice and video calls, integrates well with existing CRM systems, and offers contact center services. Further, the service is reliable and works well for both small and large businesses.
\r\nView all our recommendations for business phone systems on our best picks page.
\r\nUnlike other phone systems that have different service plans based on the number of features included, GoToConnect powered by Jive offers all users access to nearly all of its tools. Pricing varies based on how many employees you have. The more users you have, the less you pay per person.
\r\nGoToConnect has five pricing tiers that range from $20 to $30 per user, per month. The pricing tiers are as follows:
\r\nCustom pricing is available for businesses with more than 100 employees.
\r\nGoToConnect offers users a wide selection of desk and conference phone options. Desk phone prices range between $75 and $800 per phone. It doesn't require businesses to sign contracts or pay annually; however, companies that do are eligible for better deals on service or phones.
\r\nSince GoToConnect is a cloud-hosted VoIP phone system, there is no PBX equipment to install. The system runs on the exact same internet connection as you use to get online. With that in mind, GoToConnect recommends having a business class router; an Ethernet switch capable of Quality of Service; and a firewall that allows you to access HTTP, HTTPS, and UDP traffic on your network. It is also critical to have the necessary bandwidth to handle your company's call volume. Each call requires 100 Kbps of internet bandwidth.
\r\nWith this system, you don't need a trained IT staff to keep it running smoothly. Since it is a cloud-hosted system, GoToConnect handles the maintenance and upgrades. If you buy your phones from GoToConnect, they come preconfigured and are ready to use as soon as you plug them in. If you buy your phones from another provider, you will need to work with the support team to properly configure the phones.
\r\nYou can choose local or toll-free numbers. For local numbers, you can select options from more than 200 area codes nationwide. If you are an established business wanting to keep the number you currently have, you can port your number over from your current provider.
\r\nThe entire system is controlled via an online portal, which can be accessed from any internet-connected device. From the portal, administrators can configure new phones, add or delete users, manage extensions, change on-hold music, set auto-attendant greetings, and update call filter settings.
\r\nEmployees can change their call forwarding, voicemail and online fax settings. They can use a softphone to make and receive calls from their computer, instant message with co-workers and start video meetings.
\r\nGoToConnect is extremely reliable. The system has a 99.999% uptime service level agreement, which guarantees the system will never be down for more than a handful of minutes each year. To help keep the system up and running, GoToConnect has 11 data centers worldwide, including seven in the U.S.
\r\nGoToConnect provides all users with unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada. (The company says there are some locations in Alaska and Hawaii callers might be charged extra for.)
\r\nThe Jive phone system has more than 80 features. There are 45 basic VoIP features, such as auto attendants, barge, call monitoring, call recording, three-way conferencing, custom hold music, custom greetings, dial by name or extension, paging, ring groups, voicemail, voicemail-to-email and virtual fax. The system includes custom schedules that allow administrators to set time-based call routing. This feature can be used to route calls during open and closed business hours, for example.
\r\nOne valuable feature for businesses where employees share workspace is the hot-desking tool. This lets more than one employee use the same phone.
\r\nCall-management features include call history, call park, auto reject, auto divert, call queues, call routing, call waiting, call transfers, caller ID, do not disturb and Find Me/Follow Me.
\r\nA nice aspect of GoToConnect is that all users receive some contact center services at no extra cost. This includes advanced ring strategies; custom queue hold messages and music; precall announcements; report caller hold time; queue call barge; recording, spy, and whisper; and wait-time announcements.
\r\nHowever, one downside is that if you need more extensive contact center tools, like skills-based routing, automatic call back and agent scripting, you will need to work with one of Jive's partners, InContact.
\r\nWhat really makes GoToConnect a solid choice is that it includes access to GoToMeeting, which is our choice as the best video conferencing service for small businesses. You can host video meetings with up to 250 participants, 25 of which can have their webcams on at the same time. Features include dial-in options, recording, drawing tools, and keyboard and mouse sharing. You can read our full review here.
\r\nWith GoToConnect's mobile app, available for iOS and Android devices, users can make and receive calls from their business line, conduct conference calls, send and receive text messages, view call histories, and choose ringtones.
\r\nGoToConnect integrates with many third-party business applications like Salesforce, Zoho, Redtail CRM, Chrome, Slack and Outlook.
