A Quick Guide to PABX Phone Solutions for Small Businesses

A Quick Guide to PABX Phone Solutions for Small Businesses


What You Need To Know About PABX Phone Systems

With the rapid advance of technology, there are now many more options when it comes to choosing the right telephone solution or PABX system for your business. PABX (or Private Branch Exchange) is not a new concept, as an analog version of PABX has been around for quite some time – traditional PABX analog systems predate the internet, in fact.

Thankfully, you’re no longer limited to the confines of landlines and outdated phone systems! Modern IP (Internet Protocol) PABX systems offer many more features and capabilities, and they can be utilized at a fraction of the cost (and accompanying frustration) of older analog systems.

What Features of a PABX Phone System Do Modern Businesses Need?

IP PABX phone systems provide many features you simply can’t get from traditional analog PABX systems, including:

  • Call Recording: Now you can take advantage of recording both incoming and outgoing calls. This is a helpful reference if you ever have a legal concern, and it’s also advantageous in terms of helping you to monitor and improve your level of engagement with customers and clients.
  • Least Cost Routing (LCR): Least Cost Routing is a method of minimizing costs for calls by splitting traffic between multiple carriers and selecting a path based on the lowest available cost for a particular call. With LCR, your calls are automatically routed for the best cost possible, saving you money over time.
  • VoIP (Voice over IP) Technology VoIP works exactly the way it sounds. Instead of your phone system being based on traditional copper lines, it operates over broadband internet. A VoIP phone or virtual PABX phone system allows for HD audio and many more advanced features that an analog system simply can’t offer.
  • Unified Communication: An IP PABX phone system lets you integrate many enterprise communication services, including voice, instant messaging or chat, email, web, and video capabilities. Unified communication also provides much more efficient and effective methods of managing and tracking external clients and leads as well as internal conversations.

Types of PABX Phone Systems

Because there are more PABX system options than ever, here’s an overview of some of the major PABX categories:

  • Traditional Analog PABX Phone System: These legacy phone systems are based on hardwired connections throughout the office internally and to landlines externally. The advantages of analog systems are few – they are compatible with any basic phone, and 911 calls are traceable. The disadvantages are many – they require high upfront costs, ongoing maintenance, are hard to scale for growth, and they provide limited features and even more limited unified communications capabilities.
  • On-Premise IP PABX Phone System: This is a modern IP-based phone system based in-house which is able to take advantage of modern PABX functionalities like advanced call features and unified communications capabilities. Because it is based in a specific location, 911 calls are also traceable. It is customizable and offers low monthly costs. There are disadvantages, however – there are high upfront equipment costs and equipment space requirements, IP phones or adapters are required, there are ongoing maintenance costs, and scaling up can be expensive.
  • On-Site IP PABX Phone System: This is simply another way to refer to an on-premise IP PABX system.
  • Hybrid IP PABX Phone System: This refers to an on-premise or on-site IP PABX system that is also linked to the cloud, which enables businesses to take advantage of both local and mobile functionalities. While it provides some of the best of both on-premise and cloud “worlds,” it can still be somewhat expensive to operate and maintain.
  • Hosted PABX Phone System: Also referred to as a Cloud PABX Phone System or Virtual PABX Phone System, a Hosted PABX service places your whole system on the cloud. Phones connect directly over your business internet network to the cloud-based phone system, which is managed by your VoIP provider’s servers. A cloud-based system requires little in the way of equipment. Phones are plug-and-play, and can easily be moved around the office and reprogrammed yourself. The caveats are 911 calls are untraceable, and a strong internet connection is required.

How Can an IP PABX Phone System Help Small Businesses?

  • High Call Volumes: Modern small business phone system benefits by helping you handle higher call volumes without the need for additional staff. Calls can be answered and automatically transferred to staff members at any extension or even to remote locations, with smooth voicemail, email, and text integration.
  • Easily Scalable: No major installation is required for hosted PABX phone systems, so it’s easier for growing companies to upgrade their features or scale their system to accommodate added layers of staff, products, and clients. These PABX systems are designed to be able to keep up with your pace of growth.
  • Startup-Friendly: Perhaps your business is small enough that you don’t yet have the budget for dedicated administrative assistants or receptionists. IP PABX phone systems can help automate and streamline your incoming call process, while still delivering an air of professionalism and credibility for your business.
  • Responsive to Changing Industries: If your business operates in a rapidly-changing industry, a PABX phone system can help you keep up with those changes and adjustments. It’s simple to change your outgoing message in a flash to be able to keep callers up-to-date on who you are and what you have to offer.
  • Help Compete With Larger Companies: A virtual PABX phone system can help level the playing field when you’re competing with a larger-staffed business – no more dropped calls or busy signals, and you can rest assured that incoming calls are directed to the correct department or individual the first time, and every time.
  • Meet Your Business Where It Lives: A cloud PABX phone system increases the flexibility and responsiveness of your business, whenever and wherever you operate. Got multiple locations? Staff, that work from home? Staff out in the field? Calls can easily be routed to any mobile device or inbox, so you never miss a beat.
  • Cut Costs: Cost-effectiveness is important to any business, but it’s even more crucial to the success of startups or small businesses. Hosted PABX phone systems have lower upfront and ongoing costs, and they’ll work for you around-the-clock without the need to pay any overtime!

