Business relationships are a two-way street. I have talked a little before about the questions that you should be asking a hosted VoIP provider before making any decisions regarding their solution, but it’s equally important that those providers are asking the right questions of you in return. Spouting scripted answers is one thing, but has that sales advocate done enough to research your business needs and correctly match you to the perfect product? It’s essential that you have confidence in the hosted VoIP provider that will be installing and maintaining your new VoIP solution, and that assuredness can’t be taken for granted; it has to be earned on their part. Has that company really done enough to prove that they have what it takes to improve your business?
5 Questions that your Hosted VoIP Provider should be asking before installing your software Click To TweetListen out for any of the following questions during your next sales call. Is the sales advocate really listening to you, and doing their best to address your Hosted PBX needs?
“What are you looking to get out of your telephone system?”
Yes, hearing about the amazing benefits of a telephony system can be incredibly useful, but has the person at the other end of the phone taken the time to listen to what you need? This should be one of the very first things that they ask you during that initial consultation. After all, the benefits that sell their product to one company may not be at the top of your list of priorities, and attempting to push them will waste everybody’s time.
“What is your budget?”
If a sales advocate spends in excess of thirty minutes telling you about their amazing product, and you fall deeply in love with it, finding out at the very end of the call that it’s way out of your price range is going to be heartbreaking for you, and frustrating for them. Besides, it’s simple, good housekeeping to get the matter of money out there from the beginning.
“What special features would assist your business?”
If they want to be the right hosted VoIP provider for you that sales person needs to match their software with your business needs, and so this acts as a natural follow-on from the issue of what you need from their services. Are there any added extras that would make their communication system really worth having, or generic features that you couldn’t live without? Now is the time for that sales advocate to find out.
“What additional systems are you currently using?”
Finding out whether their technology is compatible, and complementary, to your current systems should be another question that rolls quite easily of that sales associate’s tongue. It’s essential that you hardware and software complement one another well, and it’s also important to ensure you won’t hit any bumps in the road. This kind of questioning and answering will save everybody a great deal of stress later on.
“Is there anything else I can do to help today?”
Yes, the dreaded closing question. To some it’s a sign of awkward pauses and the, “oh, I don’t think so…” that will follow, but for others it’s a fantastic opportunity to expand upon previous answers, or to bring up an issue that’s not yet been discussed. A good sales advocate will be keen to ensure that they’ve touched every base with you, and to give you an opportunity to elaborate. If the person at the other end of the phone feels that your conversation has come to a natural conclusion while you still have so much more to say, it’s time to keep looking.
So, there you have it. Finding the right hosted VoIP provider, and thus the right VoIP solution, for you is about so much more than ticking a few boxes; it’s about building a relationship, earning and commanding respect, and getting onto that clichéd ‘same page’ within a few minutes of that first communication.
For the opportunity to answer our team’s questions please call us today, or see how we can help you via email.
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