Ooma office manager – is it worth it?

Choosing a reliable office phone system can be an overwhelming task, especially with numerous options available. Ooma Office Manager is often highly recommended for its robust features and ease of use.

This article will provide you with an in-depth evaluation of the software, outlining its key features, pricing, benefits and limitations to help make your decision easier. Let’s delve into whether investing in Ooma Office Manager is truly worth it.

Overview of Ooma Office Manager

Choosing the right business phone software can be a challenge, especially with so many options available. One promising candidate is Ooma Office Manager, a solution that has been serving businesses since 1999.

This article aims to delve deep into its features, pricing and user reviews to help you make an informed decision. Are you ready to discover if Ooma Office Manager is worth your investment?.

Key Features of Ooma Office Manager

Ooma Office Manager offers a range of key features including call handling, phone system management, mobile integration, hardware compatibility, and third-party integrations.

Call Handling

Ooma Office Manager excels in its call handling capabilities. This feature offers dynamic options such as call forwarding and a selection menu that effectively manage incoming calls, reducing wait times while boosting customer satisfaction.

Its high-quality call display ensures seamless operation hours without interruptions.

The system’s unique Call Park and Call Flip functions further enhance the user’s experience. With these features, active calls can be transferred to other extensions easily or parked on hold until available personnel can address them.

Moreover, Ooma Office guarantees excellent call quality for professional communication experiences every time.

Phone System Management

Managing your phone system is made effortless with Ooma Office Manager. With its easy-to-use account manager, you can handle a myriad of tasks such as updating hours and forwarding calls to ensure seamless customer communication.

Implementing operation hours for different departments within an organization becomes a breeze allowing after-hour calls to be directed appropriately. The interface offers user-friendly features making the training process straightforward even for employees who are new to digital phone systems.

High-quality call display ensures every interaction starts on the right foot, displaying comprehensive contact cards before you accept each call. Unique features like Call Park and Call Flip increase flexibility while enhancing professional image and experience.

Phone Numbers

Ooma Office Manager provides a seamless phone number management system for businesses. With Ooma, you can easily assign and manage phone numbers for your employees or departments. You have the flexibility to choose local or toll-free numbers, and even port in existing numbers to Ooma.

The platform supports unlimited extensions, allowing you to create a professional image with separate direct lines for each team member. Plus, Ooma Office Manager offers convenient features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription sent directly to email, and the ability to set up unique greetings and ring options for different groups within your organization.

Mobile Integration

Ooma Office offers seamless mobile integration, allowing you to stay connected and manage your business communications on the go. With the Ooma Office mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices, you can access all the essential features right at your fingertips.

Whether you’re making or receiving calls, checking voicemails, or accessing your contact list, the mobile app ensures that you don’t miss a beat while away from your desk. Additionally, Ooma Office integrates with Microsoft and Google contact lists for easy syncing and streamlined communication across different platforms.

So whether you’re in the office or out in the field, Ooma Office keeps your business connected anytime, anywhere.

Hardware Compatibility

Ooma Office is compatible with a variety of hardware options, making it flexible for different business needs. It can work with both traditional analog phones and IP-based phones, allowing businesses to choose the type of phone that suits them best.

Ooma also offers preconfigured IP phones that are plug-and-play ready, simplifying the setup process. Additionally, Ooma Office supports Power Over Ethernet (PoE) switches, which means you can power your IP phones through your network connection, reducing the need for additional power cords.

With its wide range of hardware compatibility options, Ooma Office makes it easy for businesses to integrate their existing phone systems or choose new devices that fit their preferences and budget.

Furthermore, when purchasing equipment directly from Ooma Office, they offer a 30-day return policy. This allows businesses to test out the hardware and ensure compatibility before committing to a long-term solution.

This flexibility gives peace of mind knowing that if there are any issues or concerns with the compatibility of the hardware, they have an option to return or exchange it within a reasonable timeframe.

Third-Party Integrations

Ooma Office Manager offers a range of third-party integrations that can enhance its key features. For example, it integrates with Microsoft and Google contact lists, making it easier to manage your contacts and streamline communication.

Additionally, Ooma Office Manager supports physical overhead paging systems, allowing you to make announcements or pages throughout your office space. And if you need internet faxing capabilities, Ooma Office Manager has got you covered with the option to send faxes through a Google Chrome extension or directly from the Ooma Office Manager platform.

These integrations provide added flexibility and convenience for businesses using Ooma Office Manager.

Pricing and Value for Money

Ooma Office offers three different plans to cater to the needs of small businesses. With prices starting at just $19.95 per user per month, the software provides exceptional value for money.

Many users have praised Ooma Office for its affordable pricing compared to other VoIP solutions in the market. Despite being competitively priced, Ooma Office does not compromise on features or call quality.

Users have found that the price they pay is justified by the excellent service and enterprise-grade features provided by Ooma Office, making it a smart investment for businesses of all sizes.