Ready to upgrade your business telephony system with Engsoft Valley PABX Telephony solution?

Engsoft Valley Solutions is your number one source for business communication and technology solutions in Kenya and East Africa. We offer great PABX telephony solutions for small and medium businesses in the region. We are based in Nairobi and are proud to serve clients in the East, Central and Southern African countries.

We custom build each system to meet each of our client’s unique needs, and we’re always here to provide ongoing support when you need us. If you’re ready to set your business up for greater success, reach out to us or give us a call today at +254-725-696-900.  With Engsoft Valley Solutions, the future of business technology is NOW!

Engsoft Face Recognition Biometric Time Attendance and Access Control System

Engsoft Face Recognition Biometric Time Attendance and Access Control System

Engsoft Valley Solutions presents Engsoft Face Recognition Biometric Time Attendance and Access Control System. This biometric device is ideal for office/school face Recognition, Biometric, and RFID. It also supports fingerprint verification and can be used to monitor time and attendance in the workplace or school environment. It is designed to simplify OEM integration. The top surface of this module is IP64-rated, sealed against dust and liquids. Its compact size and convenient mounting features help it fit easily into even small devices. The on-board electronics automatically control calibration and data transfer.

Engsoft Face Recognition Biometric Time Attendance and Access Control Solution are highly recommendable and reliable for Time and Attendance Recorder, for Office / School, hospitals, gyms, etc as Time Recorder and Attendance for maintaining and keeping records of all types related to access, leaves, etc. It is also known as LF access system or attendance system.

In the Low Frequency (LF) Attendance system, LF card Readers are mounted either in each room or shared between two or more rooms or at the common entrance. The cardholder shows his LF ID card to LF Reader to record their arrival and departure. The read range is just 5 centimeters.

Understanding Facial Recognition Technology

Facial recognition is a biometric software application capable of uniquely identifying or verifying a person by comparing and analyzing patterns based on the person’s facial features. The technology is mostly used for security purposes, though there is increasing interest in other areas of use. Facial recognition technology has received significant attention as it has the potential for a wide range of applications related to law enforcement as well as other enterprises. Today, organizations are implementing facial recognition technology to control access to their premises while keeping tabs on employee attendance.

Engsoft Face Recognition Biometric Time Attendance and Access Control System Product Features

  • The facial recognition time attendance, access control system offers a composite algorithm
  • A system with high speed operating.
  • It has an embedded LINUX system, easy to integrate into various systems.
  • It offers a standalone or network environment.
  • It has an infrared optical system enabling user identification in dark environments.
  • It has a 4.3″ TFT touch screen, elegant design, fashionable and simple interface.
  • It offers 6 user-defined function keys and is easy to operate.
  • It saves data during a power outage.
  • Built-in backup battery support extra 4 hours continuous operation if a power failure

The benefits of the face recognition technology in access control

1. Everyone loves saving money, right?

Facial recognition software affords employers a means of tracking their employees’ attendance while eliminating human error. This means keeping track of the exact amount of hours an employee is working and the correlating payroll calculations. No “false overtime” to worry about! Facial recognition promises good value with an enormous return, saving (and earning) you more money.

2. Automated and Accurate.

Facial recognition accurately reports all the aspects of attendance, absence, and overtime. The identification process is spot-on every single time at a speed that is almost unheard of. This system can match thousands of users in less than a second, and the software provides information that is 100% correct without you lifting a finger.

3. Saves Time.

There is no need for employees to touch the surface of the system to clock in and out. Facial recognition allows employees to clock in and out within seconds, instantly eliminating the hassle of swiping cards or waving badges around!

4. Increases Security.

First off, this technology altogether avoids the issues of early and late punching, as well as “buddy punching.” Facial recognition nips those problems in the bud; if your face is not scanned, you are not clocked in at work! It is as simple as that. Also, if there are any incidents, facial recognition already has a scanned image of everyone that has entered the worksite, providing evidence for any needed investigation.

5. Prevents Loss of Productivity.

The use of facial recognition clock is a fantastic alternative to minimize the spreading of viruses and illnesses. Therefore, keeping employees healthy. When workers are healthy, they go to work, are in better moods, and boost their own productivity. Facial recognition can also hold data that permits the company to analyze and keep an eye on their workforce statistics and any additional reports needed.

Engsoft Valley Solutions being provider, seller, and distributor of the wide range of access control devices, biometric and RFID Card readers, Fingerprint scanners, asset tagging solutions, also provides a wide range of customized solutions and applications for track record, identification, access control, attendance management, payments and transactions, and other customized uses. We provide them for clients across all industries and across the length and breadth of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. We have a long list of satisfied clients, who have benefited from our automated and customized solutions. You too can be a happy client. Contact us today so we can discuss your business’ access control needs.

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