Why do you need a business phone line?
Every business knows the importance of being connected to the outside world. But have you ever stopped to consider whether your business phone line services are suited to your needs?
It’s easy to dismiss business landlines as outdated, not least because most of us carry a smartphone everywhere we go. But a landline is as essential now as it ever was - not only does it provide a reliable line of communication for employees, customers, clients and suppliers, but having a landline number on your website and marketing material can help improve the trust, image and authority of your business.
If you’re looking to install a new landline at your business premises, or thinking of switching landline provider, it might be worth looking into business VoIP instead. This is because the analogue phone system (the old traditional copper wires that have been in use for decades) will be switched off across the UK by 2025. A VoIP system will provide a cutting-edge and future proof alternative to your landline.
A quick call to our tech-enabled team is all it takes to check out the current business phone line options and find the best deal for your business. Give us a call or enter your postcode and we’ll get right back to you.
What’s the difference between a business landline and a home landline?
Do you really need a dedicated business phone line, or will a domestic phone line do the trick? A phone line is a phone line, after all. The reality is that a dedicated business landline is often more cost-effective and will offer several additional services that can really help your business.
Unlike domestic lines, business phone lines offer conference calling, call forwarding, and multiple lines from the same address. Priority support is also given to business users, and a business phone contract might also offer better deals on inclusive minutes, including international calls.
What business phone line providers do Bionic work with?
At Bionic, we work with business phone providers who offer a wide range of products to meet the needs and budget of any business. Our trusted panel of suppliers also guarantee great service alongside competitive rates, to help keep your business connected.
Here are the broadband suppliers we work with:
- Daisy – Daisy offers a range of phone line plans to suit businesses of all sizes. Daisy Duo offers free landline to mobile calls, Daisy Phoneline + is a VoIP system that allows you to keep your existing business number, make calls from multiple devices wherever you are, and manage your clients from an easy-to-use online hub. Daisy also offers a hosted VoIP system.
- Focus - Focus is one of the UK’s largest independent providers of fixed-line products. Its range of competitive tariffs are designed to help deliver cost savings and great service to your business. Its bespoke business phone packages offer low leased line rental costs, free reports and itemisation, 24/7 fault reporting, and a dedicated account manager. They are also specialist in cloud voice services such as VoIP.
- BT - The UK’s biggest phone provider offers a range of business phone line packages to appeal to all budgets. 24/7 customer support is included as standard, as are features such as BT Answer 1571, and BT last-caller 1471. You can also add a caller display for free. BT Featureline offers a range of additional features, such as call diversion, ring back when free, and many more. BT also offers business VoIP solutions.
Should you bundle your business phone line and broadband?
Business phone and broadband services are often sold together as a joint product, known as a ‘bundle’.
It’s worth considering one of these packages, as they could be more cost-effective and convenient than getting separate deals for your landline and internet connections - you’ll only have one connectivity bill to look out for each month, which should make it easier to keep track of your monthly expenses.
When comparing business phone and broadband packages, you need to make sure the deal you sign up to only includes features that are relevant to your business and its needs. The tech-enabled experts at Bionic can explain what each supplier offers to help you get rid of any unnecessary extras.
If you're not sure which business phone line provider is best for you, or which landline features you need, our tech-enabled experts are also on hand to talk through all the available options to find you the best business phone line package. Just enter your postcode or call us to get in touch.
Things to consider when choosing a business phone line provider
Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a business phone line provider:
Do you have enough phone lines to manage the volume of calls your business handles?
If your business is taking an increasing number of phone calls, installing multiple phone lines could help spread the workload and increase productivity. It might also be worth looking into a multi-line phone system that directs multiple lines to a single device, so you can screen and transfer incoming calls to the right contact, quickly and easily.
Are you on the most cost-effective call plan?
If your business is being hit with high phone bills, switching to a more cost-effective call plan can help cut your overheads. Speak to our connectivity experts to find a call plan that suits the needs of your business and see if you could save money with a plan that offers unlimited calls.
Should you cap the cost of your business phone calls?
Capping the costs of your calls is another option you should consider, especially if you’re on a tight budget and need to reduce the risk of your bills unexpectedly soaring.
On the other hand, an unlimited calls package might work best, as this allows you to make as many calls as you need at certain times of the day, for no extra cost. If you want to cap specific costs - international calls, for instance - you'll need to make sure this is specified in any deal you sign up to, so bear this in mind when you're considering a package that's right for your business.