You’d be forgiven for thinking that in the age of Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and instant messaging, the humble telephone is probably making a less than gracious exit, stage-left.
That really isn’t the case. There’s a reason 36% of consumers still rank phone calls as their number one method of communication. It remains one of the most natural, comforting ways of dealing with companies.
But what if you’re that company in question? What if your existing telephone system is so expensive to maintain you need to either replace it or dump it entirely?
Forget about the latter option. All you need to do is invest in VoIP and enjoy four awesome benefits.
What is VoIP?
Ok, granted – you may have heard of this concept but you’re not sure how it works, so let’s quickly cover exactly what VoIP is.
It’s pretty simple, really. A VoIP telephone system operates over your computer network, rather than the traditional phone network. It relies on highly capable digital handsets that are connected directly to your network and which can offer services above and beyond simple calls, as a result.
However, you don’t even need to use traditional handsets which is great when members of the team are onsite, as we’ll discover in a moment.
Let’s get onto the benefits of VoIP.
Benefit 1: It’s feature rich
You can only go so far with a regular telephone, and as relevant as this form of communication remains in 2021, it does need to up its game a little.
With a VoIP telephone system, you’ll gain access to the following features (this is a non-exhaustive list):
- call transferring;
- call holding;
- conference calling;
- phone book/contact database; and
- apps for both computers and smartphones to enable calling on the go.
As a result, you’ll probably find the team members using their phones a whole lot more often, and for the benefit of everyone’s productivity levels.
Benefit 2: You won’t find better mobility (or flexibility)
With the number of UK employees working from home doubling in recent times, this particular benefit of VoIP its arguably the most compelling.
Put simply, it doesn’t matter where your team is located – they’ll still be able to make and receive calls on the business network, no matter where they are.
This is thanks to the aforementioned apps that connect remote devices to your VoIP telephone system. In fact, it’s not unreasonable to suggest that this is one of the most common ways VoIP systems are used in 2021.
The ability to ‘grab the phone’ on your laptop, for instance, or quickly make a call via your work number while sat in the garden at home is so useful. What’s more, the remote access available can be tuned perfectly to match everyone’s requirements (while remaining super-secure).
Benefit 3: It’ll scale – easily
Growing pains are entirely natural for ambitious businesses. They’re tough, but they’re also indicative of success.
However, when those growing pains relate to the technology you use failing to keep up, it can eat into your productivity and, ultimately, harm any growth you’re experiencing.
This is why VoIP is an absolute no-brainer for any business that wants to continue climbing the ladder. As your operation, customer base and team grow, the VoIP system will join you effortlessly for the ride.
It’s very easy to add new users, there’s no ceiling on the number of users you can have, and there’s often no need to buy new hardware, either.
Which brings us onto our final, most exciting benefit of them all.
Benefit 4: Best of all… it’ll cost you less
VoIP telephone systems use your existing computer network to make and receive calls. That means you don’t need physical phone lines, which will dramatically reduce both the setup and on-going costs for the entire infrastructure.
What’s more, you don’t necessarily have to buy physical handsets. This is why so many businesses with VoIP systems simply install the apps on their smartphones and use them that way, instead.
Technology shouldn’t obliterate your budget and bank balance, and VoIP is a perfect example of where it can actually help you become more profitable. What’s not to like?
Have we got you excited about VoIP for your business? Just get in touch with the Compex IT team to find out how we can make it work for your business.