Additionally, Ooma Office has received an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 168 reviews, indicating high customer satisfaction with both the pricing and value offered by this software solution.

Quality of Customer Support

Users have reported varying experiences with Ooma’s customer support. Some users have mentioned receiving inconsistent answers for the same issue, which can be frustrating. However, there are also positive reviews that highlight Ooma’s great customer service and helpful support team.

For example, one reviewer had a positive experience with Ooma’s support, noting that someone pleasant answered their call right away and even waived installation billing. Another reviewer also praised the customer and sales support they received from Ooma.

It is important to note that negative reviews mention occasional issues with call quality and outages. Despite this, many users still appreciate the easy integration and setup process of Ooma’s services along with their responsive customer support team when needed.

User Reviews of Ooma Office Manager

Users have provided mixed reviews of Ooma Office Manager, highlighting both its pros and cons.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Ooma Office has an impressive overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 168 user reviews.
2. Users highly appreciate the ease of use, customer service, features, and value for money offered by Ooma Office.
3. The software is especially well – suited for small office/home office setups and smaller businesses.
4. Ooma Office provides a virtual assistant service that allows users to access their office phone from anywhere.
5. Users rave about the virtual receptionist feature, which adds a professional touch to call management.

1. Some users have reported additional costs for voicemail transcription and PC/Mac softphone options offered by Ooma Office.
2. While the software generally receives positive feedback, occasional outages have been mentioned by users as a downside.
3. Ooma Office may be seen as pricey for some customers, with monthly payments required for ongoing service.

Overall Ratings

The overall ratings for Ooma Office Manager indicate a high level of satisfaction among users, as the system has earned a score of 4.5 out of 5 based on 168 reviews.

These high scores reflect the value that Ooma Office Manager provides, along with its user-friendly design and efficient customer support.

Ease of Use

Ooma Office Manager is known for its user-friendly interface and easy implementation process.

Implementation and Onboarding

Implementing and onboarding with Ooma Office is a breeze. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Easy installation process that doesn’t require technical expertise.
2. Smooth transition from your current phone system to Ooma Office.
3. Quick setup of the virtual receptionist, call handling, and other features.
4. User – friendly interface that allows for seamless customization.
5. Onboarding support from Ooma’s responsive and knowledgeable customer support team.

Limitations

• The setup process for Ooma Office is not as customizable as promised.
• Users have reported experiencing dropped calls and lower call quality compared to landlines.
• The phones provided by Ooma Office have limited features and don’t support many lines.
• The service often suffers from static and dropped calls, making it unreliable.
• Some users find that the cost savings of switching to Ooma Office may not be worth the poor call quality experienced.

Unique Features

Ooma Office Manager offers several unique features, such as a virtual receptionist, enhanced call blocking, voicemail transcription, overhead paging, ring groups, faxing capabilities, and video conferencing.

Virtual Receptionist

Ooma Office offers a virtual receptionist feature that enhances the professionalism and efficiency of businesses. This feature ensures that every caller is greeted with a professional voice message and directed to the appropriate department or individual.

With a reliable and user-friendly interface, the virtual receptionist allows businesses to create custom greetings, provide important information to callers, and even offer options for different departments or services.

By utilizing this feature, businesses can leave a lasting impression on their customers while streamlining call routing and improving overall customer experience.

Enhanced Call Blocking

Ooma Office offers enhanced call blocking as part of its suite of features. This feature is designed to help users avoid scam callers and unwanted bots. With Ooma, you have the ability to customize your call blocking settings, allowing you to block specific numbers, area codes, or even certain types of calls altogether.

The enhanced call blocking feature provided by Ooma Office Manager empowers businesses with effective measures to manage their incoming calls and maintain a professional communication environment.

Caller Info Match

Caller Info Match is a valuable feature provided by Ooma Office. It helps users identify and gather information about the caller, whether it’s an outgoing or inbound call. By searching LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google, Caller Info Match displays relevant information that enhances the caller identification process.

This feature proves to be incredibly useful for Ooma Office users who want to have more insight into their callers and streamline their communication processes.

Voicemail Transcription

Ooma Office includes the useful feature of voicemail transcription. With this feature, you don’t have to listen to your voicemails; instead, they are automatically transcribed into text and sent directly to your email.

This makes it incredibly convenient for busy professionals who prefer reading their messages rather than listening to them. Voicemail transcription saves time and allows you to quickly scan through your messages, ensuring that you never miss any important information.

Overhead Paging

Ooma Office Manager offers a unique feature called overhead paging, which allows businesses to utilize physical overhead paging systems. This feature supports multicast paging buttons, allowing for easy communication throughout the premises.

With Ooma Office Manager, users have the ability to customize ring groups, including greetings and ringing options specifically for overhead paging. This ensures that important announcements reach employees quickly and efficiently.

The integration of overhead paging into Ooma Office Manager adds an extra layer of functionality and convenience for businesses using this system.

