Choosing the right teleconferencing solution
Many different businesses offer teleconferencing solutions. It doesn’t matter who you do business with – just make sure you know what to look for in a reliable and honest conferencing provider:
- Who has the best fit? Look for providers that have worked directly with businesses similar to yours so they can suggest applications that have worked best.
- What do you need? Decide which applications you’ll rely on the most and then compare different services to see which one has the best option. Also, make sure to select a plan that can accommodate the number of attendees you plan to invite.
- How long has the provider been around? You always want to select a provider with several years experience in teleconferencing rather than someone who offers it as an add-on to their standard offerings. If the provider has been around for a long time, it’s usually a good sign that they will be there to address problems as they arise.
- Have you sampled the service? Conferencing providers offer free trials for a reason: They want you to be comfortable with the functionality before you agree to work with them. Take advantage of the free trials and make sure the service does everything you need it to.
- What kind of support can you expect? Make sure you know your options if a problem arises or you need quick answers to simple questions. Are you supposed to correspond by email, or can you call live customer assistance? If they offer phone support, what are their hours and how long does it take to get a response if you can’t reach a live representative right away?
- Can I get that in writing? It doesn’t matter if you’re only going to use a provider for a single conference or dozens of conferences over the next year. Always make sure the terms and conditions are clearly outlined so there’s no confusion about how much you’ll pay or which services you’ll receive.
- What if service falls below expectations? Conferencing vendors should offer service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee a certain level of uptime and details the level of compensation you’re entitled to if they can’t live up to those standards. This may include partial refunds, free service, or the option to cancel the agreement without penalty.