The nature of communication is changing. Telecoms decisions you make now could be the difference between future profit and loss, between success and failure.
VoIP – or Voice over Internet Protocol to use its full name – is a technology with a range of uses. But as the name suggests, its main function is to allow communication between phones, computers, and other devices that have an internet connection.
VoIP technology isn’t new. It has existed in various forms for many years and as the internet has advanced and transformed the way we interact, VoIP has developed to meet the needs of businesses. Its benefits are now obvious and its use increasingly widespread.
And with exciting developments expected for VoIP in 2020, the time has come to ditch your business landlines and make the switch to VoIP.
Who Uses VoIP?
There are over three million VoIP subscribers in the UK alone. More SMBs than ever are adopting Voice over IP as they realise it can save them money and lead to more efficient, consistent, and practical communication.
VoIP can be used to support multiple communication platforms and is the preferred choice for replacing outdated twentieth-century phone systems. And when a tech giant such as Dell is using it, it’s time to see how your business can benefit from VoIP too.
Why Choose VoIP?
Deciding on a phone system is an important business decision. It will affect the way you interact with clients and can have an impact on the way your business is perceived. It may even form a part of that all-important first impression.
So it’s a decision that needs to be given proper thought, with an emphasis on company strategy and your plans for the future.
Here are six great reasons to bring VoIP into your business now.
1. Make remote workers more connected
One major benefit of choosing a VoIP system for your business is that it allows all colleagues to use the same phone system, wherever they are. Whether workers are in the office, working remotely, or on the road, the only requirement for using VoIP is an internet connection.
2. Future Proof Your Business
As you look to prepare for a telecoms future that promises to be very different from the present, don’t forget that communications giant BT is switching off all ISDN communications in 2025.
That makes VoIP, which only needs an internet connection to function, an incredibly viable and sensible choice for your communication system of the future.
3. Bring Reliability to Your Telecoms
Another major benefit of moving away from traditional telephone systems and towards VoIP is reliability. Whereas ISDN takes time to set up and requires a physical wire to transmit information, VoIP installation takes seconds and – provided there is a valid internet connection – is far less prone to call failures.
4. Integrate Your Comms Channels Seamlessly
VoIP is also at the top of the pile when it comes to unified communications. The need to communicate with clients on a variety of platforms has never been greater and VoIP offers seamless integration for your business.
For example, switching between a call on a desk phone to a call on a mobile can be done effortlessly. Real-time video allows meetings with clients and colleagues across continents,
instant messaging can be connected to other forms of communication and, if you wish, you can have your company’s number show up on caller ID instead of your cell phone number.
5. Take Advantage of 5G
5G networks are being trialled all over the world. In fact, fully-functioning networks are already up and running in a number of cities. As we head into 2020, 5G’s usage is only going to increase.
It is estimated that mobile data traffic will be five times higher in 2024 than it is in 2019, and 25% of that traffic will use 5G networks. Whether that’s accurate or not remains to be seen but one thing’s for sure: 5G will change the way we communicate.
With this in mind, it makes a great deal of sense to switch to a communications system whose only requirement to function is an internet connection.
6. Benefit from Artificial Intelligence
5G isn’t the only developing technology that will transform our communications in the future. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is also going to play a significant part. And when you choose a VoIP system for your communication, you choose a system that can be fully integrated with cloud-based AI.
That means phone calls can be dealt with by auto-attendants or specifically re-routed in order to maximise the efficiency of busy employees. Similarly, mobile workers will not be adversely affected by being out of the office.
Cloud-based AI will also be able to analyse and collect data about phone calls and interactions with clients. This data could be invaluable when it comes to maximising productivity and knowing how to make improvements.
VoIP: The Smart Choice
VoIP is a growing technology that’s being increasingly adopted by everyone from small businesses looking to cut costs, to multinationals aiming to future-proof their communication systems.
VoIP has the potential to integrate with a wide range of applications and can be adapted and tailored to suit the specific needs of your business.
Benefits are particularly clear for mobile workers or workers who have their time taken up by unnecessary phone calls as they will be able to increase their efficacy.
And, as the figures suggest, businesses large and small are seeing VoIP as the communication system of the future.
Guest Blog by Sam O’Brien, Senior Website Optimisation & User Experience Manager for EMEA at RingCentral
Sam has a passion for innovation and loves exploring ways to collaborate more with dispersed teams.
