Your business relies heavily upon its communication to ensure you are able to reach your customers easily and allows them to reach you. Whether you are still using private line, frame relay or ATM for your phone services or if you have already switched over to MPLS, it is important to know what to look for in MPLS service providers. If you aren’t careful about which provider you choose, you could be losing money for your business.
Performance and Scalability
You need a communication system you can rely on to keep your business running efficiently. One of the most important features of MPLS you need to make sure your provider offers is the ability to prioritize. Because your phone line runs through the same channels as your Internet connection, you need your system to give priority to phone calls over other online functions, particularly during periods of peak use. In addition to this prioritization, you also want a provider that can help you add bandwidth and change the flow of traffic as your business continues to grow.
Cost Efficiency
MPLS service providers should help you find the most cost-efficient communication solution for your business. Even if you are already using MPLS, you need a company that can help you determine if you are making the most of this type of communications system. With this system, you should see a lower cost for your bandwidth, as well as less cost for hardware because both your phone system and your Internet will run through the same set of circuits.
Converged Systems
Perhaps the greatest advantage of using an MPLS for businesses is the convergence of all your communication and data needs with one provider. An MPLS provider will offer you IP support so you can use both your voice and data over the same lines. This converged system follows one standard so you don’t need to worry about whether your voice and data is compatible. Everything will operate more smoothly and efficiently.
Even if you have already made the decision to switch over to the MPLS communication solution, you need to make sure you are working with MPLS service providers that can help you use this system to its greatest capacity. As you seek out the right service provider for your needs, you need to look at the overall performance, scalability options, cost efficiency and converged system so you can be sure the provider you choose is helping your business save money on your communications needs without sacrificing quality.
