What are VoIP phones and what are the benefits of digital voice solutions?
Tuesday 1st October 2024
As our communications go fully digital, it’s important to reflect on what the VoIP revolution will mean
Communication is at the heart of any successful business, helping organisations across all sizes and sectors stay competitive, efficient, and in the loop.
But the way we communicate is changing. For decades we have relied on a network of copper wires for our telephones, but the company responsible for the UK’s telecommunications network, Openreach, plans to switch off the copper network entirely by 2025.
This means that traditional phone lines and broadband services delivered via copper will no longer be available in any capacity. Modern businesses are looking instead to more digital alternatives, like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
But what exactly are VoIP phones, and how can they benefit your business?
Understanding VoIP phones
VoIP allows voice calls to made using the internet rather than traditional phone lines, converting voice into digital data packets sent over internet networks instead of old-fashioned copper wires.
The technology leverages your existing broadband connection to facilitate communication, making it more versatile and cost effective than traditional methods.
While they function and look much like traditional desk phones, VoIP phones come with added flexibility. They can be used on various devices, including smartphones laptops, and tablets, and allow employees to make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection.
The business benefits of digital voice solutions
Cost effectiveness
Traditional phone lines can be expensive, particularly when long-distance or international calls are involved. Meanwhile, VoIP often includes these kinds of calls in the basic package, or offers them at a much lower rate.
According to Town and Country Communications, businesses can reduce their phone bills by as much as 75% when they switch to VoIP. In SMEs where every penny counts, this is an undeniable advantage.
Scalability
Communication requirements grow with your business, and VoIP systems are incredibly scalable. This allows you to add or remove lines with minimal effort and costs, unlike traditional systems, which require physical infrastructure changes.
VoIP systems can be adjusted through software, meaning your business can easily scale up or down on demand.
Flexibility and remote working
Flexible communication solutions are more necessary than ever, as more than half (57%) of the UK workforce now work either remotely or on a hybrid basis. For a dispersed network, VoIP phones are an ideal solution because they are not tied to a specific location.
Employees can use VoIP phones from anywhere without worrying about the quality of their communication, whether they’re in the office, at home, or on the move.
Advanced features
VoIP phones are more than just telephones. They come with a host of advanced features that you won’t find with traditional phones. These include call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, auto-attendants, and integration with CRM systems.
These features don’t just enhance productivity, they also ensure that your business remains responsive and accessible to customers at all times.
Improved call quality
The call quality of VoIP phones is often superior to that of traditional landlines, thanks to advancements in internet speeds and VoIP technology.
High-definition voice (HD Voice) is now a standard feature in many VoIP services, and this can offer clearer and more reliable communication for your business.
Business continuity
Disasters can happen, and incidents like fires or floods can often result in damage to traditional phone lines, causing disruption and crippling business operations.
VoIP systems are not tied to a physical location, and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This ensures that your organisation can continue to operate and communicate with clients, even when the unexpected happens.
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