\r\nGoToConnect has a conference calling service built into its system. With the conference bridge feature, each employee can hold their own conference call with up to 10 callers.
\r\nIf you host conference calls with more than 10 callers, you'll need to use a conference calling service. These services allow for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of callers on each call. You can find more information on these services on our conference call services best pick page.
\r\nWe were pleased with GoToConnect's customer service. We contacted the company multiple times by phone, email and live chat posing as a business owner interested in a phone system.
\r\nEach time we contacted the company, we were greeted by helpful representatives who provided us detailed answers to our questions. They helped us better understand the system's platform, how it worked, the available features, the pricing structure and the mobile app. By the end of our calls, we always had a clear understanding of Jive and all it had to offer.
\r\nRepresentatives always followed up by email to ensure we didn't have any follow-up questions and provided us with a detailed price quote. Any time we responded to their emails asking a question, we received a prompt response.
\r\nCustomer support is available by phone, email and live chat 24/7. In addition, the company's website offers helpful information, including data sheets, user guides, FAQs and videos.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for the right business phone system for your company? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
"},"url":"https://www.goto.com/connect","docType":"service","title":"GoToConnect","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5dd727307b4374801e8b456e/gotoconnect.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10144","widget":{"id":"10144","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.goto.com/connect","name":""}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best Business Phone System for Voice Intelligence","bullets":["Easy to manage","Incorporates voice intelligence","14-day free trial"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Best for Voice Intelligence","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/dialpad/","review":{"fullReview":"Dialpad is a cloud-hosted unified communications system designed with computers and mobile devices in mind. While it can work with a desk phone, the Dialpad system – which offers voice calling, video conferencing and text messaging – can also be used without them. Your employees can access all the functions of a traditional phone system using desktop and mobile apps, giving them full access to everything the system has to offer wherever they are. Additionally, Dialpad incorporates artificial intelligence to provide most call notes and real-time advice for sales representatives.
View all our recommendations for business phone systems on our best picks page.
\r\nDialpad Talk is available in three service plans that vary in price and included features. All plans include unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada; unlimited text messaging; call controls like transfer, hold and mute; voicemail transcription; multilevel auto-attendants, softphones; and integrations with G Suite and Office 365.
\r\nHere's how the plans differ:
\r\nIf you need toll-free numbers, they start at $7 per month, plus 2 cents per minute. Dialpad offers all users a two-week free trial.
\r\nSince it is built around the concept that you don't need a desk phone, Dialpad's standout features are its mobile app and desktop app. Both apps give you full access to the phone system and all its functions.
\r\nThe mobile and desktop apps work seamlessly with each other. From each of the apps, employees have full control over their phone systems. These apps eliminate the need for a traditional desktop phone. From the apps, you can make and answer voice calls, have video chats, view contact lists and your company directory, switch live calls between devices, transfer calls to colleagues, conduct three-way calls, send and receive text and group messages, message co-workers, and see which co-workers are available for calls and which ones are busy or out of the office.
\r\nOther calling features Dialpad offers are visual voicemail, the ability to instantly respond to calls by text message, a \"do not disturb\" setting that automatically sends callers to your voicemail, call recording, call screening, call waiting, and the option to have all of your devices ring simultaneously when a call comes through.
\r\nAdministrative features include virtual attendants and interactive voice response (IVR), call logging, customer greetings and music, call operators, custom abbreviated dialing, single sign-on, dial by name, and customer call routing.
\r\nThe phone system has an executive assistant feature that allows you to assign incoming calls to another employee. Your colleague can then answer the call and take a message or send the call back to you if it is important.
\r\nDialpad has multiple built-in integrations that allow you to access various documents, emails and contacts without ever leaving the Dialpad app. The system integrates with Google's G Suite, Office 365, Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Zapier, Zendesk, Azure, OneLogin and ServiceNow.
\r\nDialpad also gives its customers access to UberConference, which provides audio conference calls, web conferencing and screen sharing. Among the features in UberConference are document sharing, call recording, custom hold music, the ability to dial out to add callers, analytics and call summaries.
\r\nDialpad Talk is a cloud-hosted VoIP business phone system. There is no PBX equipment to install or maintain. All you need is a high-speed internet connection. To ensure the best call quality, Dialpad recommends a high-speed DSL, cable or fiber optic connection with dedicated upload and download bandwidth of 100Kbps for each line you plan to run. Since it's a cloud-hosted system, Dialpad handles all maintenance and upgrades.
