Five Points that Every Business Owner Should Understand about VoIP
When innovative technologies such as VoIP emerge not everyone finds the
time or need to learn about it. However, after time, most business owners
begin to recognize the importance and potential benefits associated with
an improved way to handle communications. VoIP has been around for quite
some time, however, not everyone has recognized the need to discover how the
technology can be critically important for some businesses. Fundamentally, VoIP
represents a rather straightforward technology to grasp and once
understood becomes a less complicated system to set up.
Recognizing a few
elementary concepts contributes considerably to familiarity with VoIP phone
systems and how enormously beneficial they could be to most businesses.
If you are considering a possible change to
a VoIP phone service then these five
questions and answers will assist to a better overall understanding of
what it can achieve.
Here are five questions Answered That Explains VoIP to every business
owner.
- How is VoIP different? VoIP (Voice over Internet
Protocol) sends voice or phone calls over the Internet rather
than using traditional landline circuits of conventional phone companies. With VoIP you
can call landline phones and cell phones anywhere, as well as make
calls from your computer to another computer. VoIP takes traditional
voice calls and transforms them into data packets so they can be sent
anywhere, somewhat like email.
- What are the benefits of using VoIP? Switching to
VoIP results in less expensive calls and an overall reduction in total phone costs. There are many
other benefits as well, like, multiple advanced features without excess
charges and easy integration with business apps. VoIP offers the
ability to place and receive calls from anywhere and launch conference
sessions. Workers can stay
connected from home or when traveling rather, then just at
the office. VoIP enables the use of different communication methods,
like Text and Chat.
- What are the differences between hosted VoIP and a VoIP
PBX? Hosted VoIP is a phone service where the provider houses
all the equipment. You open an account that allows you to make and
receive calls and utilize the features, usually for one monthly fee. A VoIP PBX is a phone
system where the equipment is purchased and installed inside the
office. The PBX or phone system then connects up to a provider to send
and receive calls.
- Can you transfer calls between multiple locations using
VoIP? Absolutely, for instance, you can have a phone at home which
operates exactly like in the office. Multiple offices can all be tied
together, transferring calls between them. Physical distances aren't important as long as each location
utilizes the Internet.
- Are there any caveats when deciding to move to VoIP?
Definitely, there are several factors to consider when moving to VoIP.
To begin with your existing phone equipment may not be capable of
using VoIP. Getting a new VoIP phone system or moving to a hosted VoIP
service requires adequate planning. For instance, each phone location requires an Ethernet
cable much like a computer. Traditional phone wires aren't capable of
carrying VoIP calls.
Understanding VoIP and how it will Benefit Your Business
Conclusion
Gaining an initial rudimentary understanding of VoIP and how it can
improve business communications tends to lead to more investigation.
Specifically, how it might advance your distinct business model.
Organizations with staff linked by VoIP generate productivity increases of nearly 25%.
Currently, business managers have been coping with social distancing
requirements and have recognized the need to allow employees that can do
so, to work from home. Surveys show not only do workers prefer working
from home, but they are much more productive. However, they require
adequate systems in place to allow access to needed resources. These
current requirements have led to a realization that obsolete technology
can bear unexpected costs and lead to a large loss of revenue. Without a
VoIP capable system managers have had to improvise just to maintain a
minimal level of business.
Companies that move to a VoIP capable PBX or a hosted VoIP service will
gain
long-standing benefits for increased business productivity and improved
customer services. Work environments, as well as customer expectations
have changed, and businesses are now more than ever recognizing the need to modernize their
business systems. Advancing company systems means moving to IP where
resources can be accessed from other locations. Upon realizing how VoIP
phone systems work, it becomes apparent that right now is the time to begin
the transition.
Virtual Phone System Providers
Virtual phone providers offer small businesses unified communication
solutions with exceptional capabilities at remarkably affordable prices.
These are our picks for some of the most capable platforms available.
RECOMMENDED PROVIDERS |
HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES |
RECOMMENDED FOR |
STARTING PRICE |
DETAILS |
|
- Unlimited minutes, Business Texting, Incoming Call Control, Instant Response, Virtual Fax, Transcribed Voicemail,
unlimited users. VoIP + WiFi calling.
|
Entrepreneurs
utilizing their cell phones, sole proprietors, 1-3 employee companies,
Real-estate agents.
|
$31.00/mo. |
Details |
|
- Unlimited minutes, Business Texting, Incoming Call Control, Desktop app, Team
Messaging, three users. Offers a plan with Video Conferencing and screen
sharing.
|
Growing start-ups,
remote teams, dispersed businesses. Teams
requiring video and screen sharing. |
$9.99/mo. |
Details |
|
- Unlimited calling & Business texting, Advanced Call Control, Auto replies, Analytics, Collaboration
& CRM tools. Work anywhere, across all your devices.
|
Start-ups,
digital nomads, professional services, E-commerce, growing collaborative teams. |
$13.00/mo./user paid annually |
Details |
|
- Unlimited minutes, Business Texting, Incoming Call Control, Mini-CRM app, Presence, Call recordings, voice to text.
No limit on the number of devices you can connect.
|
E-commerce, Small
businesses teams. Inbound call center using computers and headsets seeking mini-CRM tools. |
$20.00/mo./user |
Details |
Next: Comparing an on Premise VoIP PBX with Hosted VoIP.
Distinctive companies retain their own unique sets of
requirements that often point to distinct solutions. Identify how an on
premise IP-PBX differs from a cloud based VoIP service. Each type of VoIP
phone system provides their own unique advantages.
Premise PBX vs. a Cloud based
PBX