Communication is one of the most important aspects of business. Improved communication correlates with improved performance and gives business leaders a key incentive to improve their ability to communicate.
Startups and small businesses generally rely on mobiles and landlines for all communication when starting out, especially when dealing with clients. The decision may seem like a good option initially, but as the business grows it can prove to be a costly and ineffective solution.
Thinking of the future is important when making decisions, especially when it comes with important things like determining a protocol for business-wide communication. Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) is a solution that can drastically improve the way communication happens in your business, growing as your business does while also contributing to steady, sustainable growth.
VOIP technology has come to define the way organizations across the world conduct phone calls with customers, employees, and partners. The simple ability to replace landline phone connections with digital Internet ones achieves cost-effectiveness that traditional phone operators simply can’t match.
VOIP-enabled phones securely send data through the internet establish secure, high-quality connections. This means that there is no technical obstacle preventing VOIP connections from supporting video calls – something landlines were never designed to do.
From small business to enterprises, the solution enjoys worldwide popularity. This useful technology is so popular that the VOIP industry is predicted to hit roughly $140 billion by 2024.
The industry has enjoyed steady growth since its inception, showing that more and more businesses will continue to rely on increasingly sophisticated VOIP hardware to add value to their communication processes.
VOIP infrastructure is digital. This means that there is no significant difference between the hardware you use to access the Internet and the hardware behind VOIP.
Your employees can easily communicate with one clients completely free of additional costs, gaining more out of your existing investment in Internet-connected hardware, from desktop workstations to routers and cabling.
There are also indirect cost savings. When compared to analog landline and mobile phones, businesses can save up to 75% on internal calls between employees. Since in-network calls are free and you already have your own internal corporate network, calls that exclusively make use of internal network hardware cost nothing.
Communication is important for productivity – when thoughts and ideas are communicated clearly, they result in better solutions achieved more efficiently. With VOIP your employees will enjoy access to a better communication network. Individual employees can easily contact one another with the press of a button and even field multiple calls with no limit to the number of lines held.
VOIP can also improve customer relationships because it can give employees automated access to customer data. Many CRM systems can integrate with a VOIP, which enables call logs and recording. Recordings are a powerful training tool for new hires. Using them can vastly reduce the amount of time it takes to onboard new employees.
Digital handsets are also multi-functional, which can provide better customer service. The ability to make video calls makes it easier for board members, employees, and customers to articulate ideas and share work.
For example, a design firm can work with clients on call, revising and making simple changes to marketing material with the executive board’s direct input in real-time. With a minimum of effort spent developing real-time infrastructure, your company could offer this level of consultation for customers and partners alike, further enhancing their experience with your business.
The fact that VOIP uses the internet allows users to gain access to the system from anywhere. If they have the solution installed on their mobile device, they can use the system whenever they have access to the internet.
At first, this level of mobility may seem like a security drawback, but VOIP is compatible with industry-leading security protocols such as Cisco’s popular Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The protocol encrypts the data that is sent on VOIP systems utilizing secure sockets layer (SSL) technology.
By encrypting the data, the data traveling from one point to the other is only deciphered by the two endpoints and is rendered useless if intercepted. The encryption key is only available at the two endpoints, enabling users to make calls that are physically secure from eavesdropping or identify theft.
Why is VOIP better than traditional phone service for your business needs? Call DSI today to learn more and make us your VOIP provider today.