\r\nYou can control your entire phone system through the online management portal. Within the portal, you can add and remove users and permissions, add extensions, enable and disable various officewide call settings, assign business hours, manage your integrations, view analytics, set security preferences, and review billing information.
\r\nYour employees can tap into their business phone lines from their mobile or desktop Dialpad app. The desktop app has a built-in softphone so employees can make and receive calls. The system supports some desktop phones, but they must be SIP-capable to connect to the system.
\r\nIn addition to making and receiving voice and video calls, users can tap into their apps to change their individual call settings, set up their integrations and review their own analytics.
\r\nA real standout of Dialpad is its use of artificial intelligence. The VoiceAI technology processes the calls your team is having in real time. With the data it collects, it provides instant call transcriptions. If you use the phrase \"action item\" during a call, the system automatically notes what that action item is and sends it to you in a call summary.
\r\nVoice intelligence is also built into the system. Dialpad analyzes calls as they happen and gives sales reps real-time tips on what to say to potential customers.
\r\nIf you need to host audio or web conferences with more than 10 people, you will have to pay for an upgraded UberConference account. The UberConference Pro plan, which allows 100 participants in a conference, is $15 a month per user when you pay annually, or $20 a month per user when you pay month to month. You can read more about UberConference in our conference call service reviews.
\r\nAnother potential downside is that you don't have access to phone support on the Standard plan. If you have this plan, you can only ask questions online and by live chat. You also only have access to the support team five days a week. Both the Pro and Enterprise plans have 24/7 support and allow you to contact the company by phone.
\r\nWe were happy with the customer service Dialpad provided us. To test the level of support, we contacted the company multiple times by phone and email, posing as a business owner interested in a phone system.
\r\nEach time we reached out to the company, our calls were immediately answered. We never had to wait on hold for long to talk to a representative. Each representative we spoke with was extremely helpful. They took the time to answer our questions in detail. By the end of our calls, we clearly understood how the system works and everything it has to offer.
\r\nWe appreciated that Dialpad's representatives did not pressure us once to sign up for the service. They were all patient and understanding when we said we wouldn't be deciding on their service at that moment. Each representative we spoke to followed up by email with an offer to answer any additional questions we had in the future. Each time we sent a follow-up message, our questions were quickly answered.
\r\nPhone support is only available to Pro and Enterprise plan users. Other users can only reach the support team online. In addition to live support, Dialpad's website has several valuable resources, including user guides, FAQs and videos.
\r\nDialpad is not an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, but it has a respectable B+ rating on the site.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for the right business phone system for your company? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
"},"url":"https://dialpad.com/pricing","docType":"service","title":"Dialpad","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/60aeacdb54d26d970a8b4567/dialpad-logo.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":true,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate-widget","widgetId":"10144","widget":{"id":"10144","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=97&aff_id=1000&source=business-phone-systems&aff_sub3=deal|Dialpad&aff_sub4=revenue|QT&url_id=1","name":"QT Program"}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best Virtual Business Phone System","bullets":["Works with mobile and home phones","Three service plans","Unlimited talking minutes"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Best for Virtual","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":true,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/grasshopper/","review":{"fullReview":"Grasshopper is our choice for the best virtual phone system because it gives businesses the ability to present a professional image at all times without investing in a traditional in-office phone system.
\r\nView all our recommendations for business phone systems on our best picks page.
\r\nBusinesses wanting a virtual phone system don't have the same the requirements as organizations searching for a more traditional solution. With a virtual system, you don't have to worry about the phones it can connect with or how it will be hosted. Those searching for virtual phone systems are looking for a service that lets them look professional to callers for a low cost. They aren't looking for some high-priced solution that has every phone system feature imaginable. Mostly, they want a system to keep them and their remote workers connected under one umbrella.
\r\nGrasshopper serves this purpose well. The service works with mobile and home phones, offers many important features, and includes unlimited minutes. The system, which is easy to set up, is available in three different service plans that vary in price, phone numbers and extensions.
\r\nGrasshopper is available in three service plans, all of which include unlimited minutes and all of the available features. The plans differ in the number of phone numbers and extensions they include.
