Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has become essential to businesses all around the world. It is flexible, cost-effective, and provides companies with the ability to maintain phone services even if a disaster strikes. Every business should take advantage of VoIP communication, regardless of size.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
VoIP is a term used to describe phone services that use your existing local network and Internet services. Instead of using additional standard phone lines for voice communication, businesses can leverage existing cabling infrastructure and Internet services to have high-definition voice communications.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?Cost Savings
Instead of paying for expensive phone lines, VoIP works off your existing Internet connection.
There is no massive upfront investment. Setting up a VoIP system can be up to 90% cheaper than installing a traditional office phone system.
As your company grows, the cost to expand services is nominal.
If you make a lot of international calls, VoIP can reduce your expenses even more.
Productivity and Flexibility
VoIP allows you and your employees the freedom to leave your desks while still staying connected. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can access your entire phone system.
You can set up call routing to meet the needs of your business. If you need to leave the office each day at 5:00 but want to be there for your customers until 7:00, you can set your system to route calls to your mobile phone at 5 pm automatically every day. If an employee is telecommuting, you can either re-route their calls to a different extension or forward them to their mobile device or home phone line.
Many systems offer a wide variety of options when it comes to putting customers on hold or sending them to voice mailboxes. You can set up relaxing music or informative voice prompts while customers are on hold, or you can direct calls to mailboxes at set times every day or after a certain number of rings.
Some software includes caller ID services and the ability to create and manage contact lists.
It’s user-friendly. VoIP phones work just like traditional ones, so there’s no steep learning curve for you and your employees to tackle. The software is also easy to navigate so that you can easily take advantage of all the functions your system has to offer.
Accessibility and Continuity
Whether you experience a theft, flood, fire, earthquake, or tornado, your phone system will always be accessible. You and your customers will always be connected.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?Bandwidth Needs
To use a VoIP system, you will need to have enough bandwidth on your Internet connection for it to work correctly. Depending on the number of calls your business may have at the same time, you will need anywhere from 3 to 10 MBps (both upload and download speed) just for your VoIP.
Power Outages
If you lose power, you will most likely lose your Internet connection. This means that unlike a standard land line, your VoIP phone system will not work. You would have to re-route calls to mobile devices in order to answer them during an outage.
Reliability
VoIP has made major gains when it comes to reliability. In the past, poor Internet connections would result in periods of silence or choppiness during calls. With advances in Internet services and bandwidth, these issues are few are far between now.
OUR MANAGED SERVICES CAN HELP
At Reveille Systems, we offer scalable flat-fee Managed IT Services for our clients. These managed services include features like desktop support and asset management, but they also include support for VoIP phone systems. We monitor network performance and bandwidth, and can assist users either onsite or remotely.
If you have been thinking about switching to VoIP but are worried about making the change, contact Reveille today. We can discuss what system can give you the flexibility, functionality, and cost savings that your company deserves. Let Reveille be your trusted business partner for all of your IT needs.
