Business phone systems are a boon to modern businesses, especially small businesses. They reduce costs make it easier to handle calls, and are easy to install. With falling prices, business phone systems have come within reach of most small businesses. Investing in a good business phone system ensures greater productivity and efficiency, and helps manage customer relationships and relationships with vendors, as well as people working within the organization.

Depending on the features and technology used, business phone systems are of three kinds, KSU less, Key Systems and Private Branch Exchange (PBX). A fourth type is a Hybrid of two systems. This article focuses on the different types of business phone systems and their uses.

KSU less Business Phone System:

KSU Less Business Phone systems are meant for companies that employ less than 10 people. However, this supposition is based simply on the number of extensions – KSU less systems have less than 10 extensions. However, even if you have 10 employees, your business may need a business phone system with more advanced features that are available only in PBX systems.

KSU Less systems are less expensive than PBX or Key systems, which explain its popularity. However, you get basic features that are needed for a proper business phone system. Here are some advantages of using KSU Less systems.

1) Price: When it comes to cost effectiveness, KSU Less phones emerge clear winner over PBX and Key systems.

2) Installation: KSU fewer phones are easy to install.

3) Unplugging: If you need to move your business to another location, you can unplug KSU less systems very easily.

PBX Business Phone Systems:

PBX Systems have more than 40 extensions; and are generally used in organizations with 40 or less employees. In recent years, the prices of PBX systems have come down considerably, allowing modest sized or small businesses to acquire them. In addition, the systems have become more compact, and can be accommodated on a desk.

PBX systems have many features not available in KSU Less phones, which is why expanding businesses switch to this system.

Key System:

Key systems have anywhere between 5 and 40 extensions. A central control box helps monitor the system. They are not as flexible as PBX systems, but have certain useful features that make it useful for some businesses.

PBX and Key System Hybrids:

Many PBX systems now incorporate features of key systems, and vice versa. Many systems can function as either PBX or Key system once particular software is installed.

All four types of business phone systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. You need to have a very clear idea of your business needs before you invest in a particular system. If you need to know more about the latest business phone systems available in the market, and which one is the best for your business, you can consult a small business expert.

Ready for a really new New Year? Resolve to step outside your comfort zone, listen to intuition and get ready to grow your business as never before.

(1) I will claim my bragging rights.

No more needless apologies or excuses. No more “This is probably a dumb question, but...” or, “I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but...”

(2) I will step outside my comfort zone with at least one marketing program.

I’m considering direct mail, google adwords...and maybe podcasting. Forecast: a wild ride head.

(3) I will listen to my intuition more, even when I’m learning from the most brilliant, wealthy, powerful gurus on the planet.

Everyone is wrong every so often. Or they’re wrong for your particular situation. Or they’re having a bad day.

Here’s an exercise. Review your strategies. What’s worked best to bring clients, money, or success? I bet each one has a touch of serendipity and/or your own intuition. See http://www.cathygoodwin.com/intuitionbook.html

(4) I will take at least one piece of business advice that I resist (maybe it seems counter-intuitive) and see what happens.

When I first learned about copywriting, I resisted the idea of promoting myself. On a smaller but significant scale, I resisted buying a book of phrases for copywriting and using a headline generator. Now I can’t imagine life without both those tools: tiny steps with huge impact.

Of course, if someone suggests you sell all your possessions and move to a tent in Idaho, I would say no. Sometimes you’re resisting for a really, really good reason.

(5) I will honor what I need to stay energized and motivated.

What do you need for yourself? Music? Exercise? Live performances? Movies?

What chunks of time work best? I find if I steal a whole day or a full afternoon, I return energized and ready to take on most any challenge. The dog goes to daycare. She returns ready for a long, long nap, which frees me up to act on those challenges: a true win-win.

Some of my colleagues and friends prefer to work non-stop for weeks and even months, then take a complete vacation.

Make use of advanced business phones for your business needs and feel the difference. Advanced phone systems like CTI are ideal for call centers and other companies that depend heavily on phones for business. This article discusses some of the latest features of business phones for call centers.

Call Center Business Phones: Features

Business phones for call centers have many features to choose from. You can opt for call forwarding, integrated software, smart messaging, and call recoding and other features. Listed here are some important features of business phones for call centers.

1) Call Forwarding

Call forwarding helps employees by redirecting calls to the concerned employee, wherever he or she may be.

2) Computer Telephony

This feature allows you to integrate computer systems with the telephone network. Incoming and outbound calls can be handled better through this integrated technology. If you want to install CT systems, you need to buy them separate from telephone systems. You also need to select the software you require.

3) Auto Attendant

This feature creates automatic messages to answer phone calls. The callers are redirected to the appropriate slot or employee through a series of questions and menu options. Auto attendant can handle multiple calls simultaneously.

4) Dialing Preview

Managers can view the information related to the call, and decide whether to make the call or not, before making the call.

5) Progressive Dialing

The call manager can view call information while the call is in progress.

6) Predictive Dialing

An Automated system dials the numbers and passes on the information only after it gets a positive response.