\r\nHere's a rundown on each plan:
\r\nThere are no contracts with Grasshopper. You pay month to month and can cancel at any time. However, you can save 10 percent on each plan by paying annually. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
\r\nGrasshopper also offers professionally recorded greetings for your automated attendant. You can get a professional recording of up to 250 words for $75.
\r\nSince this is a virtual service, absolutely no equipment or desk phones are needed to use the system. Instead of connecting with desk phones like most traditional phone systems do, Grasshopper's virtual service works in conjunction with mobile and home phones.
\r\nWhen a customer or client calls, the system's automated attendant answers the call and then forwards it to the appropriate employee or department. With this service, employees designate the phone numbers they want their calls forwarded to. This could be a mobile device, a home phone or any other phone of their choosing.
\r\nEmployees have total control over how calls are routed to them. They choose the numbers – up to 15 – they want their calls sent to, in which order those numbers should be rung, how many rings should occur before switching to the next number and when they want calls forwarded to them. For example, they can choose to receive calls 24/7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or only on the weekends.
\r\nWhen employees get calls, they have several options for how to handle them. They can answer the call, send the caller directly to voicemail, or hear the caller's phone number or name to decide if it is someone they want to speak with right away.
\r\nIn addition to each employee having their own extension, employers can create department extensions, such as for sales or customer service. Employers then group workers into the proper department and set those employees' numbers to ring when someone tries to reach their department.
\r\nThe entire system is controlled through an online portal. Each user can access the portal to set the call-forwarding tree. They can designate the numbers they want calls forwarded to and the order in which they will ring.
\r\nGrasshopper includes a number of features that give remote employees the tools many traditional in-office phone systems provide. Some of the more valuable features are automated attendants, hold music, a name directory, call screening, voicemail-to-email, voicemail transcription, text messaging and online faxing. However, Grasshopper doesn't offer the wide range of features that a traditional phone system does, such as call recording or integrations with programs like Microsoft Office.
\r\nThe Grasshopper mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, allows employees to make and receive calls from their business lines, check voicemail messages, see their faxes and call history, set up push notifications for missed calls and messages, and change call-forwarding options. Additionally, the iOS app lets users sign faxes and PDF email attachments with their finger.
\r\nGrasshopper also has a desktop app that features a softphone. With the softphone, you can make and receive business calls and text messages from your business line.
\r\nGrasshopper allows you to choose local, toll-free or custom vanity numbers. Established businesses that don't want a new number can have their current number transferred to the Grasshopper system. The number-porting process usually takes 7-10 business days for a local number and 3-5 days for a toll-free number.
\r\nGrasshopper doesn't offer a traditional phone system. If your business outgrows this service, you will have to look for a new provider. Some phone system providers offer both types of service, which makes switching from a virtual system to a traditional system a smooth and easy process.
\r\nGrasshopper has a complete conference calling service built into its phone system. With the conference bridge feature, which is included for no extra charge, each employee has the ability to hold their own conference call with up to 10 callers – or unlimited participants on the Small Business plan. If your company is looking to host conference calls with more callers than your Grasshopper plan provides for, you will need to use a conference calling service. These services allow hundreds, sometimes thousands of people on each call. You can find more information on these services on our conference call services best picks page.
\r\nWe were pleased with the customer service Grasshopper provided. To test the quality of support, we contacted Grasshopper multiple times, posing as a business owner interested in a virtual phone system.
\r\nEach time we reached out, a helpful representative immediately answered our call. They always took as much time as needed to answer our questions and never tried to rush us off the phone. There were times when we felt they could have provided more thorough answers to our questions, but by the end of each call, we had a good understanding of how the system works, the features it offers and the pricing options.
\r\nWe were a little disappointed that the representatives never offered to follow up with an email, as that would have given us contact information for the representative we spoke with in case we had more questions. However, when we did have additional questions, our follow-up calls were always answered immediately.
\r\nThe Grasshopper support team is available by phone 24/7. In addition, you can request help via online form. Grasshopper's website also offers a comprehensive user guide that walks you through each aspect of the system.
