Organizations are switching en masse to VoIP, or better known as calling over the Internet. Because many companies are still calling through traditional lines, the telephone system must first be replaced. But how do you choose a good VoIP PBX and what does it cost?
Telephone exchange replacement
If you need to replace your current PBX, you have a choice between a physical or cloud PBX. Both have pretty much the same functionality, much depends mainly on how you wish to invest. Both have their pros and cons.
- Physical telephone system: Between €500 and €15,000
A physical PBX requires a heavier initial investment (capex) but the monthly charges (opex) are a lot less than the cloud variant.
Excluding the installation cost, you should count on a €500 to €15,000 for the purchase of the PBX. Much depends on the functionality and simultaneous calls that you need.
You will often have to enter into a maintenance contract in addition to the investment in a new switchboard. You usually pay this annually to keep the PBX up-to-date.
With a physical PBX, you also have to consider concurrent calls. A rule of thumb is to divide the number of users by 3. So an SME with 12 users needs 4 simultaneous calls.
Also take into account the growth of your organization. If you expect to grow strongly, it's best to already take that into account with your simultaneous calls. It's best to purchase a VoIP PBX with additional simultaneous calls.
- Cloud PBX: Between €5 and €10 per user
With a cloud PBX, the initial investment is minimal but the monthly charges are higher than a physical PBX.
Most players charge a monthly fee for the PBX instead of a purchase. This way you don't have to invest anything and the PBX can grow organically with your business. On average, you pay between €5 and €10 per user of the PBX.
The more users the less the cost per user becomes. For example, you pay €10 per user for less than 15 users. For more than 15 users you pay €8
Concurrent calls are less of an issue here. With a cloud PBX, you pay per user and so the concurrent calls just grow organically with you.
Do you still have questions?
Would you like personal advice? Contact us for a no-obligation appointment!
