5 things you need to know before making the switch to Microsoft Teams Phone

Microsoft Teams Phone is a powerful collaboration and communication tool, making using Teams easier and more flexible than ever. Many companies want the benefits of an easy-to-manage platform that flexibly supports the complexity of their existing operations, including PSTN calling. But before you dive in, what are the most important things you need to know?

Hybrid setups and fully remote workers need platforms that support their communications so that your business can still run smoothly, even with distributed teams. Microsoft Teams Phone is a great way to make that possible, but like any platform, you need to make some important considerations before making an investment. Lucky for you, here are the five things you need to know before you get started.

The 5 things you need to know before making the switch to Microsoft Teams Phone

We line these up nice and easy – so you can easily run through them and come back when you need to check that your ducks are in a row.

1. Choose the right license

There are several M365 licenses available and you can choose an E3 license with a specific Teams Phone subscription or go directly to E5. Remember that the E3 option is only a good choice if you have a limited number of users who need PTSN connectivity.

2. Choose the right connectivity plan

When it comes to choosing your connectivity plan, base that decision on your usage specific to each country in which you operate:

• Calling Plan is built for small businesses with a limited number of users.
• Operator Connect is in most cases the best balance of cost and capability. However, it is not available everywhere and has limited configuration options.
• Direct routing is the best choice for specific configurations with many users. You can manage it yourself or have direct routing managed by a Session Border Controllers (SBC) provider. Some SBC providers are also PSTN providers, so in this case you have a potential alternative to Operator Connect.
• If you are part of a large enterprise with a comprehensive IT architecture, a combination of all three, depending on country and usage, is probably the best option.

3. Standardize your devices

Be sure to standardize your devices to keep costs down and streamline management practices. Certified IP phone devices allow you to track health data in Teams, so these are also a great investment.

4. Focus on training

Your end users won’t get enough value from your investment if you don’t train them. Show them how to use Teams Phone, best practices and where to go if they need support.

5. Never forget service quality

Teams Phone is generally used for customer relations. That’s acquisition, retention, upsell, pitch – you name it. It is a crucial part of your business, so you need to make sure that the service quality is always high.

Source: martellotech