"},"url":"https://grasshopper.com/","docType":"service","title":"Grasshopper","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5c9e83787b4374702a8b4582/grasshopper3.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10144","widget":{"id":"10144","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://grasshopper.com/","name":""}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best Business Phone System for Small Businesses","bullets":["99.999% uptime","More than 50 standard features","24/7 customer support"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Best for Small Businesses","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":true,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/8x8/","review":{"fullReview":"8x8 is our choice as both the best phone system for small businesses and the best video conference service in a unified communications system. It has everything small businesses look for in a unified communications system at a price that is hard to beat. What really sets 8x8 apart is its starting price, which is lower than all of its competitors' starting prices. The ability to use this service for as low as $12 a month per user will appeal to many small businesses and is something not many other business phone systems can offer.
\r\nIn addition to its affordable price tag, the system is easy to use and includes all of the calling, mobile and conferencing features a small business needs. Each license includes video conferencing capabilities that give each employee the ability to host meetings with up to 50 people at a time.
\r\nView all our recommendations for business phone systems on our best picks page. If you are in need of video conferencing services, you can see all of our recommendations here.
\r\nThe pricing options for 8x8 are a big part of its appeal. Its Express package is built with small businesses in mind and has one of the lowest per-user costs we found in our research of business phone systems. Such a low cost gives small businesses the ability to use a top-notch phone platform without breaking their bottom line. The other plans allow you to add on services as your business grows, so if you outgrow the Express plan, you can easily upgrade to one of the other options.
\r\n8x8 offers three small business service plans that differ in the included features and prices. However, all 8x8 plans include unlimited calling, text messaging, instant messaging, an auto-attendant, voicemail, cloud recording, team messaging, mobile and desktop apps, and calendar integrations with G Suite and Office 365.
\r\nEach plan also includes audio and video conferencing that allows for meetings with up to 50 people at a time, or up to 100 if you want to stream the conference over YouTube.
\r\nHere's a breakdown of the plans:
\r\nIn case your business requires contact center services, 8x8 offers three additional plans for that service, which range from $115 to $175 a month per user.
\r\nCustomers sign at least a 12-month contract. Fees are paid monthly, not annually.
\r\n8x8 offers all of the calling, collaboration and mobile tools small businesses find most valuable. The system has more than 50 standard features and more than 20 optional features.
\r\nThe features small businesses will find particularly useful are unlimited calling, texting and faxing, visual voicemail, call recording, music on hold, ring groups, call monitoring, three-way calling, caller ID, call blocking, and call queues.
\r\nThe system integrates with a number of programs your small businesses might already use, including Office 365, Microsoft Outlook, G Suite, Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk and Zoho. 8x8 offers more than 25 built-in integrations in all, which is equal to or more than the integration selections many of its competitors offer.
\r\nYour employees can use the 8x8 mobile app to tap into their business phone lines from their smartphones. With the app, which is available on iOS and Android devices, employees can make and receive calls from their business lines, chat with other employees, check their voicemail, see the status of co-workers, join and collaborate in online meetings, and view their online faxes.
\r\nIn addition to the mobile app, 8x8 has its own desktop app that lets employees access the phone system straight from their computers. Not all business phone systems provide desktop apps.
\r\n8x8 has a conference calling service built into its phone system service. With the conference bridge feature, which is included at no extra charge, each employee can hold their own conference call with up to 15 callers.
\r\nEach user license includes video conferencing services. This means all users can host HD video meetings with up to 50 participants whenever they choose. What's nice is that all of the meeting's attendants are visible on the other users' screens. Other video conferencing services we evaluated limit the number of video feeds that can be on during a video conference.
\r\nYou have the option to expand a conference's reach by streaming it over your YouTube channel. With this approach, which turns your conference into a webinar of sorts, up to 100 people can attend your meeting. However, in this scenario, not everyone can have their camera turned on.
\r\n8x8's video conferencing system has a variety of features, including both HD video and audio for crystal-clear picture and sound. One of the most useful tools is screen sharing. The meeting host can share their desktop with attendees, which is helpful when they're giving a presentation, highlighting information in a document or explaining how to use the software.
\r\nThis video conferencing service also includes meeting recording options, integrated scheduling with Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar, the ability to add co-hosts to a meeting, and team and private chat tools.
\r\nYou can start or join an 8x8 video conference from a computer or mobile device, and you can add video conferencing equipment to a conference room to participate in meetings that way.
\r\nIf attendees can't join a meeting over video feed, dial-in numbers allow them to connect by phone. While they won't be able to see what is going on, they can still hear the audio and join in the conversation.
