Most companies have been thinking a lot about remote work and ways to make it easier for their employees and to their small business clients. If your company is like ours, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced you to embrace new ways of working, and you may have allowed some or all of your workforce to work from home (WFH) during 2020. Perhaps you are still partially or completely isolated.
You've probably picked up some new digital tools and methods to help you get through this difficult time—Zoom, Skype, shared Google Docs, and so on. How are these solutions performing? Some are probably superior than others, right?
For example, you may have already converted to Microsoft Office 365, but you're still frustrated with an antiquated phone company phone system.
We can nearly ensure that you and your staff are frustrated if you haven't yet used VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phones.
What if we told you that VoIP will make you fall in love with business phone calls all over again? (Well, maybe not adore, but appreciate as a handy tool!) Today's post lists six major advantages of switching to VoIP phones.
What exactly is VoIP?
As we discussed in a previous blog article, VoIP is a sophisticated technology that allows phone conversations to be transmitted as data over the Internet rather than through a wired connection provided by your phone carrier.
VoIP phone service provides considerable benefits for organisations of all sizes, including significant cost savings, improved mobility, and adaptability as compared to a landline-based system. It's also extremely adaptable for smaller organisations with employees who may not all be in the same physical place.
Our Favourite VoIP Benefits for WFH That You'll Appreciate
1. We Promise Better Call Quality!
One of the most common reasons we get from company owners for not switching to VoIP is that they "heard somewhere" that the call quality was terrible. And, sure, this was true when VoIP first arrived in the 1990s.
However, infrastructural developments over the previous thirty years have eliminated VoIP call quality issues, and landline phones now frequently give poorer connectivity.
2. Improved Communication Both Inside and Outside the Office
VoIP, as a unified communication platform, improves business communication efficiency. A single software programme may handle all kinds of communication, including phone conversations, faxes, and email, as well as video and web conferencing.
This programme may be accessed and controlled directly from any user's desktop PC. It enables simple phone screening, call forwarding, and even the establishment of temporary "do not disturb" times to ensure that callers do not break crucial meetings or "deep work" sessions.
3. Allows Phone-Based Customer Support to Go Remotely
If your company depends significantly on phone-based customer service, you've probably had some issues with social distancing policies during the current epidemic. After all, your phone-based staff were most likely still reporting to a central place, such as your call centre, to do their duties.
And perhaps you've run out of actual space.
We have some wonderful news that will save you money on space even after social alienation has faded!
Because VoIP interacts with mobile phones and has an app-based setup, your workers with phone-heavy job obligations may work from anywhere. With VoIP, your workers may use their mobile phones or personal computers to make calls from your business phone line. VoIP can assist you in cutting the cord!
4. App-Based Availability Monitoring Simplifies Employee Management
As previously stated, the app-based nature of VoIP systems allows each user to easily set their calling preferences, availability, and more. However, from the standpoint of management, VoIP provides a bird's eye view of what team members are up to—at least in terms of whether or not they are on a call at any one time.
As a manager, you can easily check the phone system app to see if an employee you need to speak with is available to take your call—or if they're assisting a customer or client.
5. More call data and technological convenience
Using a VoIP phone system instead of a landline delivers real-time statistics and analytical data on things like average phone call length, where people are calling from, and other relevant data to help your organisation function more efficiently remotely.
Furthermore, one common feature of VoIP systems is the ability to have voicemails translated to text messages and email—and we're not talking about the auto-translation of messages that has become a function on our mobile phones. Voicemail recordings may be delivered straight to your email inbox, allowing you to conveniently share them to other team members.
The most important advantage of VoIP is one that business owners value the most.
So far, the VoIP benefits we've discussed make employees happier and your day-to-day experience as a small business owner or manager simpler. But VoIP is more than simply more adaptable and user-friendly. It's also less expensive to use, even if you're switching from a pretty sophisticated old phone system.
6. VoIP is Cost-Effective—Pay Only for What You Need
You don't need to host (or pay for) separate data and phone networks with VoIP. Voice over IP allows you to make and receive phone calls over the same data network that you use for internet access. As previously said, your VoIP phones are simple to control from the handset or your computer desktop and normally don't require much further training to utilise.
Yes, you will most likely need to purchase new phones when you make the move to VoIP, but because these systems interact with your workers' existing mobile devices, you may not require as many separate handset units as you initially believe. A certified IT services company specialising in VoIP technology, such as Simplyfree, can assist you in determining your equipment requirements.
Are you ready to upgrade your small business's phone system to VoIP?
Simplyfree is a preferred managed IT services partner in New Zealand, providing exceptional support for small businesses with remote and in-office personnel. We can not only propose the best VoIP communication options, but we can also setup and manage your new small business phone system—so it works right away.
Contact us today to learn more about migrating to VoIP phone service for your small business!
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