We’ve covered the benefits and advantages of VoIP plenty of times on this blog. We’ve gone over the different features a hosted PBX business phone system brings to your business. We’ve even given you an inside look at the way IP phones work. Today, instead of giving you even more reasons to switch to VoIP, we decided to create a simple guide for how the process works once you’ve decided to switch. The transition can be smooth and painless, if you know the proper steps to take in a timely manner. So we’re going to help you out by providing a step-by-step checklist of how switching your business phone system to a hosted PBX works.
#1 – Letter of Authorization
Once you select a new provider, the new provider will require you to complete a Letter of Authorization, LoA, which will give them access to your telephone numbers.
#2 – Customer Service Record
The new provider will use this LoA to pull a CSR (Customer Service Record), to list your telephone numbers currently with the losing service provider.
#3 – Schedule Port Request
Once you verify which numbers you want to keep, the new service provider will initiate a request to port your numbers to their phone switch.
#4 – Firm Order Commit
You will be given a FOC, Firm Order Commit, date, which will be the official date, and time you switch to your new service provider.
#5 – Call Flow Configuration
The new service provider will ask you to make an appointment with an on-boarding specialist. This individual will ask you about all the vital information that needs to be configured into your phones: user names, phone numbers, call routing, voice mail setup, etc. This data will be used to pre-populate the system with your information.
#6 – Installation of Phones
The hosted phones will be delivered to you so that you can place them accordingly. They will already be set up with all the configurations you requested in step 5, so all you have to worry about is plugging them in.
#7 – Number Porting
On the day of porting, the new service provider will approve the port and calls will start flowing in to your new hosted system.
#8 – Disconnect the Old Equipment
Get rid of that clunky old equipment and enjoy your new hosted phone system. It’s as simple as that!
The post Quick Guide: Steps to Switching your Business Phone System to VoIP appeared first on ActivePBX | Phone Systems > Evolved.