“Mr Watson, come here – I want to see you” were the first words spoken over a telephone line by Alexander Graham Bell on the 7th of March 1876. Since then, the world has become a much smaller place with the telephone allowing people to communicate in real-time across the globe. I’m not going to bore you and go into the full evolution of the telephone, except to say, that the traditional landline known as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) was first introduced in 1946. It is still in use today by many businesses. Although most now use the digital version known as ISDN. It’s not fair to say that PSTN/ISDN is dead, but it is certainly coming to the end of its life and is simply not compatible with our changing world and how we communicate and collaborate.
So, what is VoIP?
VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is a phone technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls using the internet instead of traditional phone lines.
Unlike landline phone systems that are limited to a single desk phone in your office, VoIP lets you make and receive business phone calls from your laptop, tablet, regular smartphone (using an App), and even VoIP-compatible office desk phones or headsets.
While many businesses have made the switch to a VoIP system there are many more that are nervous about switching in much the same way car owners today are hesitant about making the switch to Electric Vehicles (EVs). It’s entirely understandable and indeed responsible to be cautious about adopting a new technology for business-critical functions but unlike EVs, VoIP isn’t as new a technology as you might think and has been around since the 80s. It was, however, in the 2000s as internet speeds increased and broadband was introduced that businesses began to embrace VoIP.
VoIP Advantages – Benefits of Using VoIP
Switching from a traditional telephone company’s service to a cloud-based VoIP phone system has many benefits.
Lower Cost
One of the biggest advantages of VoIP is that you have lower costs, with customers saving anything up to 50% when compared to their old system.
Higher Quality
Because VoIP uses your broadband connection, it offers higher call quality than traditional PSTN/ISDN systems. A VoIP telephone system offers its users HD voice using internet connectivity, with incredible clarity and crisp audio.
Service Mobility – Take/make calls from anywhere
With VoIP, you don’t need to be in an office and sitting by your desk phone to take phone calls. You can take and make calls from wherever you are using an app on your phone, tablet, or laptop computer.
This is a big advantage for teams that are working remotely or out on the field. It is also great if you’re travelling.
Improved Scalability and Flexibility
Another advantage of VoIP is higher scalability. Whether you’re hiring more staff or opening a new branch office, VoIP makes it easy to grow.
Unlike a traditional phone service that would require spending money on expensive hardware on a dedicated line, VoIP lets you add your team members with just a few clicks inside your provider-managed account dashboard.
Since VoIP works on laptops/desktops and smartphones, you can even cut out additional equipment costs and free up desk space by having your team members install the app on their smartphones or use wireless headsets connected to their computers.
Advanced business phone features
VoIP services come with advanced features that take your business communications to the next level. Some advanced features you can expect in a VoIP telephony system include:
Video Conferencing — Most VoIP systems work seamlessly with applications such as Microsoft Teams allowing you to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and clients online in much the same way as if they were sitting across the desk from you.
Conference Calling — Similar to video conferencing, conference calling allows participants from anywhere in the world to join calls at once.
Call Queues — This feature helps you to manage your call queues by automating the distribution of calls to the right recipient and reducing customer wait times.
Integrations — Many VoIP phone systems integrate with third-party tools, including video conferencing applications and CRM platforms.
Call Analytics — Depending on the features of your solution many VoIP systems offer detailed call analytics that helps inform you of how effectively your employees’ time is spent on the phone. This data can subsequently be used for training purposes or to help inform important business decisions.
Delivered by IT.ie in association with our partners at IP Telecom we offer a range of business VoIP solutions that are designed for businesses of all sizes. To find out how a VoIP telephone system can help transform your business into a modern digital organisation, just visit https://it.ie/voip-solutions-for-business/ or email hello@it.ie and we’ll get right back to you.
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