\r\nAll of 8x8's service plans include video conferencing; there is no additional cost for these services. You can find more information on these services on our video conferencing best picks page.
\r\nSeveral factors make this an excellent phone system for small businesses. Most importantly, you don't need in-house IT staff to install it, because 8x8 is a cloud-hosted VoIP system that doesn't require any special equipment or wiring. 8x8 also handles all of the maintenance and upgrades.
\r\nSince the system runs on a data connection, all you have to do to use 8x8 is properly configure your routers and ensure your business has the necessary bandwidth to handle the volume of calls you expect. With that, it's as simple as plugging phones into an Ethernet port to start making and receiving calls.
\r\nFor established businesses, 8x8 allows you to bring your current phone number with you to your new phone system for no additional cost. This process typically takes at least eight days for a local number and up to five weeks for a toll-free number.
\r\nThe entire system is controlled through an online portal. Admins log in to the portal (which 8x8 calls the Configuration Manager) to assign employee telephone numbers and extensions, set up the automated attendant, and create ring groups. All of this can be completed on a self-service basis; it doesn't require the assistance of an IT team.
\r\nEmployees can also log in to the portal to manage their phone features from anywhere. From the portal, they can access the softphone, check their voicemail, view a company directory, message other users, see which of their co-workers are free and which are busy, and conduct online video conferences. They can also download a desktop app to access the system.
\r\nTo get businesses up and running smoothly with the system, 8x8 provides one free hour of training from a technical installation specialist. More hands-on and onsite training is available at an extra cost.
\r\n8x8 is an extremely reliable service. It has a 99.999% uptime, meaning the system is only down for a few minutes each year. In addition to its high uptime, 8x8 has 15 data centers worldwide. This built-in redundancy allows the company to easily move data around should one of its centers go down. All of the data centers are SSAE 16 audited.
\r\nThere aren't many negatives with 8x8, but one minor downside is the limit on conference calling participants. If your company is looking to host conference calls with more than 15 callers, you will need to use a dedicated conference calling service. These services allow for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people on each call. You can find more information on these services on our conference call services best picks page. However, 8x8 does offers video conferencing with higher participant limits, so you can always use that instead of a traditional conference call.
\r\n8x8 provides some of the best customer service we encountered during our research. We contacted the company multiple times by phone, email and live chat, posing as a small business owner interested in phone systems.
\r\nOur calls were all immediately answered, and the representatives we spoke with were extremely helpful. They answered our questions thoroughly and left us with a clear understanding of what the service offers and how it works. We never felt pressured to make an immediate decision on the service. Not all of the services we evaluated operated in that manner over the phone.
\r\nWe followed up with some representatives by email. Each time, they quickly answered our messages, giving us the information we were looking for. In addition, they always offered to host a call with us to discuss the issue in more detail and answer any other questions we had.
\r\nWe also tested 8x8's live chat support. While you are initially greeted by a chatbot that tries to answer your question first, you can request to connect with a live person. When we did so, our questions were answered right away.
\r\nCustomer support is available by phone, email, chat and the 8x8 website. Additionally, the website features a number of valuable resources, including whitepapers, infographics, data sheets, videos and webinars.
