One of the most important factors in the health and success of any business is making sure that your customers know how to get ahold of you. After all, it's a highly competitive world out there for any business, and your customers are busy people. They're not going to spend a lot of time trying to track your company down, they'll just take their business elsewhere.
That's one of the reasons it can be stressful to contemplate changing your business phone service. Even in this digital age, customers still need to be able to call in, and you may've had the same phone number for years. Nobody wants to change their number and risk their customers not being able to reach them. If a customer calls and finds that your number is no longer in service, chances are they'll assume that you've gone out of business, and that's not good for anyone.
Fortunately, transitioning your business to hosted VoIP phone service has never been quicker, easier, or smoother, and regulations allow you to keep your existing phone number, even when you switch service providers. So there's never been a better time to make the switch to VoIP phone service than right now! Hosted VoIP can provide you with all the services and amenities that you've come to expect, plus improved reliability, call quality, and customer service. But even though switching to hosted VoIP is straightforward and hassle-free, there are still a few things to keep in mind to help make sure that the transition is as smooth as possible, and ensure that your customers can stay in touch with you.
When you decide to make the switch to a new provider, ask your current provider for a copy of your Customer Service Record (CSR). That will provide you with all of the necessary demographic information that your new provider will need to set up your account so that you avoid delays or rejections.
Allow at least two weeks for the processing of the port. During this time, your service will still be active on your old phone system. The Hosted VoIP phones will be configured and installed prior to the changeover. When the port occurs, the service will be live on the new phones within minutes.
If you have a DSL circuit attached to the number that you're porting over, you'll need to get it re-provisioned during the transition or your DSL will go away when the number ports. It's a simple enough process, but one that can cause big problems if it's not taken care of, so ask your service provider about it when you contact them.
Once the port is complete contact your old carrier and make sure that any numbers that you no longer need are cancelled, so you don't end up with bills down the road for services that you weren't using.
At sipVine, we know the importance of good communications to business, and that's why, when you call us, you'll always get the very best in personalized service. If your business is ready to transition to hosted VoIP phone service, give us a call today, and we'll help you get the ball rolling!
About the author: Mark Greim is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at sipVine, a provider of hosted VoIP phone systems and services. Mark has extensive experience working for start-up or entrepreneurial organizations and has a passion for affordable, reliable, and purposeful technology solutions in those environments.
