Currently, getting customers and keeping them captured is not an easy task, as a director you must invest in improving not only your products, but also in the technological infrastructure that supports the service and experience you provide to your customers. VoIP and IP telephony are becoming increasingly popular among large businesses and consumers, for many people, Internet Protocol (IP) is a way to transport data and at the same time a tool that simplifies and streamlines a wide range of applications. VoIP or voice over IP is the basis for the most advanced communications applications allowing to transform the way of doing business.
In today’s telephony, the Internet is used as the communication medium, instead of the basic telephone network (circuit switching). The biggest advantage of these calls is that they are not subject to your telephone rate, it does not matter if you have to call from the country where you are to another far away, VoIP calls do not have any cost unless you use an App that charges for this service. The term VoIP refers to the protocols that facilitate these calls, these can be made through any type of connection, from home LANs to mobile data networks.
Below we will explain in detail the main factors and reasons why you should install a VoIP system in your company.
What is VoIP
The transmission of audio and multimedia content via an internet connection is known as VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol). Users can make voice calls using VoIP via their computers, smartphones, other mobile devices, special VoIP phones, and WebRTC-enabled browsers. VoIP is a technology that is beneficial to both individuals and businesses since it often contains additional capabilities not seen on traditional phone systems. Call recording, personalized caller ID, and voicemail to e-mail are examples of these functions. It is also beneficial to businesses as a means of unifying communications.
The procedure is similar to that of a traditional phone, except that VoIP relies on an internet connection rather than telephone company wiring. VoIP is made possible by a set of technologies and procedures that allow voice communications to be delivered via the internet, such as enterprise local area networks or wide area networks.
A VoIP service converts an individual's voice from audio signals to digital data, which is
subsequently sent over the internet. If a call comes in from a standard phone number, the signal
is transformed back to a phone signal before reaching the intended recipient.
Incoming and outgoing calls can also be routed over existing telephone networks using VoIP.
Some VoIP services, on the other hand, may only work with a computer or a VoIP phone.
How does VoIP work?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol. It refers to making phone calls over the Internet rather than over a traditional landline or cellular network. A VoIP system converts your analogue voice impulses into digital signals, which are subsequently sent as data over your broadband line.
It's a really helpful means of making calls; for starters, it's a lot cheaper than utilizing regular phone lines after it's set up. It means that, depending on your arrangement, you may not have to pay for your phone calls based on distance, nation, or amount of time spent conversing.
- With a phone and a VoIP adapter – You can make VoIP calls from a plain old landline phone with the help of a specific adapter. These adapters connect to your router or a phone socket in the wall.
- With a computer – Skype, Google Talk, and Apple FaceTime are just a few of the tools that allow you to make voice conversations to anyone who has them installed. Some, like Skype, can also be used to call ordinary landlines and mobile phones. Calling someone else who has the app is free, however calling a real phone number is usually a little more expensive.
- With a smartphone – You can use some apps on your smartphone to make audio calls. For additional information on how this works, see the section below.
Pros and Cons
Benefits:
- Portability
Business VoIP services provide transparent access to an organization's phone system from anywhere, to all of its employees. Sometimes users are at home, working in remote locations. VoIP allows such workers to use any device they have with the same number as their work number, thus protecting their privacy and presenting a professional image to all callers.
Since VoIP is not tied to a particular location or area code, not only does it eliminate long distance charges for calls within the same office, but the phone can also be used from the location where the employee is working that day.
- Lower maintenance cost
Businesses using cloud VoIP services don't have to worry about maintenance, repairs, or upgrades. This means they don't have to hire consultants or full-time employees just to manage the phone system.
Even organizations using on-premises solutions with SIP trunks can free themselves from the hassle associated with maintaining two different networks, as VoIP allows them to route phone calls over the same network they use to send files or email.
- Reduce expenses
All companies seek to cut costs in an effort to remain profitable. VoIP enables businesses to do just that:
- The elimination of charges for calls between employees of the same company, even if they are in different offices.
- Lower cost per call, both for local and long distance calls.
- Provide unlimited calls for a fixed monthly price according to the chosen rate.
- Integrate with other business applications
Companies have realized that keeping information in silos is wasting its potential. This is why software and apps that freely share data have become more valuable than those that keep it locked away.
The same applies for the company phone system. Many VoIP providers are offering integration with business applications such as CRM to make it easier for employees to use and share data.
Disadvantages:
The biggest drawback of VoIP is that organizations need a high-speed Internet connection at all times. If the Internet is disconnected for any reason, the phone system will stop working.
Most organizations have backups in case this happens, but at least for now, companies operating in locations without reliable Internet access should not implement VoIP.
Another drawback is that power is required for IP phones to work, making them less useful in disasters. Organizations often connect their phones to the backup power supply and they can be used until their battery runs out.
As you can see, these are not insurmountable obstacles and many organizations manage to overcome them. In general, business VoIP has many advantages for any organization.