Text-based forms of communication such as email and texting have all but taken over the modern business. However, sometimes it’s faster, easier, and more appropriate to pick up the phone and call. As such, voice communication, such as phone systems, remain a critical part of an organization’s ability to communicate with customers, vendors, and within itself. Yet, the digital reality of the modern business makes a landline out of place, obsolete and inadequate for business needs. Therefore, some businesses adopt VOIP, also known as internet-based phone service.
Any organization which regularly uses telephone networks to communicate can benefit from a VOIP system. Read on to learn more about them, and how businesses can benefit from them.
VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. In other words, it’s a way of getting phone service delivered over the internet, using the same network by which office computers connect to the web. A type of phone known as an IP phone is connected via an ethernet cable to the router to get internet access. Due to this configuration, it’s sometimes also known as internet telephony or broadband phone service.
Any office with good internet quality can get a VOIP system as it generally doesn’t use a lot of bandwidth. With adequate internet speeds, VOIP won’t slow down the internet at all.
VOIP systems have rapidly replaced traditional phone systems due to the numerous benefits they bring to modern organizations. In particular, a VOIP phone system means:
The lighter weight nature of VOIP means that it costs less than a traditional phone service. Many ISPs have packages for VOIP, and many businesses can take advantage of underutilized network capacity – meaning that it doesn’t require any additional infrastructure to deploy. Likewise, some companies can take it even further, relying on “free” VOIP calling services such as Skype or Google Voice.
VOIP takes advantage of the reliability of the modern internet connection to stay reliable and functioning. As long as internet access exists, the company has phone lines. The same is not true with landlines, which have been experiencing an atrophying infrastructure since at least 2013 due to the rise of mobile phones.
VOIP phones have increased functionality and more features than traditional landlines because their service is digital rather than analog. It makes them better equipped to take advantage of services like call forwarding and device mobility. Let’s take a closer look at exactly what features businesses gain with VOIP.
VOIP is a powerful office technology that drives increased communication within a company and with external entities. It has many abilities that a traditional phone lacks, including:
VOIP introduces remote calling capabilities into an office environment, which allows companies to forward incoming calls to specific locations. Such a feature is particularly useful for companies with multiple offices, putting a customer in contact with the nearest local team.
Call recording is a useful – and often necessary – means to provide records of conversations or to review interactions for quality. Additionally, the digital nature of VOIP means such recorded calls can be turned into organized, searchable indexes for the company to later review.
Since VOIP relies on the internet rather than a grounded phone, an IP phone can be unplugged, taken elsewhere, and reconnected to the internet. It will still work, phone number and all, making it useful for companies which rely on mobility to get work done.
Modern VOIP systems can do everything a landline can do and more – at the same level of quality, if not better, making them a smart choice for businesses with voice communication needs. In fact, landlines have become an artifact of technological history. The rise of mobile phones all but helped erase them by placing into the hands of users a much more versatile, mobile form of communication. The future of phone systems rests in VOIP.
Companies need flexibility, integration, and the ability to operate in a variety of different environments. VOIP is a form of voice communication which delivers these benefits and more to a business. Landlines are costly, outdated, and inefficient. In contrast, a VOIP system drives productivity by helping to keep communication fast, easy, and reliable.
DSI is dedicated to ensuring superior voice communication with VOIP service. Contact us today to learn how VOIP can help your business grow.