If you’re a business user, you know how important it can be to have a reliable and high-quality phone service that’s suited to your needs. Whether you’re an independent sales rep working from home, a small business owner dealing with day-to-day operations, or a large corporate executive, you need a phone service that fits your requirements – and your budget.
One great option is business VoIP (or virtual office phone system). With VoIP, you get all the features of a traditional phone network (such as a phone, voicemail, and caller ID) in a service that’s completely online. You can perform all your phone functions from anywhere – making it easier to work remotely (and even from mobile devices).
The following is a guide to help you decide whether or not VoIP is right for your business.
Features
One of the key benefits of VoIP is that it offers a variety of features that can be tailored to suit your specific needs. If you’re looking for a solution that provides high reliability and a high degree of functionality, then you should consider business VoIP. Some of the key features that you might want to look for include:
- Analog and digital phones
- PBX (private branch exchange)
- Voicemail
- Faxing
- Group calling
- Call screening
- Dialing protocols (e.g. ISDN, POTS, etc.)
- Hands free operation
- Virtual receptionists
- Call recording
- SMS (text messaging)
- Mobile device management (MDM)
- Call parking
Additionally, you may want to consider investing in a feature-rich phone system that’s also backed by a service provider with great resources and a wide range of special offers. The more features you want, the more you’ll have to spend on equipment and installation (pricing varies by plan, but can be anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars). On the other hand, basic VoIP services like those offered by Linphone or Vonage start at around $20 per month (plus taxes and fees – which can add up quickly).
One of the drawbacks of VoIP is that some of the key functionality is only available on the web-based platform (e.g. call recording, etc.). If you prefer to work with hardware (e.g. a headset, a microphone, and a smartphone), then you may have to settle for basic services that don’t offer the same degree of functionality as a fully featured VoIP service.
Cost Effective
If you have a relatively small business, you might want to consider using VoIP for one or more of your phone lines. Many business owners like the flexibility that VoIP offers – not having to commit to long-term contracts (or being locked into expensive plans with overage charges). Furthermore, if your business is going through a growth spurt, you might want to consider looking at the budget and deciding whether or not to invest in additional phone lines.
On the other hand, if you’re just starting out and don’t anticipate any major growth, then a cheaper solution (with fewer features) may be what you need – at least at first. You can start by looking into getting a virtual receptionist (which is essentially a call assistant that greets calls and takes notes during business hours – so you can focus on running your business rather than having to handle customer engagement).
Scalability
Another great benefit of VoIP is its ability to scale. Depending on your needs, you might want to consider looking at services that provide capacity upgrades in order to meet your demands. If you run a small business and are just looking for a way to extend your call capacity, then you may want to consider looking into a hosted VoIP service or a VPS. These are essentially physical servers that provide you with more phone lines (and thus more capacity) than you would get from a regular phone service provider. If you want to know more, contact us today!
Reliability
One of the most important considerations for any business is reliability. No one wants to call a business and get the frustrating “music” when the call goes to voicemail. If you’re looking for a solution that offers reliability and high quality, then you should consider business VoIP. In particular, if you’re looking for a solution that offers disaster recovery and business redundancy, then you should look into VoIP with PBX (private branch exchange) functionality – which is essentially an in-house phone service that provides you with redundancy and high quality call connections.
Convenience
Convenience is another important factor to consider. Some businesses prefer to work remotely, from wherever they please. If you’re one of these businesses, you may want to look into VoIP. It offers portability and flexibility, as well as the ability to work remotely anytime you want. In addition, you may want to look into the option of VoIP on a mobile device. If you have a business that depends on you being available to answer calls 24/7, then you may want to look at mobile VoIP because it allows you to access your account anywhere (via mobile phone) and perform all the key functions.
If you’re looking for a solution that offers all of the above and more, then you should consider looking into business VoIP. It’s a great option for any business, regardless of its size. Not only does it offer great flexibility and portability, but it’s also cost-effective and reliable.
However, keep in mind that not all VoIP services are made equal – some vendors offer great value for money, while others can be a little more expensive. It’s important to do your homework before signing up for a plan with any VoIP service provider. Make sure to compare pricing and features, so you get the best value for your money.