Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service has exploded in popularity amongst the business community over the last decade. Perhaps your business currently uses one of these systems or else it might still be dealing with a traditional landline.
There are a wide variety of benefits that come with a VoIP telephone system, making it a very worthwhile investment for your business. However, while most people are quick to sing the praises of VoIP, some businesses won't have much luck with it and will find it unreliable.
Let's pick through why VoIP is such a great option and whether or not it might be right for your business.
Understanding VoIP and its advantages
Traditional landline telephone services utilize copper wiring and an intricate system of exchanges and switch boxes to connect a call. By any standards, this is relatively outdated technology, but it still gets the job done when it comes to maintaining a phone network.
Businesses that have landline telephones usually have an area in their office or facility where the wiring and switch boxes are located. VoIP telephone systems do away with all this wiring and instead connects phone calls through your internet connection. The system changes calls into digital signals so that they don't have to travel along a landline.
If your business or facility utilizes a landline system, you could be missing out on the following benefits.
- The added features that come with VoIP. By breaking down calls to digital signals, VoIP systems are able to add in many handy features, like voicemail messages that are sent straight to your email in text form, automatic call forwarding and placing phones at different locations (even offsite) while still staying on the same system.
- Significant cost savings. This is the part where business owners perk up with interest. VoIP systems are overwhelming more affordable than landline systems. You could be paying half of what you pay for a landline — or even less! It's easy to install and requires minimal equipment, making it easy on the service provider.
- Equipping your office with cutting-edge technology. VoIP is not necessarily the future of phone systems — it's the present. More and more phone companies are building out their digital phone infrastructures and no longer committing to maintaining landline services. Your business will have to make the transition eventually. Why not now?
VoIP systems are also scalable, which is ideal for startups. As your business grows, so, too, can your phone system.
And, if security is on your mind (and it always should be) you can rest assured that VoIP systems are indeed secure. Many business owners worry that, because the conversations are transported through the internet, they're easier to tap than a traditional phone line. As long as your data network is secure, your VoIP system is safe.
Is there any reason not to go with VoIP?
At the end of the day, your VoIP phone system is only as effective as your internet connection. That means, if you are located somewhere where internet speeds are slow, or you're subjected to frequent outages, a VoIP system might not be the best investment for you quite yet.
Landline phone systems are more reliable for these scenarios. They'll continue to perform admirably. You don't want to risk poor call quality or prolonged outages when clients, vendors or employees are trying to contact you through the phone system.
Assess the effectiveness of your internet connection and that should help guide you in your decision.
Work with knowledgeable professionals to set up your system
A commercial phone system is intricate. And, if you're looking to customize your VoIP system to provide all the fancy bells and whistles, you're going to want to consult with a trained professional that will help you design and implement your VoIP system.