Ring Groups

Ooma Office offers a useful feature called ring groups, which allows multiple phones to be called at the same time. This improves workflow and reduces time wasted on calls. With ring groups, communication becomes easier within Ooma Office, especially for teams with multiple departments.

Incoming calls can be put on hold, forwarded to another extension or sent to voicemail within these groups. The virtual receptionist can also answer calls and provide valuable assistance.

In fact, Ooma Office allows the creation of over 8,000 extensions, each with its own voicemail accounts in ring groups. This flexibility ensures that every call is efficiently managed and directed to the right person or department without any hassle.

Ring groups in Ooma Office:

– Allow multiple phones to be called simultaneously

Faxing

Ooma Office Manager includes internet faxing capabilities, allowing you to send faxes directly from your computer using a Google Chrome extension or through the Ooma Office Manager.

This feature eliminates the need for physical fax machines and paper, making it more convenient and eco-friendly. Whether you need to send contracts, invoices, or other important documents, Ooma makes it easy by integrating faxing into its all-in-one business phone system software.

With Ooma’s internet faxing, you can streamline your communications and save time and resources in the process.

Video Conferencing

Ooma Office Manager offers a robust video conferencing feature that allows for virtual meetings with 25 to 100 participants. With extended conference durations, users can engage in productive discussions without time restrictions.

The platform’s streamlined user interface and prioritization of business-critical features ensure a seamless video conferencing experience. Plus, Ooma Office Manager integrates seamlessly with Microsoft and Google contact lists, making it easy to sync and access important contacts for your virtual meetings.

Take advantage of Ooma Office Manager’s unique features while conducting high-quality and efficient video conferences for your business needs.

Ooma Office Manager for Home Offices

Ooma Office Manager is a versatile software that is ideal for home offices. It allows small business owners to efficiently manage their calls and fax logs, as well as extensions. With its straightforward admin dashboard, Ooma Office Manager makes it easy for users to handle voicemail accounts, call logs, faxes, and call forwarding options.

Additionally, this software integrates seamlessly with Microsoft and Google contact lists, streamlining communication processes. The user-friendly interface of Ooma Office Manager ensures that even those without technical expertise can navigate the platform effortlessly.

Given its range of features and ease of use, Ooma Office Manager comes highly recommended for small businesses and home offices alike.

Comparing Ooma Office Manager and Google Voice

Before we delve into the specifics, it’s important to know that both Ooma Office Manager and Google Voice have their strengths, with Ooma particularly standing out for its advanced telephony features, value for money, and customer service. Google Voice, on the other hand, is highly valued for its integration with other Google services.

Each of these platforms has different strengths and weaknesses, so your choice will depend on your specific needs and priorities. For instance, if you’re looking for advanced call handling and telephony features, Ooma Office Manager may be a better fit. But if your priorities lie with integrating your phone system with other Google services, Google Voice might be the preferable choice.

FAQs

Can I use Ooma with a smartphone? Is Ooma good for home offices? Should I use Google Voice or Ooma Office?

Can I use Ooma with a smartphone?

Ooma Office can be easily used with a smartphone through its mobile app. Whether you have an iPhone or Android device, the Ooma Office mobile app allows you to manage your business phone system on the go.

You can access all the features of a regular desk phone, catch up on missed calls, and even disguise your personal cell phone number with your company phone number using Ooma’s virtual assistant service.

With built-in text messaging capabilities, staying connected with your clients and colleagues has never been easier.

Is Ooma good for home offices? 

Ooma Office is an excellent choice for home offices due to its user-friendly features and value for money. With the virtual assistant service, users can easily manage their business calls from their phones wherever they are.

The virtual receptionist feature of Ooma Office is highly praised by users, providing a professional image and ensuring that calls are handled efficiently. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or running a small team from your home office, Ooma Office offers the reliability and quality of phone calls that you need to support your business operations.

Should I use Google Voice or Ooma Office?

Google Voice and Ooma Office are both popular options for managing your business phone systems, but which one should you choose? Let’s compare the two to help you make an informed decision.

Ooma Office is highly rated for its ease of use, customer service, features, and value for money. It offers a virtual assistant service that allows users to stay connected on their phones anytime and anywhere.

One of its standout features is the virtual receptionist, which users find incredibly helpful in managing incoming calls efficiently.

On the other hand, Google Voice also has its strengths. It provides a range of communication services such as call forwarding, text messaging, voicemail transcription and more. However, it does not offer as comprehensive phone system management capabilities as Ooma Office.

Conclusion: Is Ooma Office Manager Worth It?

Is Ooma Office Manager worth it for your business? With its ease of use, excellent customer service, and valuable features like a virtual assistant and virtual receptionist, many users find that Ooma Office is indeed worth the investment.

While there may be occasional issues with additional costs for voicemail transcription and PC/Mac softphone, overall, the positive user reviews and high ratings make it clear that Ooma Office Manager can provide a reliable and professional phone system solution for businesses of all sizes.