TechAdvisory.org

Technology Advice for Small Businesses

5 benefits VoIP can provide

VoIP_April03_CCustomers expect that you have a phone number, which usually means a big investment into an often inefficient system that is limited and run by various phone companies. There is an alternative however: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP has become popular amongst companies, and could be a viable alternative to existing systems.

The question many business owners ask is: Can it bring any benefits to my business? In short, yes, it can. Here are five benefits of VoIP.

1. Automation
Most VoIP systems can be easily configured to route calls to numbers without the need of an expensive switchboard. This means that you could route calls to your mobile phone when you are out of the office.

Any good phone system offers callers the ability to leave messages. Some VoIP systems can take voicemail messages and turn them into emails, which makes it easier for you to track and reply to these messages.

2. Larger appearance
Solid VoIP systems allow you to have different numbers that can route into one branch. For example, if you have a presence in four states, you can set a local number in each state and when users call, they are automatically routed to your office.

By having a local presence, many customers will think your business is bigger than it really is, and may be more trusting. Similarly, you can also assign numbers to different ‘departments’ that get routed to one phone. This is a great way of making your company seem bigger and more reliable.

3. Features
With most traditional phone services, you have to pay extra for features like all display, extra numbers, call monitoring, etc. VoIP systems often include these features and more at little to no extra cost.

4. Savings
As VoIP uses your Internet connection, calls are not geographically routed which means that a phone call that would normally be considered long distance, isn’t on VoIP. This translates to lower phone bills. These systems don’t require complex infrastructure and wiring that traditional phone systems do. Existing phones can be easily integrated into VoIP systems with a small piece of hardware, meaning you won’t need to invest in new hardware.

5. It’s scalable
It is easy to add numbers and phones to any VoIP system. This means that when you hire new employees, you can quickly (often in as little as three minutes) and easily assign them a number and a phone at little to no cost. This means that as you grow, the system grows with you.

If you are looking to update your current phone system or save money, please contact us today. We may have the VoIP solution that fits your business needs.