\r\n\r\n
Editor's note: Looking for the right video conference service for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
\r\n"},"url":"https://www.8x8.com/","docType":"service","title":"8x8","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5de962945a215ec0708b4569/8x8lr.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10144","widget":{"id":"10144","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.8x8.com/","name":""}}}}]}}},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"QA2 Complete Guide to Building a Sales Process","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/qa2-complete-guide-to-building-a-sales-process/","slug":"qa2-complete-guide-to-building-a-sales-process","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/607/74c9c54d26d8a118b4568/1500-0-","dek":"Without an effective sales process, your company's sales team is unlikely to reach its true potential.","lastModified":"2021-04-14T07:00:00Z","published":"2021-04-13T07:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Your Guide to Creating a Small Business Marketing Plan","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/sample-marketing-plan-outline-and-template/","slug":"sample-marketing-plan-outline-and-template","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5f3/3e1765a215eb62d8b4567/1500-0-","dek":"Follow these templates and guidelines to get started on creating your business's marketing plan.","lastModified":"2020-08-12T12:28:00Z","published":"2018-03-02T13:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Choosing the Best Online Reputation Management Service","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/choosing-online-reputation-management/","slug":"choosing-online-reputation-management","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5f6/e4ae15a215e60358b4567/1500-0-","dek":"Is your business's reputation failing? Here's how to choose the best online reputation management service to save your brand.","lastModified":"2020-09-28T11:35:00Z","published":"2017-08-02T07:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"The Power of Facebook Messenger as a Marketing Tool","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/facebook-messenger-marketing-tool/","slug":"facebook-messenger-marketing-tool","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5a0/b856b92a3a40c728b4569/1500-0-","dek":"Want to use Facebook in your marketing strategy? Here's how to turn its Messenger feature into a marketing tool.","lastModified":"2020-10-05T11:25:00Z","published":"2017-11-14T08:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"3 Misconceptions About Account-Based Marketing","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/account-based-marketing-benefits/","slug":"account-based-marketing-benefits","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e9/f0dc59c658af3688b4575/1500-0-","dek":"Don't fear changing your marketing strategy. Learn how ABM can help you.","lastModified":"2020-04-22T16:51:00Z","published":"2018-06-18T15:22:00Z","sponsored":true},{"title":"15 Features to Look for in a CRM","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/11-features-to-look-for-in-crm/","slug":"11-features-to-look-for-in-crm","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d2/513fc9c658a10358b45ac/1500-0-","dek":"Here are the top qualities to consider when selecting CRM software for your business.","lastModified":"2020-11-03T14:00:00Z","published":"2018-03-26T07:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Create an Effective Survey","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/build-a-better-survey/","slug":"build-a-better-survey","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d5/9a36d9c658ab24a8b4569/1500-0-","dek":"Don't spend hours building customer surveys that no one cares about. Here’s what you’re doing wrong.","lastModified":"2019-08-19T20:00:00Z","published":"2019-08-19T20:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"11 Steps to Engaging Your Audience on Social Media","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/5-steps-to-engage-your-audience-on-social-media/","slug":"5-steps-to-engage-your-audience-on-social-media","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e6/fe9167b4374f8678b4572/1500-0-","dek":"These marketing tools and tips can help you make the most of social media.","lastModified":"2020-03-16T21:00:00Z","published":"2017-12-06T08:00:00Z","sponsored":true},{"title":"Renewals Dropping Off? Rethink Your Retention Strategy with These Tips","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/customer-retention-strategy-tips/","slug":"customer-retention-strategy-tips","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ae/863d092a3a4fa7e8b45a0/1500-0-","dek":"Use the power of persuasion to reinforce customers' decisions and keep them satisfied.","lastModified":"2018-04-30T16:18:00Z","published":"2018-04-30T16:18:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Judge the Success of a Marketing Campaign","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/judge-marketing-campaign-success/","slug":"judge-marketing-campaign-success","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ed/52d2b9c658ae14a8b4578/1500-0-","dek":"Whether your campaign is analog or digital, there are ways to measure its success.","lastModified":"2020-06-01T19:05:00Z","published":"2018-04-24T19:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"7 Questions to Ask Before Connecting With Your Audience on Social Media.","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/questions-before-connecting-audience-on-social-media/","slug":"questions-before-connecting-audience-on-social-media","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5f3/2b6459c658add188b4567/1500-0-","dek":"Before competing with other businesses on social media, ask yourself these questions to help you craft a brand voice that sells.","lastModified":"2020-08-11T20:41:00Z","published":"2020-08-11T20:41:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Reach Your Customers Through Data-Driven Marketing Campaigns","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/reaching-customers-through-data-driven-marketing/","slug":"reaching-customers-through-data-driven-marketing","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5b7/f3f3b92a3a446278b4571/1500-0-","dek":"Follow these steps to learn more about your customers and connect with them.","lastModified":"2018-08-23T07:00:00Z","published":"2018-08-23T07:00:00Z","sponsored":false}],"relatedReviews":[],"relatedSponsoredArticles":null}},"pageContext":{"displayModified":"2021-07-29T00:15:00.000Z","template":"long_form","title":"Complete Guide to Building a Sales Process","meta":{"robots":"index, follow"},"docType":"articles","slug":"sales-process","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/sales-process/","skipTOC":true}},"staticQueryHashes":[]}