Have you been wondering about Voice over Internet Protocol, how it works, or the benefits of VoIP for business? Switching to VoIP offers many advantages to small and medium-sized businesses, mainly in the form of cost savings but also in other aspects.
We’re going to take a look at some of the reasons you should consider using VoIP over traditional telephone systems, what VoIP is, and how this technology works. We will also give you a few pointers on how to choose a provider and plan that best fits your needs.
Keep reading for more information.
What is VoIP and How Does it Work?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a type of telephone system that uses computers and the internet to deliver voice and video communications to other users. Because this technology relies on the use of the internet, calls can be made and received from anywhere in the world; communication may also be made to cell phones, landlines, and other VoIP phones.
Voice over Internet Protocol calling works by using traditional, analog voice signals and changing them into digital messages that can be sent through broadband connections.
VoIP phones easily wire into your computer and internet with an Ethernet cable or you may choose to use the existing technology on your device to make and receive calls. While purchasing a dedicated VoIP or SIP phone is ideal, it’s not necessary as most traditional phone hardware can be used as a VoIP phone with a VoIP adapter.
Benefits of VoIP for Businesses
As mentioned, using VoIP allows for calls to be made and received anywhere in the world, to any type of phone. This fact alone gives businesses the benefit of flexibility and mobility; allowing for management to be productive while away from the office or employees to work remotely (saving on travel costs.)
To further improve the flexibility and mobility of your business, VoIP systems allow you to easily implement call forwarding. This allows any call made to your business number to be forwarded to your mobile device, preventing you from missing important conversations while still enjoying life outside of the office.
VoIP systems also make scaling your business easy – adding a new user or removing one can be done by adding or removing a phone from your network. Business owners can also manage, maintain, and optimize their systems by logging onto the software provided by their VoIP service company, typically on the Web..
Because almost any traditional telephone hardware will operate as a VoIP phone, your business can save money by opting to keep the existing phones or by slowly integrating VoIP phones into your communications mix. When you do choose to purchase a VoIP phone, these systems are often less expensive than a traditional PSTN and have just as many (or more) features.
The ease of adding new users combined with the ability to use your existing hardware helps businesses keep pace with increasing consumer demand and call volume.
Switching to VoIP can improve the overall efficiency of your staff and business operations. This is often done through optimizing how voicemails and calls are transferred to other employees as well as the ability to share multimedia formats with other users during presentations or conference calls.
Deciding to use VoIP over traditional phone systems can help you save money on your monthly operating costs and calling expenses because domestic long-distance calls are often included in the pricing. The use of the internet allows international calls to remain inexpensive, helping to further stretch your budget.
You can choose to purchase VoIP plans with a multitude of features, unlimited calling, and the lease of your phones – or you can choose a plan with basic features, limited minutes, and to bring your own system. Your monthly VoIP bill can be as inexpensive or as extravagant as you’d like, giving you full control of this operational cost.
Choosing a Plan and Provider to Improve Efficiency
There are a number of VoIP service providers who promise the lowest monthly costs, highest call quality, most features, or the best reliability. While finding a company that offers the best call quality, most features, and the best reliability may be an ideal solution, it usually comes at a price.
Conversely, many companies that offer rock-bottom pricing won’t always be the best in other facets of service.
To find the best plan and VoIP service provider for your business, you’ll want to determine the types of technology that are most important to you and consider how much call volume your business uses each month. For the amount of time your staff spends on the phone each month, consider looking at recent phone bills.
A VoIP service provider should be able to help you find a plan to meet your calling needs while remaining cost-effective and within your budget. Ideally, your provider will own and manage their platform to ensure a high-quality user experience and to address any problems within the network.
GroupOne is a managed service provider that offers Voice over Internet Protocol phone services. We own and manage our VoIP platform, allowing us to quickly respond to and take action with any issues that may arise. Additionally, should your team need any type of phone-related technical support, our staff is ready to help.
If you are interested in VoIP for your business or learning more about the benefits of VoIP for business, contact us today for a consultation.