7) Smart Message Dialing

This dialing is used for placing calls, and for playing prerecorded messages to callers.

8) Call Monitoring

Call center managers and supervisors can record and monitor the calls that have been made, while administrators can listen in and teach correct methods of pronunciation to employees.

9) Automated Dialing

Calls can be made without manually dialing the number, saving time.

CTI applications are a boon for call centers, since they cut down on time spent on repetitive manual dialing and use intelligent menu prompts to get callers to the right place, instead of having an employee attend to all their calls. While low cost phone systems need a separate CT system to be installed, high-end phones have embedded CT compatible technology.

With business telephone systems for call center available in many price ranges and designs, you can choose one that suits your business the best. If you need help in selecting and installing a good business telephone system in your call center, you can consult a business advisor.

Starting out with a new business, being your own boss, and deciding how the company is run it can all be very exhilarating. Till the time the question of funds crop up. While loans and venture capital are still the most popular ways of funding a new business, you can also consider applying for grants.

What is a Business Grant?

A business grant is provided to a business or a proposed business after it fulfills certain criteria. It works very much like a commercial loan, except for the fact that you need not repay a business grant. Because the business grant does not burden you with issues like repayment and interest, the competition for these grants is fierce. They are harder to get than loans, and take longer to sanction, since a committee scrutinizes your application first.

Who Offer Business Grants?

Private organizations, business groups and government institutions provide business grants. In the US, though the federal government does not provide direct grants for small businesses, state government and many private organizations help out new businesses by providing grants.

Who is Eligible to Receive Business Grants?

For small business grants, almost all kinds of privately run businesses with less than 30 employees qualify. Whether you run a day care center, photocopying business, or retail from home, you can apply for a small business grant. The only eligibility criteria are that you must be above 18 years of age and a US citizen or resident. You need to submit a well-written business proposal in order to get a grant sanctioned, since you have to convince the grants committee about the feasibility of your business.

How Much Is The Grant Amount?

Typically, a business grant for new businesses, especially small businesses, can fall anywhere from $500 to $50,000. If you are starting a new business, you can get more.

How to Write a Business Proposal:

A business proposal is crucial if you want to avail the benefits of a grant. A business proposal details how to plan to run, organize and get fund for your business. You need to mention how much money you will need, how much you hope to earn through your business, what kind of business model you will follow, how many people you will employ, insurance policy, business failure planning and other information. If you have no prior experience in running a business, then you may want to consult a small business advisor while drafting a business proposal.

Entrepreneurship is vital to the economy of any nation, which is why governments and private institutions provide grants to dedicated people who want to make a success of their new business. If you are keen on making your new business a hit, then there should be no problems in getting your grant application approved. In order to locate a suitable grant, and for drafting a business plan, you may need to consider a small business expert who can guide you.

B2B exchange is a website, which facilitates companies to buy from and sell to each other using a common technological platform. These exchanges also offer other services such as logistics management and payments. B2B exchange is popular as it ensures transparent and efficient transactions, businesses can find the perfect market for their products with the best price establishing mechanism. Business benefit greatly as information is easily accessible and current as well as offering the participating business global reach. Using B2B cuts down operating costs greatly, reduces inventory as well improve supply chain integration.

Types of B2B Exchanges:

There are several types of B2B exchange such as auctions {forward/reverse}, bulletin boards, independent exchanges, private exchanges, aggregators etc. example of an auction based B2B exchange is the successful eBay. The least popular of these is the bulletin board, as it is hard to make money from them; aggregators assemble buyers and negotiate with sellers. These exchanges can be public or private B2B exchanges. Investors or consortia usually own public B2B exchanges and these exchanges have a set of directors to operate the exchange. These exchanges are usually open to other businesses for a small fee. Private exchanges are owned and run by a single company to do business with their established partners. B2B exchanges offer a platform for buyers as well as sellers to interact and conduct business. They have unique digital ids for all participating businesses and effectively use identification and authentication technology to operate successfully. They are helpful in streamlining business processes and ensuing efficient inventory management, help businesses serve customers better, offer a low cost and easy to operate sales channel for participating businesses and drastically reduce paperwork.

Some B2b exchanges are industry specific, some are open to those within a geographical location only and some exchanges focus more on supplying business tools to participating businesses. It is imperative that the exchange offers a detailed product catalogue that conforms to industry standards, facilitate product search within the exchange, have a current directory of members, offer tools to add products and edit contents easily and offer to promote and advertise products effectively. They should have a large participating member base, should be neutral and more flexible. Businesses tend to favor private exchanges to public exchanges as they feel private exchanges are more trustworthy and dependable. Private exchanges are preferred because of the security it offers to the participating businesses.

B2B exchanges are not as popular as they were expected to be because of the immense changes needed to the infrastructure as well as concerns regarding security of information and the biggest hurdle is the antitrust challenges that may arise. Thus, B2b exchanges have evolved and here to stay, they will develop further only if businesses can comprehend the cost savings and the numerous advantages offered by participating in a B2B exchange.