Workplaces have undergone seismic shifts in both the technologies they employ and their day-to-day operations as a result of the rapid expansion of digital technology.
This is especially true in the sector of telecommunications.
Voice over IP (VoIP) has increasingly replaced the public switched telephone network (PSTN) as the voice communications backbone for businesses, their suppliers, and their consumers over the last two decades.
It's critical to understand how VoIP is altering the workplace if your company isn't already using it or if you're looking for a viable phone service. Let's have a look at what we've got.
What is Voice over IP (VoIP) and how does it work?
Instead of using a regular phone line, VoIP technology uses a broadband internet connection to make a phone call. It enables you to make a call from a computer, an IP phone, or a traditional phone using a special adaptor.
When a call is made, a VoIP service converts the voice into digital signals that are sent over the internet as data, similar to how an email is sent. Signals are repackaged and the speaker's voice is heard by the receiver in a manner similar to a typical telephone conversation once they arrive at their destination.
This service can be supplied on-site or through a cloud-based system.
VOIP’s Perceived Limitations
Despite the obvious advantages, there are still several factors that make businesses hesitant to switch to VoIP. However, many of the misgivings about VoIP are founded on past experiences with technology restrictions that limited its functionality.
When VoIP was still in its infancy, concerns about audio quality were common. Nothing could compare to the dependable sound created by those well-known real phone lines.
When compared to current telephone networks, VoIP was regarded to be inferior and expensive, and it was mostly used by tech hobbyists who were interested in fresh ideas - your 'early adopters.'
Everything has altered since the broadband sector was transformed. Advanced VoIP technology is now in place to provide optimal call quality.
The benefits of VoIP significantly surpass any disadvantages it may have due to current and emerging technology's improved performance, ease of installation, and stress-free migration.
VoIP also lays the groundwork for a fully unified communications platform, allowing businesses to be more communicative, collaborative, and focused on their business objectives.
How can a company make the switch to VoIP?
VoIP on-site
While VoIP is a no-brainer for many organisations in need of a phone service, the majority of established businesses will already have a legacy phone system.
This is not a constraint for VoIP, as the service may be used in a variety of ways, allowing any business to participate.
One alternative for those with a legacy system is to introduce VoIP onsite. This entails putting the programme on company servers and keeping the system under your control.
However, one drawback of onsite service is that it still largely relies on hardware and system maintenance, both of which are significant and recurrent costs that must be factored into the budget.
Cloud-based technologies
A cloud-based platform, often known as hosted VoIP or hosted PBX, is an alternative to onsite VoIP installation.
Hosted VoIP, as the name implies, is used outside of an enterprise. Rather than maintaining phone system software on a PBX at the office, businesses pay for this to be done for them by another company's data centre.
Cloud-based VoIP is the game-changer in voice communications, with enhanced mobility, cost savings, fewer gear, and simplicity of scalability, and it will only get better.
VoIP hybrid
There is an opportunity to combine the two for organisations who have a legacy phone system and are considering an on-site VoIP solution. As a result, you'll reap the benefits of sophisticated VoIP technology while also paving the road for increased usage in the future.
Businesses can transition to a hybrid telephone system, in which they employ a VoIP cloud-based service while continuing to use their old phone hardware to make calls.
Old systems can be repurposed in this manner without the need for in-house hardware or software.
The time has finally arrived to bid farewell to the plain old telephone system, sometimes known as POTS. VoIP has completely transformed the face of commercial communications, and there's still a lot more to come.
If you need help to migrate to VoIP PABX, call Simplyfree.
Simplyfree is based in Wellington, New Zealand and provides smart business phone solutions such as Fibre, Broadband, Toll-Free, 0800 numbers, Unified Communications, Conference Calls, Call waiting, Call queuing, Voicemail to email, call recording, video team meetings and more!
Simplyfree is one of New Zealand’s leading and most mature VOIP Network providers. It is confident that its phone systems and solutions will improve your business.
Simplyfree’s range of smart business phone solutions can be customised to provide every modern phone feature and set-up. Through its consultative sales process, it can ensure that any solution will include a range of features and functionality to make your business communications professional, reliable, and affordable.
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