Business Digest: Turnkey or Custom Telecom Solutions? A Review by Phone Experts TelcoDepot.com
Online, June 18, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Turnkey solutions need no introduction - expert-assembled one-size-fits-all solutions that simply require you to plug in and enjoy. They are great at saving time and reducing hassle as well as ancillary costs - but are they really cheaper in the end? Are they optimized for your business? Should you be considering custom solutions instead? This Business Digest review provides answers to these questions and a unique professional perspective to guide new phone shoppers.
About this review:
This review is supported with advice from the phone system experts at TelcoDepot.com. TelcoDepot.com is a provider of VoIP services (VoIP phones, VoIP gateways, VoIP service and more) and business telephone system equipment as well as general telephony services including installations, cabling, networking and others.
From the TelcoDepot.com Principal:
"We get a lot of questions from customers about how to select between turnkey solutions, which are plug-and-play, and custom solutions built from scratch. We decided to provide this information in this review so that a wider range of people can access it and benefit."
Now back to the review:
1. Custom Systems
Let's start with a custom system - you build it yourself from the ground up because you know exactly what you need - you estimate your requirements and do your own research to determine available systems, pricing, configuration, etc, then you make the decision to purchase your selected system. You also install, program and configure the system yourself.
Sounds nice so far, but a lot of questions arise - how much do you really know about what you're doing? What warranties do you have if something goes wrong? Do you have a backup support service to call? Are you sure you are optimizing your selected system for your intended application simply by reading up guides and manuals?
What costs you save by doing the work yourself you quickly lose when things start to go wrong (which they will eventually). This won't be the case only if you're an expert and know exactly what you're doing. Phone systems may be straightforward to use, but they also require a very specific treatment to ensure that they serve you optimally and last as long as you desire - and this is something only an expert can provide.
So the obvious advice for people considering custom systems is to share the work; select the systems yourself because you can certainly evaluate your needs and budget better than anyone else. Your unique budget perspective will also help in comparing systems and coming to a decision on the systems that best fit your specific needs.
You should also allow experts handle configuration, testing, deployment/installation and routine maintenance for best results.
2. Turnkey systems
Everyone has heard the expression "one size fits all". That's something that's hardly possible in the real world - and the same applies to phone systems. Turnkey solutions have their clear advantages - pre-installed, pre-configured, support-included, plug-and-play, no hassle, high levels of convenience and after-sales support and maintenance - sounds like a sweet deal.
But the obvious issues here are cost and flexibility - turnkey solutions may cost more initially because of the "all-in-one" approach to provide everything you need at a go. The good news is, your custom solution would probably cost more in the long run - due to uncovered, non-routine maintenance, downtime, upgrades, etc.
So from the cost angle you should be prepared to pay more initially for a turnkey solution but as time passes you will reap the benefits bountifully. Another issue is flexibility - can this "one-size-fits-all" solution fit my business? The truth in one word is: yes. Turnkey solutions are designed to cater for businesses of any size - from the really small to the really big - so even if it's a little "too much" for you now, it could be "just right" in a year or two.
Our verdict: The choice is yours ultimately, but if you're going for a custom system be sure to let experts handle installation and maintenance. If you're turnkey solutions you better prepare your wallet - but you can be assured of a smooth run down the road.
More expert phone system advice to come in future series of Business Digest from TelcoDepot.com
Shop online at TelcoDepot.com for leading business telephone systems and equipment from brands like Aastra, Allworx, Grandstream, NEC phone system products, TalkSwitch, Xblue and Yealink from TelcoDepot.com at affordable prices with great support options.
For additional inquiries, call TelcoDepot.com support lines on 1-800-390-1200 or send an email to info@telcodepot.com.
About Telco Depot
Telco Depot is a leading supplier of quality business telephone systems, business VoIP service, VoIP phones, phone headset equipment, video surveillance systems, voice & data cabling solutions, conference phone solutions and Microsoft Response Point Systems. The company's top priority is to help its clients make informed decisions based on their specific small business phone system needs by providing experience and expertise and guiding them in selecting the best phone systems for their businesses. Telco Depot ensures that their phone systems are fully scalable, affordable priced, and provide the highest value for their clients.
