In today’s pandemic-impacted workplace, businesses have had to make several changes to adapt to the circumstances and keep up with the competition.
Several of those changes relate to communication—how your team communicates with each other, how they communicate with customers, and how customers communicate with you. Remote working has required new and innovative methods of communication to keep businesses running effectively.
That said, with many office spaces now left vacant at the onset of remote work, traditional PBX phone systems aren’t always a viable option. Many companies have considered a switch to VoIP phone systems. But what exactly are they, and how can they benefit your business right now and in the future?
What are VoIP Phones?
First of all, you may be wondering what exactly VoIP phones are and how they differ from traditional landlines.
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and is a system that allows users to make calls over their Internet connection rather than over wired landlines. It uses less onsite equipment and does not require wiring of any kind. It can also be used across several different devices and can be easily set up by a reliable IT provider.
There are several advantages to using a VoIP phone system as opposed to a traditional landline for your business:
Cost Savings
When you’re a business owner, your bottom line is one of your biggest concerns. Continually looking for ways to cut costs and save money is an integral part of your day-to-day tasks.
A VoIP system can help you do just that. Its low cost-per-call model helps you avoid high phone bills by charging you through your Internet provider rather than a separate phone bill. This is especially cost effective if you make several international calls. Calls placed over landlines, on the other hand, charge heavily on long-distance calls.
You can also save several hundred dollars with a VoIP system because it doesn’t require on-site equipment or setup and maintenance fees. Instead, you can use VoIP across devices such as cell phones and laptops without doing any wiring or worrying about costly repairs down the road.
Greater Features & Flexibility
VoIP services are available on many devices across several different locations, so it’s an excellent choice when you have remote workers. While a traditional PBX system must be used onsite and is assigned its own phone number, a VoIP system eliminates physical limitations and allows greater flexibility both in where calls can be made or answered and on which device.
Participating in conference calls is also much easier with a VoIP system. You have to pay for an additional service to host multiple callers for a conference using a traditional phone line. With a VoIP system, you can make conference calls as an added benefit to the service you already pay for. Video calls are also a major advantage.
Other flexible features include forwarding calls and messages through text or email, as well as being able to multitask and respond to client requests and voicemails quicker using the user-friendly interface. Another benefit is that features within the system can be added or subtracted based on your business needs.
You can also choose where your calls ring and how. For example, you can select a choice so that after the first few rings, the call is forwarded to your office. If you don’t answer the call, it will then be transmitted to a second or third device, for instance, a mobile phone or laptop. This increases responsiveness and productivity, making sure your clients stay happy and well served.
CRM Integration
VoIP systems can also integrate with your CRM program, helping you close more deals and increase sales. For instance, your employees can view previous interactions between the customer and the company and access high-quality leads that are more likely to convert.
A good CRM integration automatically directs an agent to the incoming caller’s profile or creates a new support ticket with information about the caller to allow for a better customer experience.
VoIP CRM integrations can also give managers key metrics on each individual agent, such as the number of calls taken per day, the amount of caller hang-ups, and average call times and wait times. Managers can use this CRM data to make improvements among their team. The results of all these benefits are improved efficiency and increased customer satisfaction.
The Bottom Line
These days, you may be working from anywhere, and your clients may be located all around the globe. It’s wise to consider switching to a VoIP system for your business if you want to work more efficiently and stay connected on the go.
If you have your sights set on growing your business, a VoIP system is a great way to save money and increase successful communication. VoIP phones provide an efficient scaling model that can rapidly grow to meet your increasing business needs, all while helping your team work effectively, even if they are remote.
To learn about how your business can get set up with a VoIP phone system, contact our telecommunication experts at Fresh Managed IT today.
